I kind a like 5/4 beats. It started of course with "Take Five", which comes from the album "Time out". On that album are also the classics "Blue Rondo a la Turk" a 9/8, grouped as 2-2-2-3. "Unsquare Dance" (not on Time out, but Desmond-Brubeck production) a 7/4 is grouped as 2-2-3.

For me Take Five is like a waltz, perhaps because it is grouped as 3-2. But you shouldn't count at all, but just feel the rhythme. (totally agree with Scottyee)Espescially if you want to improvise on it. I played Take five on my accordeon in 1972 with a big band. I have a bad recording of it on my website. (actually 2 recordings, one with a small band, the other one with a big band.
Here is the link with the big band: http://www.hercodeboer.nl/mp3/accord/finaleM.mp3
I arranged it together with Golson's whisper not, which is a 4/4, but at the end I come back to the 5/4 beat of take five.


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drdalet


[This message has been edited by drdalet (edited 04-12-2005).]