Dave Brubeck Dies at 91

[CW]

Back around 2002, the Infiniti car company had a commercial for one of their new models. In the commercial, the new model was cruising the rainy streets at night while a cool, smooth jazz tune with a tasty sax played in the background. I didn't know the song, but the melody stayed in my head. I had hoped to one day figure out the title of the song.

Later that year I was down in Cleveland to catch my favorite band, Rush, at Gund Arena. During intermission I was outside having a smoke, and off in the distance I could hear that melody -- the same jazz song from the Infiniti commercial. I walked around the corner and saw a street musician playing a sax in downtown Cleveland, on the corner, with a tip hat in front of him. I walked up and had to ask, "Hey there, what song is that??" "Take Five by Dave Brubeck!" the tall, older gentleman replied. I threw a buck into his hat and listened to the song a bit more -- it sounded perfect as it echoed through the city streets, the notes bouncing off the tall buildings. I went back in the for the 2nd set of the Rush show, and later that week I picked up Time Out on CD.

RIP Mr. Brubeck.

[barrysloate]

I agree Ted, it was a great concert and a very enjoyable night. I don't think he performed too many times after May 2011, so what we saw was among his very last shows. But he still could play!

[mark evans]

One of the greats. I had to work through hating jazz before I could come to some appreciation. One of the virtues of a small combo (like Brubeck) is that the listener can focus on each instrument individually or on the group as a whole, or both at the same time, in which case it helps if you live in Washington state or Colorado.

[71buc]

My father introduced me to Jazz at an early age. Bruebeck was and is my favorite. Take 5...amazing!

[Duluth Eskimo]

I always thought Brubeck has gotten lost in recent years when people talk about great jazz musicians. Dave Brubeck is without a doubt one of the top jazz if not all musicians of all time. An absolute classic and under appreciated in recent years

[71buc]

The Koufax piece in Ken Burns Baseball one of my favorite moments in the series. I thought the use of Brubeck music in the background while showing Koufax pitch would have been more appropriate...and very cool