"Take Five" Drummer Joe Morello

The great jazz drummer Joe Morello performs "Take Five" and discusses his career in this segment from a 2001 edition of State of the Arts.
Joe Morello is often credited with introducing the 5/4 and 7/8 time signatures featured on the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s breakout album “Time Out” in 1959. In this 2001 interview with host Amber Edwards, Morello describes how his classical training influenced his approach. In fact, he was a violin prodigy, playing with the Boston Symphony at age six. Later in life, Down Beat named Morello best drummer of the year five years in a row, and he was elected to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1988.
Appearing in the State of the Arts studio with his full drum kit, Morello begins with one of the most famous drum solos of all time, from “Take Five.” At the age of 72, it left him breathing hard - but he goes on to give a great interview about his life and career, plus one of the more unusual drumming demonstrations you’ll see anywhere.
Joe Morello died ten years after this appearance, in 2011 at his home in Irvington, New Jersey.

[@porkstack]

The atomic clock is set to Joe Morello. The greatest ever.

[@RCAvhstape]

One of the greatest drummers ever right there.

[@gixxerboy555]

100%

[@joebutlersnr7017]

I've only just discovered him in the last year and I realize that he is a true legend and the coolest drummer ever.

[@atombomb31458]

thats the man

[@geoffreynhill2833]

You won't believe it till you hear it. 🤔("Green Fire" UK) 🌈🦉

[@tubemenow2007]

My all time favorite Drummer. R.I.P.

[@dkotouc]

Joe’s left hand never fails to amaze…

[@federalist46]

"Take Five", was a throw away piece. Now that's a keeper statement if there ever was one.

[@boomerguy9935]

I'm pretty sure that Paul Desmond didn't think that when he wrote it. Thanks to Joe, the solo caused this album to be the first jazz album to sell more than a million copies. Not bad.

[@you-tubero]

What a legend, yet so kind!

[@mateoprive2343]

very interesting intervieuw, joe really was on another level. people forget what a legend joe is

[@eshaibraheem4218]

What people?

[@benfrank8649]

He was on the level of Buddy Rich he just didn’t have that ego so he didn’t need to show it off as much. And his understanding of timing is unmatched

[@odurandina]

Moby Dick before John Henry Bonham stole half Joe's solo's.

[@anthonycostanzo3012]

Legend!

[@falvegas511]

Genius, a True Percussionist....NOT just a Banger

[@larryprice6321]

Wow , still had heat at his age . So good

[@odurandina]

One of a very small group of GOAT's imo. At the podium.

[@EWormMusic]

Joe Morello IS the World's greatest drummer in my view.

[@ochocabra1542]

he and Elvin Jones for me

[@EWormMusic]

@@ochocabra1542 Absolutely. Elvin was among the best African American drummers, together with Art Blakey.

[@ochocabra1542]

@@EWormMusic he's among the best drummers, period. ever. no need to qualify it like that.

[@EWormMusic]

@@ochocabra1542 I agree completely. I say also this: Joe and Elvin were two different drummers with very different styles. Each, for me, is respectively the best for his genre: Joe played with Dave Brubeck, who was different to Trane. Stylistically I mean. Jazz is jazz, they had that both in common.

[@odurandina]

i agree.

[@giulioferro8550]

Per anni Morello, ascoltandolo Lo considero Il Batterista Jazzista con Uno SWING SPECIALE MONDIALE una Velocita' Spaventosa! I SUOI 5/4 E ASSOLO DI TAKE FIVE UNICI !!!

[@rickfeld7995]

Back in the day jazz was pop, i/e popular music. Songs like Take 5 & Cast your fate to the wind were #1 on the singles charts. Great clip. Thanks.

[@josephdirvin401]

Saw him live when young some 50 plus years ago

[@boomerguy9935]

I've been listening to him since the Take Five album came out. I've been playing drums since 1965 and Joe is - in my opinion - the greatest drummer ever! Louis Bellson and Papa Jo Jones are tied for second.

[@odurandina]

i agree. Morello a the top of the mountain.

[@ivanstepanov8191]

Пусть Бади Ричь тоже разделит с ними второе место,Окей?

[@alexgolovchenko3791]

One of my core influences, love his work and a very classy Dude.

[@shiftypauls]

I watch and study a lot of drummers and have shown him to my friends and people to compare to other drummers. They all in time have said. Joe morrello is the best drummer. His rythoms and creativity is unmatched. Every one copies from him. He's the best.

[@highvolumepls]

What a lovely guy, I just thought he was so cool in that iconic video back in Brubeck Quartett, pure inspiration as I started learning alto 8 years ago, we miss these giants forever❤😊

[@markogorman8448]

Really Cool guy

[@larryherbert252]

Very interesting how musicians and singers come up with their songs and style- Joe Morello, cool name too!!

[@peteh3012]

Never gets old listening to him play. Springfield’s finest

[@josefinacupido9872]

I still have my Joe Morello 22” cymbal, & love it& sill wish i could play it 😅

[@JunkerOnDrums]

It is impossible to underestimate Joe Morello's importance for drumming technique and books with valuable sheet music/technique exercises for drummers - as well as Joe's importance for jazz i.a. at Dave Brubeck and the "quirky" time signatures. But when I hear the solo he plays at the end, I hear a hi-hat playing à la Joe Jones/Buddy Rich as well as the bass drum in the same style. Joe is one of the greats!

[@alanFconrad]

he's amazing

[@shanerobertcooperramirez1726]

holy shit what a legend

[@davidstaudohar6733]

😀😀 It's Great to see Joe is still playing music 🎼🎼🎼🎵‼️♦️♦️♦️

[@boomerguy9935]

For anyone out there who says that either the cross grip or the match grip is better, should take a look at 1:40 when Joe does both with ease. A good drummer uses anything that works. Joe was a master at everything! I've never heard anything negative about his personality. He was always the humble gentleman who complimented every other musician.

[@noblerichosseiberkoh9196]

Joe defo in top 3 drummers of all time 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@johnshl1345]

Absolutely

[@billbishop5532]

Just WOW

[@drummer57]

Awesome drummer

[@bimini1216]

Nobody today innovates like this

[@JezHarrison-se7ls]

Awesome, and that understates Joe. My apologies Joe. Absolutely amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed the clip.

[@10ampsloblo21]

the best drummer.

[@donnymontoya8927]

Best ever...

[@CaryCotterman]

Wow. A music god.

[@wannabeadrummer]

Banger

[@mjcruiser4238]

If you have any doubt about his greatness -check out his recordings with Marian McPartland

[@kleepo7733]

Amazing people don't realize when drummers then go back you go to John Bonham who is influenced by Buddy Rich and Buddy Rich was influenced by Joe Morello. ,Joe is one of the greatest drummers ever.

[@JoeBilello1969]

Really???? I'm no Nuddy Rich fan but he was around long before Joe Morello😅😂😊

[@nigeljames83]

indeed

[@christophermueller6808]

Switched his grip out. The eff?

[@tonygiraldes7848]

As Duke Ellington said, “If you have a great band with a mediocre drummer, you have a mediocre band. If you have a mediocre band with a great drummer, you have a great band!”

[@jtocwru]

1:43 flipping the left stick to the butt end

[@exquisitecorpse4917]

Less than 7k views for a master of polyrhythm and grandmaster of time? (insert stereotypical grumble about young whippersnappers and their presumably inferior musical tastes)

[@odurandina]

Moby Dick before John Henry Bonham stole half Joe's solo's.

[@n8w8rem22]

Respect 👏🏻 nummero uno of drummers, Joe Morello sorry to Ian Pace or Billy Cobam and the best psychidelic drummer Nick Mason.

[@kevincasson9848]

He would have been an incredible 'Rock n Roll' drummer!!

[@cameronpatrickscott]

Well, he is John Bonhams favourite drummer!

[@gordongekko5356]

Gotta love her wig

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Joe started with classical music...

[@roybeckerman9253]

Why did he leave LUDWIG ..?

[@St63420]

Because Ludwig was mad! Me: Ludwig was NOT mad😂. An old..saying about Mad King Ludwig.😊

[@blujay9191]

Good interviewer too. Ask a really good question. Then shut up. Follow up if appropriate. If not, ask another really good question. Rinse and repeat.

[@Pharoset]

She says, "I can't believe this was first done [the drumming on "Take Five"] 36 years ago." Since "Take Five" came out in 1959, this interview must have taken place in 1995, not 2001. P.S. He doesn't answer the question of whether or not he's blind. That's a clickbait question you put on there.

[@JoeBilello1969]

Ya gotta remember that hes almost totally blind here😮

[@jamesandrade1668]

Waltz limp brubeck

[@AlainHubert]

Greatest drummer ever, worst recording sound engineer ever.

[@yaronbrecher7397]

Jenius drummer deserves a huge salut best drum solo ever ❤❤❤❤❤

[@FRNKNSTNmusic]

Play a note then count 50 bars and go home 😂

[@RD3D-1]

Had he not had an eye issue, and opted out of playing in an orchestra only because of that, think of what the jazz world would have missed.

[@TrystonL7]

12 syncopated avalanches describes this solo

[@claytonvernon8793]

ridiculous left hand

[@GH-oi2jf]

That solo was not like the original, though.

[@Primus54]

Typical of jazz musicians… solos never seem to be played the same way twice.