S.O.D. "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

12/17/2015     More than 40 versions of this 1959 West Coast cool jazz masterpiece have been attempted by artists such as Quincy Jones's, Stevie wonder and George Benson.  

     Monster of jazz, Paul Desmond who plays alto saxophone on the track, is the composer with the rest of the quartet doing their part with the E-flat minor composition.  The name of the piece is taken from its tempo of quintuple 5/4 time and also features the saxophone mastering a blues scale.  

     It ended up as the best selling jazz single of all time, eventually making it to #5 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.  If you listen close you may hear it during a film, commercial or news broadcast.  

     The quartet featuring Dave Bruebeck on piano, Eugene right on base, Joe Morello on drums and Paul Desmond, have all passed on to jazz heaven except for Wright who I s 92 years old.  All four members were significant jazz figures.