Jazz great Dave Brubeck, whose crossover hit “Take Five” was for many their introduction to the genre, died Wednesday morning at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn., according to Russel Gloyd, Brubeck’s longtime producer and friend. Brubeck was just one day from turning 92.
The pianist and composer, who produced most of his hits with alto sax player Paul Desmond, achieved national stardom with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, known for their avant-garde album covers, use of unusual time signatures and complex but accessible music. The band’s biggest album, Time Out, which featured the career-defining standard “Take Five,” was the first-ever jazz album to sell more than a million copies. Loved by casual and ardent jazz fans alike, Brubeck is survived by his wife Iola, five children and 10 grandchildren. Below you will find a stream of hit record Time Out, plus two vids of the piano player and his band in action.