Take Five: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

Take Five: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score

Name: Take Five: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-29819S
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Paul Desmond / arr. Rich DeRosa

Grade: 2 (Medium Easy)

Item: 00-29819S

$10.00

Shipped

One moment…

Perhaps the most famous time chart of all time, Take Five is in 5/4 but the rhythmic pattern is clear and consistent throughout. You'll find this arrangement very accessible with easy alto sax and drum solos, and modest brass ranges. Recommended for every concert! (4:21)

Take Five: Jazz Ensemble Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

No sample videos found.

Series: Jazz for Young People Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 16

UPC: 038081323046

SKU: 00-29819S

More about this title

About the Composer: Paul Desmond

Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was an alto saxophonist and composer whose lyrical approach to improvisation became synonymous with the cool jazz movement. He was a founding member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the ensemble that recorded Take Five in 1959, and his compositions combined sophisticated harmonic sensibility with melodies that remain instantly recognizable across generations of listeners.

Desmond's musical legacy rests on his ability to make complex harmonic and metric ideas feel natural and inevitable. His work demonstrates how unconventional time signatures and chord progressions can serve melody and emotion rather than obscure them, a principle that continues to inspire jazz educators and arrangers.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Rich DeRosa's arrangement captures what made Take Five a cultural phenomenon: a piece in an unusual meter that swings as naturally as anything in 4/4. The accessible alto sax and drum solos mean young players get real solo opportunities without technical roadblocks, and the modest brass ranges keep the focus on ensemble blend and rhythm section feel rather than individual heroics.

What to expect

Cool, sophisticated, and utterly unforced. The 5/4 meter creates a floating quality that feels exotic at first but becomes as comfortable as a well-worn groove. There's a lightness throughout, a sense of musicians enjoying themselves rather than straining.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the intermediate level looking for a standard that proves young players can handle unusual meters without sacrificing the essence of jazz. Directors programming their first jazz concert or seeking a piece that entertains audiences while building genuine musicianship will find this an essential addition.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the 5/4 meter through repeated listening to the recording. The subdivision becomes intuitive when students hear how the rhythm section locks into the groove; don't overteach the math.
Balance the soloists in the alto sax and drum breaks so they're heard as conversation partners with the ensemble, not separate from it.
Keep the overall tempo steady and relaxed. This piece lives in the space between metronomic precision and breathable swing; rushing kills the cool.
Let the rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) anchor the form while the horns breathe together as a section. The arrangement's accessibility comes from everyone trusting each other's timing.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a jazz concert, perhaps flanked by a blues or standard in 4/4 to show range. It also works beautifully as a concert closer when you want to leave audiences smiling and a bit amazed at what your students can accomplish.