# Joe Morello, jazz drummer - farewell and rest in peace. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480 "2011-03-13T01:26:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/1 "2011-03-13T01:26:26Z")
I just read that Joe Morello, most famous as the drummer with the Dave Brubeck Quartet on the classic “Time Out” recording (which, of course, featured “Take Five”.) has passed away at the age of 82. NPR article at [this link](http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2011/03/12/134493874/jazz-drummer-joe-morello-of-take-five-fame-dies-at-82). I wanted to say ‘thank you’ for the many years of inspiration - may your memory be ever fresh, and may the light shine on you… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/2 "2011-03-13T01:29:26Z")
I just put on “Unsquare Dance” in honor of Joe. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/3 "2011-03-13T03:59:17Z")
Another version of the solo from Take Five - wow! [Link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTyTc6FjjU&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/4 "2011-03-13T04:17:29Z")
Hmm - any relation to blues drummer, Jimmy Morello? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/5 "2011-03-13T04:18:29Z")
A couple of my favourites - [Sounds of the Loop.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0XED9VI2cg) And a [drumming exercise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CujyFrnsmGs&feature=related) from his instructional video. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/6 "2011-03-13T07:17:33Z")
Dammit; we’re one down now and everyone knows the world never has enough jazz drummers as it is. RIP Joe and thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/7 "2011-03-13T15:03:00Z")
Oh FUCK! I’ve idolized Morello since the 60s, when _Take Five_ first hit the airwaves. The man was a percussion genius; listening to _[Castillian Drums](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQC1OcxROTo)_ on the old Carnegie Hall album proved to me that there would never be anybody else in his class. . .ever. In fact, the only drummer prior to him that was close was Louis Bellson, who I’m pretty sure must have been a model for Morello’s style. A listen to the tune _Skin Deep_ (Bellson playing with Ellington) reveals some of Morello’s future riffs. Even after he went blind, Joe continued to teach and play. That leaves Eugene Wright and Dave Brubeck as the surviving members of that amazing quartet, and they’re both hitting their ninth decades. This news really bothers me, and I mourn his loss. Son of a bitch. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/8 "2011-03-13T15:35:12Z")
[This clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTyTc6FjjU&feature=related) from one of his _Take Five_ solos demonstrates his incredible stick control and the use of his hands instead of sticks to great effect. The sound he got from a five-piece set was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/9 "2011-03-13T17:43:48Z")
The New York Times somehow missed his passing. I sent an email to a friend of mine who works there, who said he would bring it to their attention. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/10 "2011-03-13T18:04:25Z")
Chefguy, by any chance, were you in university in the early 60s, when the Dave Brubeck Quartet toured campuses on a yearly basis? Just curious, and envious… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/11 "2011-03-13T18:35:43Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Chefguy, by any chance, were you in university in the early 60s, when the Dave Brubeck Quartet toured campuses on a yearly basis? Just curious, and envious… I saw the DBQ in concert at Vanderbilt in 1960. Great show. Joe was my favorite drummer of them all. Sad news. Dave keeps on trucking, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/12 "2011-03-13T19:00:21Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Chefguy, by any chance, were you in university in the early 60s, when the Dave Brubeck Quartet toured campuses on a yearly basis? Just curious, and envious… I was in college in Fairbanks in the mid 60s, but Brubeck didn’t come there. I really regret not making a point of seeing one of their concerts when the quartet was together, but it was good to see Dave in Moscow (and actually chat with him for a bit), since I’m doubting he’s able to tour anymore. He’s a very laid back guy and always willing to talk to people. His group played at the ambassador’s house in Moscow after the summit was over. Reagan came out and made an unintelligible little speech after Brubeck played, and everybody but me rushed over to try to meet the president. I saw Dave heading out the back door for a smoke and followed him out. We had a nice conversation on the lawn. Later, I was talking to an embassy employee who told me that he and she sat on her stoop the night before and talked for a couple of hours. Talk about envious! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/13 "2011-03-14T21:03:59Z")
From the [JazzFM](http://www.jazz.fm/content/view/4361/153/) website - > [@](#): > > In Doug Ramsey’s superb book, Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, Doug writes of the song Take Five’s origin: “Morello said that in concert he used to go into 5/4 time in the drum break of a Brubeck piece called Sounds of the Loop, which the group recorded in 1956 on its album Jazz Impressions of the USA.” > > Doug then quoted Morello: “I’d just mess around in 5, go from 5/4 to 7/4, and I guess they hadn’t heard that kind of thing before, so I kept saying, ‘Come on Dave, why don’t you write something in 5/4?’ He never did, so Paul said one night, ‘I’ll write something.’ We were rehearsing up at Dave’s house one time, and Paul came in with that. So we recorded the thing in the studio at Columbia, and I think it was the first take or the second take, and Dave was playing the vamp. I hear it every day somewhere, so it was a very lucky thing. It was my idea.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/14 "2011-03-14T21:25:17Z")
Just seeing this thread - wow, what a talent; I will put on Take Five when I get home to remember him… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-morello-jazz-drummer-farewell-and-rest-in-peace/574480/15 "2011-03-14T23:09:32Z")
I see that my friend got the obit put up on the NYT site.