Take Five: Dave Brubeck Quartet

Dave Brubeck, the jazz pianist, composer and bandleader behind the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet, has died at age 91.

The death of Brubeck, whose quartet performed “Take Five,” which became a jazz standard and the bestselling jazz single of all time, was confirmed Wednesday by the Associated Press. Brubeck would have turned 92 Thursday.

“Dave Brubeck changed the sound of jazz in profound ways, unexpectedly becoming something of a pop star in the process.”

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10 Comments on “Take Five: Dave Brubeck Quartet”

  1. Hedley Says:

    Released on the Fontana label in the UK, and Columbia in the USA, Take Five was the A side and Blue Rondo A La Turk was the B side – im6 remember when there was an A and B side ?

    My Uncle Pauly loved Brubeck and Time Out was much played on the new fangled Zenith Stereophonic record player. I am sure there will be a lot of discussion about Brubeck’s legacy when we chat on Saturday morning.

    • Kat Says:

      My Dear Hedley,
      I remember the A and B sides of the 45’s I used to buy. Half the time I didn’t know the B side while sometimes I liked it better than the A.

      I figured these two most people would know which is why I chose them.

      92 is a great long life.

  2. Bob Says:

    Dave Brubeck changed Jazz in a profound way. Take Five (written by Paul Desmond) and Rondo aLa Turk (written by Dave Brubeck) brought Jazz to the wider pop audience which has never been done since and influenced all types of music.

    My former aviation student and friend, Russell Gloyd, has been Dave Brubeck’s manager and conductor for 32 years. I had the opportunity to hear Brubeck play live at Baylor University in Waco Texas in the mid 70s. At that time he was performing with three of his sons. Russ introduced me to Dave, his wife Iola and their sons after the concert. We had a wonderful conversation.
    He will be missed but his music will live forever.

    • Kat Says:

      Bob,
      That is so true as Take Five was the very first jazz recording I heard and liked.

      When you personally meet someone like Dave Brubeck, an icon of music, the experience stays in your memory. You were very lucky to have that experience.

      • flyboybob Says:

        When I attended the Dave Brubeck concert at Baylor there was a funny incident. After the intermission Brubeck came out onto the stage alone and said that his son’s would be delayed. He began to play a couple of solo pieces on the piano. I was sitting in the balcony with Russ next to the light board and he told me that Brubeck’s sons had accidentally locked themselves into a room back stage and Baylor University custodians couldn’t find the key. While Dave was playing solo a loud ‘Bang’ could be heard in the auditorium and his three sons walked slowly onto the stage ready to resume the concert.

  3. Kat Says:

    That’s a funny story, Bob!!

  4. Mark Anderson Says:

    That’s a great story!
    We really studied this album when I was in college.

  5. Mark Anderson Says:

    He also composed some great sacred music. For this often ignored dimension of Brubeck, check out this article from a few years ago:
    http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Oct2009/Feature1.asp


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