Joe Morello, virtuoso drummer to the Dave Brubeck Quartet and contributor to such legendary recordings as Blue Ronda a la Turk and Take Five died at his New Jersey home on Saturday at the age of 82. No cause of death has yet been announced.

Dave Brubeck has described the loss as “a complete shock.” In a statement emailed to the Associated Press, he want on to say:

“Many people consider the rhythm section of (bassist) Eugene Wright and Joe Morello in my quartet as being one of the most consistent, swinging rhythm sections in jazz. Drummers worldwide remember Joe as one of the greatest drummers we have known.”

In the course of his career, Morello recorded more than 60 albums with the Dave Brubeck Quartet quartet, and a further 60 albums after the 1967 disbandment of the quartet.

[Reuters]