The lights come up on a ballerina (Noelani Pantastico) sitting on the stage. Unless you put food in front of an artist, they won’t stop. That was the essence of how I found my way into the piece. Or an artist starts doodling on another piece of paper. Or a dancer starts practicing another step. Many times, I have told a band to stop playing, and, inevitably, the pianist starts noodling some other tune. And while that might be true in the world outside of the arts, artists never really “take five” – they are always thinking, always moving, always playing. It asks you to stop working and relax for a bit. The phrase “take five” has always interested me. “Take Five”, “Blue Rondo à la Turk”, and “Strange Meadow Lark” – you couldn’t get more entertaining than that! Here was my opportunity to finally choreograph to those Dave Brubeck songs I loved so much. Right away I accepted and said I would have a think about the music. I knew PNB had a wonderful reputation for top-notch dancers, and I also knew Peter was doing a magnificent job running the company.
He was commissioning choreographers to create an evening of spirited, witty pieces designed to entertain. Peter was putting together the program for PNB’s “Laugh Out Loud!” Festival. I received a call from the incomparable Peter Boal, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet who had been recently appointed as Artistic Director of Pacific Northwest Ballet. This music was a big part of my life growing up, and now, hardly a day goes by when I don’t listen to jazz. Other songs on that album I adored were “Blue Rondo à la Turk”, which has an unusual rhythm that consists of three measures of 2+2+2+3 and one measure of 3+3+3 then repeats, and “Strange Meadow Lark”, a beautiful ballad that starts with a piano solo and moves into a 4/4 swing. I remember Corky saying, “This is the first jazz album to sell a million copies!” That seemed like a lot to an eight-year-old girl. My older brother Corky, who had a great ear for jazz, had it in his collection and I gravitated to it even as a young child. I first heard the album Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet around the age of eight, and I listened to that record for years until I completely wore it out. I knew I was listening to something different – it was addictive. It was that time signature which intrigued me. Brubeck asked Paul Desmond to write a song in 5/4 time. Brubeck’s style was odd time signatures, improvised counterpoint, and distinctive harmonies. “Take Five” was written by saxophonist Paul Desmond and recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. They stick with me and whenever I hear them, I imagine how I would translate that song into dance. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0157B).There have been many songs in my lifetime that I dream I might someday have the chance to choreograph. Standard notation and chord names (does not include words to the songs). Artist/Personality Piano - Personality Book Piano Supplemental. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz (JA.V105DS). For any C, Eb, Bb, bass instrument or voice. Volume 105 - Dave Brubeck "In Your Own Sweet Way"Ĭomposed by Dave Brubeck. Fingerings and chord names (does not include words to the songs). Standard notation, fingerings and introductory text (does not include words to the songs). Seriously Brubeck (Original Music by Dave Brubeck) Advanced Early Advanced Intermediate Late Intermediate.
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