What will you remember Dave Brubeck for?
Asked by
bookish1 (
13159
)
December 7th, 2012
I just learned today that he died two days ago! What are your favorite works by him? Have any jellies been lucky enough to see him perform?
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24 Answers
No, I was not fortunate enough to see him perform, but I am very familiar with his music. I will remember him for creating Jazz music that I could enjoy.
I just heard on the Diane Rehm (sp?) show that when segregated venues asked him to perform with an all-white band, he told them to piss off. Awesome!
Two of his pieces, Take Five and Blue Rondo a la Turk, were showed me that there were other time signatures out there besides 2/4, ¾ and 4/4. I realize Brubeck did not technically compose “Take Five” (it was Paul Desmond, his saxophonist) but it became the his quartet’s signature. I saw him perform with his sons (Two Generations) in the mid 1970’s.
Honestly – only take five – however, as a non Jazz lover – it is a piece which is indelibly ingrained in my mind.
This question. I’d never heard of him before today.
Take 5 reminds me of everything that is from the mid-century with regards to smooth clean style. I’m not a big jazz fan either, but Dave Brubeck’s music is just so yummy and relaxing and playful at the same time.
@livelaughlove21 : Look him up on Youtube. Take Five is a very good place to start. You might have heard the song before.
He taught me to count in five, seven and nine. Thanks, man!
He made jazz accessible to me. “Take 5” and “Blue Rondo a la Turque.”
A concert at a church hall in Connecticut in 1964, a couple hundred people by invitation only. High school buddy got tickets for 4 people. Went with him and his Mom and our Sociology teacher.
I like Jazz, but can’t possibly keep track of artists and song titles. So Take Five is the only piece I know by Brubeck. When I was 15, my mom took one of my brothers and I camping in New England. We saw him perform on that trip – it may have been at Tanglewood – but I don’t remember the performance. I liked it well enough, but I was probably preoccupied with worry about what my boyfriend was doing in my absence.
He was a great musician and composer. I own his most famous recording. I don’t own a lot of music, so that says something.
He was cool in the way only a few jazz players could ever be cool. Not cool like the Beatles were cool, and in a way that Elvis was never cool, but just cool. Cool beans.
@bookish1 I checked it out. Can’t say I recognize it. I’m not big on jazz, so that probably explains it.
Take Five, of course. I even learned a tap routine to it, which was great fun.
Linus and Lucy, the sort-of theme song for the Peanuts Gang. Also, the song that introduced me jazz in general.
@cookieman: Linus and Lucy is the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
@hearkat: Yes, but Dave Brubeck did a version of it – which is the first version I heard outside of the Peanuts Cartoon. My Uncle David (an amateur jazz pianist himself) played it for me. I didn’t learn Vince Guaraldi wrote it until years later.
Now that I’ve had a chance to listen to it, I prefer the original; but this was fun—I do love the jazz flute!
Before I post my actual answer, may I take five-? : )
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