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Dave Brubeck died this morning at the age of 91, a trailblazer extraordinaire in the realm jazz of time signatures. Best known for the song “Take Five,” which includes the alto sax of his long-time collaborator, Paul Desmond, Brubeck was a staple of the college tour circuit in the 1950’s and ’60’s. Ever innovative, he continued to write and release music up until his death.

I had the good fortune to see him in concert at Chicago’s Symphony Hall about fifteen years ago and, even then in his seventies, he displayed the energy and joy of playing that made him a darling of the “cool jazz” era at universities across the country. In fact, in his heyday he toured the world and wrote albums based on his experiences in different countries.

I will continue to think about Dave Brubeck each time I hear Donald Fagen’s (of Steely Dan fame) charming tribute to him in the lyrics of “New Frontier:”

I hear you’re mad about Brubeck
I like your eyes, I like him too
He’s an artist, a pioneer
We’ve got to have some music on the new frontier

Here is a short list of Dave Brubeck albums to explore:

• Jazz: Red, Hot and Cool (1955)
• Jazz Impressions of Eurasia (1958)
• Time Out (1959) – includes “Take Five”
• Bravo! Brubeck! (1967)
• We’re All Together Again For the First Time (1973) – which I earlier blogged as one of the ten best live albums of all time
• Young Lions and Old Tigers (1995)

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