Take Five

Paul Desmond wrote Take Five for the group he called home, and the result became the centerpiece of their 1959 album Time Out. The quartet recorded this piece during sessions for Columbia Records, capturing a sound that blended cool jazz with classical influences. Drummer Joe Morello mastered the complex 5/4 rhythm while bassist Eugene Wright laid down a steady foundation, allowing pianist Dave Brubeck to weave intricate lines over the top. The track builds on a simple two-chord vamp and a bluesy melody in E-flat minor, creating an accessible yet complex soundscape that defied the standard 4/4 swing of the era.

Although the single arrived in September 1959, it did not immediately become a hit. Listeners took time to adjust to the unusual meter, and the song struggled to gain traction until 1961 when radio programmers finally embraced its unique groove. That delay proved fortuitous, as the track eventually climbed the charts to reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its popularity propelled the parent album to become one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, earning multi-platinum certification decades later. [edit]