Music titan DAVE BRUBECK who revolutionized pop music with “TAKE FIVE” has died at 91.
Brubeck died this morning of heart failure after being stricken while on his way to a cardiology appointment with his son Darius, his manager Russell Gloyd told AP.
Brubeck would have turned 92 Thursday, December 6th.
Brubeck’s career spanned almost all American jazz following World War II.
Forming The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951, he launched the silky, syncopated rhythms of backroom jazz into the mainstream.
Brubeck’s iconic LP "Time Out," dropped in 1959, was the first ever million-selling jazz LP, and remains the best-selling jazz album of all time.
“Time Out” featured "Take Five" – in 5/4 time – which became Brubeck’s signature theme, making the Billboard singles chart in 1961. ‘
Ironically, the piece was composed by the Qiuartet’s saxophonist, Paul Desmond.
In later years Brubeck composed music for operas, ballet, Charlie Brown TV shows and even a contemporary Mass.
"That's the beauty of music," Brubeck said.
"You can take a theme from a Bach sacred chorale and improvise. It doesn't make any difference where the theme comes from; the treatment of it can be jazz."
Take Five, maestro.
