Legendary Jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Dave Brubeck was famous for being as nice as he was talented.He died today at the age of 91.
Ironically, the piece that Brubeck was best known for, Take Five, was composed by his musical partner in crime, woodwind man, Paul Desmond. Brubeck, however, arranged the piece, which became an unlikely hit. Here it is:
I had been hearing “Take Five” off and on since I was a small child — it, the “Camelot” soundtrack and some Herb Alpert albums were the only nonclassical things Dad would ever put on the record player — but as a young student musician I never was able to figure out 5-count until my band teacher played it as an example. Then I was all, like, “Oh, THAT! DUH!” (I don’t know if they actually said “Duh!” yet in 1971, but still.)
I realize I will incur the animosity of legions for saying this, but Brubeck ruined me for Rush and pretty much all the other math bands.