Chord progressions

[bako]

Each new chord can shift the perspective slightly.

Dm F G C

Dm F G Bb

Dm F Gm Am

Dm F G A7

Dm F Gm Eb

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

What does the A section of Take Five suggest (vamping between Eb-7 and Bb-7)?

[bako]

What does the A section of Take Five suggest (vamping between Eb-7 and Bb-7)?

Out of context the sequence can be either IIm VIm or VIm IIIm.
In context: The determinant not C or Cb is not stated in the melody in the A section
1st chord in the B section is Bma7 which points towards Eb aeolian.
The V7 chord at the end of the B section makes a strong case fore Eb minor being the proper key.

Again a starting reference does not have to be where you end up.
Different choices lead to different content.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

For me, the vamp suggests an Eb minor blues feel, so whatever else I do, I gravitate back to Eb minor blues. I build up some tension and then shift gears on the bridge. To me, the bridge is just cycling through the circle of fifths, clearly in Gb major, until it turns around to the A section again.

[JonR]

What does the A section of Take Five suggest (vamping between Eb-7 and Bb-7)?

Eb keynote, for sure.
The melody is blues scale, so I'd be thinking minor blues.

As for mode - if that's how we're thinking - that's less obvious. There's no 6th anywhere, so it could be dorian or aeolian. The Gb major bridge suggests aeolian.