Legendary Drummer Joe Morello Dies at 82

Best known for his work with odd time signatures as a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Morello has been hugely influential to musicians of all styles.


Today the music world mourns the passing of one of the key figures who made The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s classic album ‘Time Out’ such an innovative and influential piece of Jazz history. Drummer Joe Morello died Saturday, March 12 at his home in New Jersey at 82. I’m not a drummer, but Morello’s work still meant a lot to me.

I had this guitar teacher when I was very young who insisted I learn the song ‘Take Five’. He wanted to open my mind to creating accessible music in alternate time signatures. That album was a huge influence on my music and Morello is said to have been a leading force in the group’s foray into odd time signatures.

The brilliance behind the quartet’s recordings however was not just that the group veered away from standard time signatures. It was that they did it with such subtlety that the average listener didn’t seem to notice.

Odd time signatures can be very unnerving if done improperly or as a way to just show off. What these guys proved was that you could manipulate time and still keep the groove of a tune in a mainstream pocket. Which is precisely why the 1959 album ‘Time Out’ became the first million-selling Jazz album in history.

Here is a clip of a truly amazing solo by Morello from a 1961 live performance of ‘Take Five’. Watch as he goes from gentle bare hands to explosive sticks and then has to go and fetch his kick. And the crowd goes wild.

RIP Joe Morello (17 July 1928 – 12 March 2011)

See Also:
Joe Morello
Dave Brubeck
Time Out 50th Anniversary (2 CD/1 DVD Legacy Edition)


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