Time Out (album)

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Time Out
Time Out cover
Studio album by 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
Professional reviews
Dave Brubeck chronology
Gone with the Wind
(1959)		 Time Out
(1959)		 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.

Contents

[edit] 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, while "Strange Meadow Lark" is too flexible to be pinned down to a particular time signature, though there are hints of waltz time. "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.

[edit] Track listing

On the original vinyl LP:

[edit] Side A

  1. "Blue Rondo à la Turk" – 6:44
  2. "Strange Meadow Lark" – 7:22
  3. "Take Five" – 5:24

[edit] Side B

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

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

[edit] 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
Technical
  • Teo Macero - producer
  • Fred Plaut - engineer
  • Mark Wilder - engineer
  • Cozbi Sanchez-Cabrera - art direction
  • Seth Rothstein - project director

[edit] Charts

Album

Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1961 Pop Albums 2
Singles

Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1961 "Take Five" Adult Contemporary 5
1961 "Take Five" Pop Singles 25

[edit] External links and sources

Languages