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Remembering Dave Brubeck, jazz legend

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck best known for groundbreaking jazz standards such as "Take Five" with his Dave Brubeck Quartet, died Wednesday in Norwalk, Conn.
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Dave Brubeck plays piano during the California Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony reception in Sacramento, California, on December 15, 2008. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver presided over the California Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The California Museum. (UPI Photo/The California Museum)
Dave Brubeck plays piano during the California Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony reception in Sacramento, California, on December 15, 2008. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver presided over the California Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The California Museum. (UPI Photo/The California Museum) 
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Published: Dec. 5, 2012 at 1:41 PM
By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com

Dave Brubeck died Wednesday, a day short of his 92nd birthday, drawing to an end a remarkable career as a jazz pianist that spanned more than 60 years.

Brubeck, who died of heart failure in Norwalk, Conn., was known for playing defiant, unconventional jazz music that stretched the genre. His best-known piece, "Take Five" was written by his long-time musical partner, alto-saxophonist Paul Desmond, and remains is one of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's more recognizable compositions.

"Take Five," which is composed in the unusual 5/4 time, was part of an experimental album Take Out on which all the songs were composed in time signatures not considered standard for Western Jazz.

Blue Rondo à la Turk

Theme from Mr. Broadway

He began composing orchestral and choral works after the Dave Brubeck Quartet disbanded in 1967, including a cantata mixing Biblical scripture with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., called The Gates of Justice.

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