Six For Saturday - The International Appeal of Brubeck's "Take Five"

Sachal Jazz"This is the most interesting and different recording of "Take Five" that I've ever heard..." - Dave Brubeck

There's buzz on the Web regarding a new interpretation of Mr. Brubeck's seminal Take Five (written by Paul Desmond) by Sachal Studios in Pakistan. As with most buzz I don't allow myself to get too excited, lest I be in for a big disappointment. :)

Hooray! This time I wasn't. The Sachal Studios Orchestra did a fresh rendition of Take Five! Check it out below: 

It made me think about what other versions of Take Five were out there in the world that get overlooked? 

Well, here's a reggae version that I've never heard.  What do you think? 

"El Rey" aka Tito Puente Sr. did a version with his Latin Jazz Ensemble: 

The Rastrelli Cello Quartet gives us a different vibe below: 

 I used to be hardcore about reggae and dub. Yes, there is a difference. Maybe it's not discernable to a casual listener but there is a diff. Here is the "Dub Master" King Tubby's version of Take Five:

The last clip is the vocal version performed by Carmen McRae with the Brubeck Quartet in 1961: 

What are your thoughts about the international appeal of Take Five? What other jazz standards have had this treatment? I know that there are more than a few - what are your favorites that have been reimagined by a different style of music?

Shout out to @vasugi on Twitter for sharing her discovery with me! Thank you...

Comments

[Art Greenberg]

Hi Donna,

Sachel Studio's version will be played for my students on Monday. Wow. I like the NY Ska group version as well.

ArtTG

[Donna M]

Hi Art!

Wow - your students are coming right along with embracing jazz music. Just think about how they were only a few months ago.

Yeah, I thought that the NY Ska version was a cool one, too. :)

Donna

[Vasugi]

Hey, really cool to see all the different versions! Thanks for doing this. My take here: http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006490.html

[Donna M]

Hi Vasugi

Thanks for checking the post out. I checked out your take on it when you sent me the link the other day. Thank you for that, too. :)

Donna