All I wanted for Christmas this year was for no one in the world to die from December 5-31, 2012. Not only didn’t my wish come true, but one of the fallen is the mighty, impossibly cool Dave Brubeck.
Dave Brubeck, a jazz musician who attained pop-star acclaim with recordings such as “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital, in Norwalk, Conn., said his longtime manager-producer-conductor Russell Gloyd.
Brubeck was one day short of his 92nd birthday. He died of heart failure, en route to “a regular treatment with his cardiologist,” said Gloyd.
Throughout his career, Brubeck defied conventions long imposed on jazz musicians. The tricky meters he played in “Take Five” and other works transcended standard conceptions of swing rhythm. (Via)
Even if the only thing you know about jazz is that Jazz + Jazz = Jazz, you’re probably aware of pianist Dave Brubeck. “Take Five” has been in dozens of TV shows and movies, to the point where, like “This Land Is Your Land,” it doesn’t seem like it was ever written or originally performed by anyone; it feels like it’s always existed.
Dave, this jazz freak out’s for you.
