Dave Brubeck: It's About Time: 2nd Flute

Sayre's arrangement captures the historical significance of the Brubeck Quartet's innovations while making three iconic compositions feel like a unified narrative arc. The medley structure allows bands to perform these touchstones without programming three separate pieces, and the Grade 4 scoring ensures technical accessibility without sacrificing the rhythmic sophistication that made the originals groundbreaking.

Cool, analytical, and rhythmically alive. The writing captures the cerebral confidence of the Brubeck Quartet's approach to odd meters while maintaining the swinging, conversational quality that made these recordings accessible to audiences far beyond jazz insiders. Each section carries its own personality, from the crisp geometry of "Unsquare Dance" to the breezy sophistication of "Take Five."

Concert bands looking to program recognizable jazz standards with substantial musical content and students who need exposure to meters beyond 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. This medley works equally well for bands building jazz literacy and those seeking an engaging, historically informed concert piece that bridges classical and vernacular traditions.

• Lock the meter shifts between sections before rehearsing at tempo. The transitions between 5/4, 11/8, and 4/4 demand precision from your ensemble; rehearse them as isolated passages first.
• Balance the soloists against the ensemble carefully. These melodies thrive when front voices cut through, so check your dynamic markings and adjust section volumes if the primary line gets buried.
• Let the rhythm section breathe. The piano and drums carry the rhythmic identity in the original recordings; your percussion and piano parts need independence and flexibility, not mechanical metronomic playing.
• Spend time on the "Take Five" section with careful articulation work. The straightforward 5/4 groove is deceptively tricky; if it feels stiff, your articulation and swing feel need adjustment rather than a tempo change.

Position this as a concert centerpiece that demonstrates your ensemble's rhythmic maturity and stylistic versatility. It pairs naturally with contemporary classical works that explore unusual meters or other jazz-informed arrangements, and it provides a cultural bridge between traditional concert band fare and modern compositional practice. The 4:40 duration makes it ideal for a featured spot without consuming an entire half of your program.

• Reading and executing 5/4 and 11/8 meters
• Jazz articulation and swing feel
• Listening to and balancing solo voices within ensemble texture
• Rhythmic independence between sections