Time Out (album)

Infobox Album|
Name = Time Out
Type = Album
Artist = The Dave Brubeck Quartet


Released = 1959
Recorded = June 25, July 1, August 18 1959 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio, New York City
Genre = Cool jazz, West Coast jazz
Length = 38:35
Label = Columbia Records
Producer = Teo Macero
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0tkzikbhbbf9 link]
* "Q" Rating|4|5 [http://www.buy.com/prod/Time_Out/q/loc/109/60108190.html#prorev @Buy]
* "Port Halcyon" (positive) [http://www.porthalcyon.com/reviews/200411/brubeck.shtml Nov. 2004]
* "Mojo" (mild positive) [http://www.buy.com/prod/Time_Out/q/loc/109/60108190.html#prorev @Buy]
Chronology = Dave Brubeck
Last album = "Gone with the Wind"
(1959)
This album = "Time Out"
(1959)
Next album = "The Riddle"
(1959)

"Time Out" is a 1959 album by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, based upon the use of time signatures that were unusual for jazz (mainly waltz or double-waltz time, but also 9/8, and most famously 5/4).

Although the album was intended as an experiment (Columbia president Goddard Lieberson was willing to chance releasing it) and received negative reviews by critics upon its release, it became one of the best-known and biggest-selling jazz albums, reaching number two in the U.S. Billboard "Pop Albums" chart, and produced one single — Paul Desmond's "Take Five" — that reached number five in the Billboard "Adult Contemporary" chart.

In 2005 it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Overview

Although the theme (and the title) of "Time Out" is non-common-time signatures, things are not quite so simple. "Blue Rondo à la Turk" starts in 9/8 (the rhythm of the Turkish "zeybek", equivalent of the Greek "zeibekiko"), but alternates with 4/4. "Strange Meadow Lark" begins with a piano solo that exhibits no clear time signature but then settles into a fairly ordinary 4/4 swing once rest of the group joins. "Take Five" ("supposed to be a Joe Morello drum solo", according to Desmond) is in 5/4 throughout. "Three to Get Ready" begins in waltz-time, after which it begins to alternate between two measures of 3/4 (the waltz-time), and two of 4/4. "Kathy's Waltz" (misspelt after Brubeck's daughter, Cathy) starts in 4/4, and only later switches to double-waltz time, before merging the two. "Everybody's Jumpin' " is mainly in a very flexible 6/4, while "Pick Up Sticks" firms that up into a clear and steady 6/4.

Aside from all this, Desmond has a habit of smoothing the time into something nearer 4/4 as he plays. Partly because of this, but mainly because of the skill and jazz sensibilities of the musicians, the complex and non-jazz rhythms do not stop the music from swinging.

Track listing

On the original vinyl LP:

ide A

#"Blue Rondo à la Turk" – 6:44
#"Strange Meadow Lark" – 7:22
#"Take Five" – 5:24

ide B

#"Three to Get Ready" – 5:24
#"Kathy's Waltz" – 4:48
#"Everybody's Jumpin' " – 4:23
#"Pick Up Sticks" – 4:16

The title "Blue Rondo à la Turk" echoes Mozart's "Rondo alla Turca" from his Piano Sonata No. 11.

Personnel

All pieces composed by Dave Brubeck, except "Take Five" by Paul Desmond. The album was recorded over three sessions that took place on June 25, July 1, and August 18 1959.

; Musical

* Dave Brubeck — piano
* Paul Desmond — alto saxophone
* Eugene Wright — double bass
* Joe Morello — drums

; Technical

* Teo Macero - producer
* Fred Plaut - engineer
* Mark Wilder - engineer
* Cozbi Sanchez-Cabrera - art direction
* Seth Rothstein - project director

Charts

; Album

Billboard (North America)

; Singles

Billboard (North America)

External links and sources

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4556514 The Dave Brubeck Quartet: "Time Out"] — by A.B. Spellman and Murray Horwitz; part of NPR's Basic Jazz Record Library
* Liner notes by Steve Race (original release), and Dave Brubeck (1997 re-release)