I had the opportunity to see Dave Brubeck perform with Joe Morello on drums in Morristown, NJ in the 1990’s.

Brubeck’s album Time Out included Take Five (written by Paul Desmond) which has on it ... arguably one of the greatest drum solos ever committed to vinyl.

My connection is that I studied with Joe Morello for better than 3 years.

Aww man. One of the Greatest of all time. Take 5 

oh, man.  sad news.  RIP

Brubeck was born in the town I now live in.  What an amazing life.  He was performing until almost the end.
 
I once had an autographed program with Burbeck's signiture along with that of Joe Morello and Gene Wright.  I snuck back to the dressing room after the concert (I was in junior high at the time).  Paul Desmond wasn't around, so I missed getting him to sign.  Wish I new where that thing disappeared to.
 
RIP, Mr. Brubeck.  When I was young, you rocked my world.

Just read it. Yeah! So sad to hear. I've heard so many versions of "Take Five" and like them all. If that song taught you anything composition wise, it was the ostinato pattern and the 5/4 meter (which may have been the idea for the title). Yet, the way it's played it still predominately sounds like 3/4 - though that's what 5/4 is (3+2/4 or 1 bar of 3 and 1 bar of 2)

Of course, the composition credit goes to Paul Desmond, but Brubeck made it his own.

Very sad.  That whole album with Take Five is classic.  Rest in peace, Dave. 

Today would have been his birthday too...

RIP indeed.  I spent many a happy hour trying to copy that 4/4 drum solo over the 5/4 meter for the backing.  Inspirational.

Brubeck's "Time Out" and "Time Further Out" albums were such an inspiration to me as a kid! Before I'd heard those, I'd had no idea that any time signatures other than 4/4, 3/4 and 6/8 were viable options. "Unsquare Dance" was the first jazz song I ever sat down to learn note-for-note, and later performed it in my own Prog band.

Long before the term "Prog" was coined, Brubeck was the original Progger. Because of him, I started seeking out records by other guys that he'd either played with or cited as his heroes. Dave Brubeck was my initial doorway into the wonderful world of jazz. 

"Brubeck was the original Progger"

+1


My mind had already been altered by Miles and Coltrane before I first heard Brubeck... it always seemed like a guilty pleasure to tap my foot to Brubeck's exciting music. It was something unique and it didn't really sound like "jazz". Of course that is just a description of my perspective rather than anything else it may seem.

I like the synopsis provided by Bit... it gives me some way to reconcile my perspective. :-)


I'm gonna listen to Take 5 Time Out today and think fondly of Mr. Brubeck. I may even lay in a play along guitar solo. :-)


best,
mike





fixed