On this day in 1959, the Dave Brubeck Quartet recorded “Take Five” Two years later it became a surprise hit and the biggest-selling jazz single ever. Revived since in numerous movie and television soundtracks, the piece still receives significant radio airplay. The single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996.
@SVG__Collection A very grounding melody
@SVG__Collection Was always curious if the title was about taking a short break or that it was 5th time they’d tried recording it.
@SVG__Collection It was the perfect song for part of the Sandy Koufax segment of “Baseball” by @KenBurns
In my last semester of college in fall of ‘69 (trying to dodge the draft), I took a Music Appreciation class. I walked into the very large classroom and the professor )without saying a word) started playing a vinyl recording of Take Five. It sounded very good. Everyone should listen.
@SVG__Collection Went to Concord High in the East Bay
@SVG__Collection One of the greatest, most iconic tunes of all time regardless of genre
@SVG__Collection Composed by Paul Desmond who wanted to give Joe Morello the chance to showcase his ability to play 4/5 impeccably. A true Masterpiece.
@SVG__Collection I’ve heard this song over 1,000 times and still I never turn it off when it comes on…
@SVG__Collection My favorite homeschoolers from Maine making it happen: youtube.com/watch?v=dWJ9cW…
@SVG__Collection Wow, so effortless and sublime. I'm a hack musician. We played it in our local concert band. Trying to wrap my brain around it was agonizing. It's more of a feeling than reading the notes. The epitome of smooth jazz.
@SVG__Collection Bought the record Time Out shortly after it came out in Halifax (1960) during my two-year Jazz Phase. Of course, Take Five was in it. I still have it.
@SVG__Collection Damn! The first (and probably last) time I corrected Grok/AI. Have to make sure the AI is educated enough n 5/4 time! 😄 This song is truly a game changer. Eugene Wright on Bass and Joe Morello on Drums set a new standard of excellence with this one. Legendary song.
@SVG__Collection by James V. Chaney
@SVG__Collection 1965, after school 2 friends & I would walk the RR tracks to a creek, & pass the radio station outside town. One day they had tossed a ton of singles out along the tracks, & we rescued some that weren't warped. This was one, so different, modern, cool. I played it & played it.
@SVG__Collection I have officially stopped pretending to like free/astral jazz, and resent how its artistic perception turned jazz away from melody, which music needs
@SVG__Collection Wow - Jackets, no Free Palestine signs, just good entertainment and music. It was a better time in many ways.
@SVG__Collection This is the first jazz-song that I ever “knew”, so-to-speak, just by its sound. Undeniable Coolness. Learned it from my elders, always recognized it immediately thereafter, anywhere I heard it played. A True All-Timer.
@SVG__Collection Timeless! A masterpiece…. jazz perfection.
I remember this "take 5" being played over those metal speakers at the drive in movies during intermission. where mom and dad allowed more freedom than ever to us kids to go buy some popcorn and soda at the refreshment stand and being back in time to watch the The Guns of Navarone (Released: June 22, 1961)
@SVG__Collection Great tune. The video also appears in this interesting ”mash-up” youtube.com/watch?v=2Qs1J6… While I admire the work, someone has a lot of time on their hands. Take Five is famous for the 5/4 rhythm; Golden Brown goes into 13/4 sometimes (or 13/8, or 6/8 plus 7/8).
@SVG__Collection Paul Desmond, who was Brubeck's alto saxophonist, wrote this song. It's called "Take Five" because it was written in an unusual 5/4 meter. It was one of the first Jazz songs with a time signature other than the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. (From Song Facts)
Funny thing is today I asked Alexa to play Dave Brubeck’s music at dinner of course the first thing it played from his repertoire was take five had no idea about this day significance till I saw this post. Saw Dave Brubeck perform take five with the group at the Hollywood bowl in 1964 five I was young parents took me they opened for Peter Paul and Mary. I’ve always loved his music.
@SVG__Collection Kind of disappointing to start watching the video and getting to the end and realizing it cuts off before Joe Morello's solo...
@SVG__Collection I saw him perform at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor in the mid seventies. One of the best concerts I've ever attended.
@SVG__Collection Man I keep trying but jazz just hasn't hit for me. I really feel like I'm missing something but I can never get there. I like some of it but never crave it.
@SVG__Collection And everybody started learning the circle of fifths.
@SVG__Collection Paul Desmond like to say he thought of his sound as a “dry martini”🍸. I’m learning alto say, and Morgan mouthpieces put out a replica of Desmond’s mouthpiece. And yes, though I suck, the sound is definitely close to his sound.
@SVG__Collection at least 50 songs sampled from it whosampled.com/Dave-Brubeck-Q…
@SVG__Collection People sometimes wonder if a particular song will be played a century from now. I have no doubt that this will be one of the songs which will be played a century from now.
@SVG__Collection I love this song so much. If I ever write anything half as good I'll be happy.
@SVG__Collection Do you think the current generation knows what to do with a drum set? Or the difference Between jazz and rock drumming?