Take Five is probably one of the jazz titles that is best-known to a mass audience. It was composed by Paul Desmond and it appeared on the album Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Pianist Brubeck had studied veterinary medicine before turning to music, and in 1949 he formed an octet, and then in 1951 his famous quartet with Paul Desmond playing saxophone. He signed with Columbia in 1954 and built up an excellent reputation, but in 1959 he became famous around the globe thanks to two titles, Take Five and Blue Rondo à la Turk. In France, the singer Claude Nougaro made the quartet’s work popular when he wrote the French lyrics for versions of Three to get ready (adapted as Le jazz et la Java) and Blue Rondo a la Turk (with the title A bout de souffle). Dave Brubeck was “quiet man”, far from the legends and excess often linked with jazz: he would spend six decades in a world where life, and jazz, was “cool.”
Le Dave Brubeck Quartet est un groupe de jazz américain légendaire, formé dans les années 1950 sous la direction du célèbre pianiste et compositeur Dave Brubeck. Connu pour ses innovations rythmiques et harmoniques, le quartet a repoussé les limites du jazz traditionnel avec des compositions complexes qui intégraient des signatures temporelles inhabituelles, comme dans leur morceau phare "Take Five". Ce groupe, avec des membres tels que le saxophoniste Paul Desmond, a marqué l’histoire du jazz en fusionnant des éléments de musique classique et de jazz, influençant des générations de musiciens.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet is a legendary American jazz group, formed in the 1950s under the leadership of renowned pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. Known for its rhythmic and harmonic innovations, the quartet pushed the boundaries of traditional jazz with complex compositions featuring unusual time signatures, as showcased in their iconic track "Take Five." With members such as saxophonist Paul Desmond, the group made history by blending elements of classical music with jazz, influencing generations of musicians.