Product Description

Second only to Jazz Samba by Stan Getz, as the most commercially successful jazz record of all time (it even contained a single for the pop charts, Paul Desmond's magnificent 'Take Five'), Brubeck brilliantly popularised jazz and offered it as a palatable alternative to Bobby Vee. This album sold by the trunkload and made Brubeck a popular star. Those jazz critics who shunned him for becoming too commercial must eattheir words, as this is a monumental album of the finest modern jazz. 'Blue Rondo A La Turk' and 'Kathy's Waltz' demonstrate this man's graceful, nonchalant class.

Track Listing

1. Blue Rondo A La Turk
2. Strange Meadowlark
3. Take Five
4. Three To Get Ready
5. Kathy's Waltz
6. Everybody's Jumpin'
7. Pick Up Sticks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3036 in Music
• Released on: 1997-04-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Boasting the first jazz instrumental to sell a million copies, the Paul Desmond-penned "Take Five", Time Out captures the celebrated jazz quartet at the height of both its popularity and its powers. Recorded in 1959, the album combines superb performances by pianist Brubeck, alto saxophonist Desmond, drummer Joe Morrello and bassist Gene Wright. Along with "Take Five", the album features another one of the group's signature compositions, "Blue Rondo a la Turk". Though influenced by the West Coast-cool school, Brubeck's greatest interest and contribution to jazz was the use of irregular meters in composition, which he did with great flair. Much of the band's appeal is due to Desmond, whose airy tone and fluid attack often carried the band's already strong performances to another level. Together, he and Brubeck proved one of the most potent pairings of the era. --Fred Goodman

Customer Reviews

Really Superb Brubeck SACD
Below is the review I recently posted on Amazon.com for the Dave Brubeck Take Five SACD. I really felt I should post the reveiw on Amazon.co.uk also, as there appear to be reviews which relate only to the CD release - same story with US Amazon. Surely there must be others out there that could stand up for this superb SACD album??!!

Although I'm not what I consider to be a great fan of jazz, I have enjoyed Dave Brubeck's music for quite some time. For the last two and a half years or so, I have bought almost only high resolution music (DVD-A or SACD), and was determined to buy this disc soon. For a short while, several years ago, I owned the standard CD version of this album - until I donated it to my father-in-law. For anyone reading this reveiw, I can confirm that there is little comparison possible between the CD version of this album, and this SACD version. Please note; this is an SACD, and not an SACD hybrid. This means that a dedicated SACD player is required for playback, unlike the hybrid SACDs where at least the CD layer can be accessed with a standard CD player. If you have an SACD player, and a half-decent set of speakers, I can't imagine how anyone would fail to be impressed. The clarity of the recording, and it's 3-dimensionalism is amazing. It is really like having someone play in your living room. For those interested, this disc offers a stereo and a 5.1 audio option, and comes packaged in a "standard CD" jewel case - unlike many SACDs which come in so-called "Super Jewel Boxes". My universal disc player is set to default to multi-channel playback wherever possible on SACDs or DVD-A, and I have therefore not listened to this disc in stereo. The multi-channel mix though is very subtle, and most of the sound comes from the front speakers, leaving the rear speakers to help create a surround effect. This works perfectly well on this disc, and I coudn't imagine how it would work any other way.

If you like Dave Brubeck and have an HD audio player, go out an buy this album. If you don't yet own an HD audio player, go out and buy one! It's high time that the standard CD hurried up and died, and made way for music only on the hi-res formats such as SACD or DVD-A!

Great Memories of Childhood
My review title may seem a bit strange but for a child who was born in the late 1950s and whose childhood was mainly in the 1960s these tunes feel as familiar and comfortable as a well worn pair of slippers. I can remember all the tunes being played at some time or other on TV programmes but in particular the track "Take Five" stands out for my generation as it was used for the animated "keep the countryside tidy" campaign. Who cannot forget the startled line only deer running away from a forest fire caused by a carelessly dropped cigarette.

The music is of a high standard and although Jazz was always one type of music I could take or leave I have found myself liking more and more as I discovered where many rock groups derived their influences from.

This is an essential addition to any music lover's collection and is a great album for putting on at the end of a warm day and for listening to whilst sipping a nice cold Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand of course!) dreaming about how great the world seemed when one was young and you know what it still is!

The Best Jazz Album Ever?
I think this is an excellent album. It experiments, but still sounds totally commercial and melodic. The different time signatures give the album a unique element that other bands of the era couldn't grasp. All of the playing is tuneful and tastefully done; you'll definitely be humming the melodies for days afterwards. The standout track is obviously 'take five', which incorporates an infectious saxophone riff, plodding piano and a simple but very effective drum solo.

This should be in every Jazz collection full stop. And if the word Jazz normally scares you off, don't worry, this is the creme de la creme, its definitely worth the money if your looking for something different to contemporary music.