Customer Reviews

Time Out

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond's ubiquitous "Take Five," Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. That's a testament to Brubeck and Desmond's abilities as composers, because Time Out is full of challenges both subtle and overt -- it's just that they're not jarring. Brubeck's classic "Blue Rondo à la Turk" blends jazz with classical form and Turkish folk rhythms, while "Take Five," despite its overexposure, really is a masterpiece; listen to how well Desmond's solo phrasing fits the 5/4 meter, and how much Joe Morello's drum solo bends time without getting lost. The other selections are richly melodic as well, and even when the meters are even, the group sets up shifting polyrhythmic counterpoints that nod to African and Eastern musics. Some have come to disdain Time Out as it's become increasingly synonymous with upscale coffeehouse ambience, but as someone once said of Shakespeare, it's really very good in spite of the people who like it. It doesn't just sound sophisticated -- it really is sophisticated music, which lends itself to cerebral appreciation, yet never stops swinging. Countless other musicians built on its pioneering experiments, yet it's amazingly accessible for all its advanced thinking, a rare feat in any art form. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection.

I already had a cassette(remember those?)of this but I obviously needed to upgrade part of my collection that wasn't already in cd or in digital file format. This album is Brubeck at his best. The compositions, the interpretation and the sound quality are fantastic!

But, to really enjoy his best work, you've also got to buy the delicious follow up to this album : Time Further Out. Gotta love Unsquare dance,It's a Raggy Waltz,Far More Blue and Far more drums !

To get my teenage daughter hooked on jazz, I gave her this cd, Kind of blue and Blue Train and she was hooked!

Dave Brubeck was in Houston for a concert last night, and we were listening to this album on the way there. A classic album, a classic artist. Though there was no Paul Desmond at the concert, it was fantastic to finally get to hear Dave in person.

It's hard to pick a favorite tune from this album, as they are all wonderful to listen to. "Take Five", the main hit from this album, sounds great on this remastered version, and it sounded amazing as his 85 year old hands tickled the ivories at the concert. Bobby Militello filled in well and amply for Paul Desmond on sax at the performance, by the way.

In addition to "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo A La Turk", I also enjoy "Kathy's Waltz" and "Everybody's Jumpin'", with the Sax lead opening and Dave's piano answering, and the following exchange and counter point.

Also, if you have not heard any of Dave Brubeck's choral arrangements, I would highly recommend them. They were played last night with the Dave Brubeck quartet, the Houston Chamber Choir and a brass section. Simply amazing. You can find them on his albums "The Gates of Justice" and "To Hope".

I don't listen to jazz very often because it's not on the radio too often, but I would like to give it a try. So I made my first jazz cd purchase from a local and new jazz store.

At first, it seem rather plain to me... there would be some interesting spot.. but overall, nothing too interesting.

However, if you keep letting it play, the musics just catch on too you. It just take you away. That's why it is just like wine. This really is a signature music.

This was my first exposure to The Dave Brubeck Quartet. My dad had this album in his record collection. As he bought it just for Take Five,and that was the end of him playing the album, so I kind of inhereted it. I enjoyed the album right away, and began collecting albums by Brubeck one after and another, week after week. After listening to this album, I was also introduced to drummer, Joe Morello. And now, after looking for albums by Brubeck, I only get albums by Brubeck with Joe Morello on it, and others with Joe Morello as a sideman. Anyway, this album starts off with one of the three most famous DBQ songs, (blue rondo a la turk, koto song, and take five). I had no idea about time signatures when I first listened to this album, being about age 12. But somehow I managed to play along with on the drums, no problem. For some strange reason, I was able to play all of Brubeck's odd time signature songs like Eleven Four, Castilian Drums, and of course Take Five, as most kids struggle with odd time signature songs, but I picked it up like that! The next song, Strange Park, was allright, displaying some 3/4, 4/4 techniques featured on the next side. The famous Take Five, which I new nothing of its signifigense was cool, especially with the drum intro. I almost instantainiously picked up the 3/4 brush patterns on 3 to get ready, Kathy's Waltz, and Everybody's Jumpin'. This album sounds like a real late night album. It's echo and coolness, sounded like backround music for a cd store, or a coffee shop. Most other Brubeck albums are not like this. Albums like Southern Scene, Gone With The Wind, and Countdown remind of sun, and the outdoors! I dont think there's a jazz fan in the world who doesn't own this on record or cd, or hasn't heard Take Five. Any young kid or an adult who is just getting in to jazz, will love this album, or jazz, for that matter, after listening to this!

Judging from the other mixed comments on this page, it seems that this album is still being taken several different ways, just as it was in 1959. Want something easy & accessible for the new jazz fan? Like inventive solos and spontaneous group communication? Interested in odd rhythms and time signatures? Looking for something smooth-swinging that'll provide some nice background music? Well, the appeal of Time Out is that it works beautifully on *all* those levels. It started as a simple experiment in branching out beyond steady 4/4 time - which may not seem too rare now, but at the time it was pretty weird stuff - and was never intended to be anything more. But it's one of those works where everything falls into place so naturally it's uncanny, and the result from these sessions really caught on, due largely to the sinuous addictingness of "Take Five." You've probably heard that one somewhere, whether you know it or not.

There's more to offer in the way of rhythm, from the catchy alternating 4/4 and 9/8 of "Blue Rondo a la Turk" to the slow-hopping swing of "Three to Get Ready" to the easy-walking 6/4 beat of "Pick Up Sticks." The group has a wonderful chemistry. They listen and respond to each other but it never seems awkward or forced; they're all just having fun, and that's what really makes the whole affair sound so informal and inviting.

I wouldn't hold all its popularity against it - like Miles Davis's Kind of Blue and John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Time Out is one of those classics that transcends its genre and succeeds wildly without sacrificing any of its quality. And like those other two albums it's highly recommended for jazz neophytes, absolutely essential for any serious collection, and even remains pretty enjoyable to non-jazz fans too. So simply put, if you have any interest in jazz at all, you need this disc. No way around it.

Dave Brubeck met with Paul Desmond to create an album whose sole purpose was to be an experimentation with odd times in jazz. It resulted in a classic hit single, and opened the doorway for experimental avenues in jazz and other music through the use of shifting meters.

Go figure.

"Blue Rondo A La Turk" is here, in its 9/8 glory, with that amazing slink into 4/4 blues(gotta love Eugene Wright walking that bass!) we all know and love. "Take Five" will always be remembered for that crazy Joe Morello drum solo and snaky sax line, all with Brubeck's classic 5/4 vamp underneath it. Other gems are present as well, from the easy/laidback "Strange Meadowlark" to the silly time changes of "Kathy's Waltz" and "Pick Up Sticks."

This is a great jazz album for newbies to jazz, with it's fun rhythms, upbeat nature, and excellent technical performance(just enough to keep things interesting without going over the top). A classic if there ever was one--with popular sales and critical acclaim to boot.

Listen to this SACD with high quality headphones and you will understand what is missing in standard CDs - the digital information necessary to make it sound so natural.

I only recently discovered this album as I was browsing through a cd store in Melbourne. I heard it being played over the loud speakers and I instantly recognised the song (Blue Rondo Alla Turk) as I had heard a version of it before, but I couldn't work out who was playing it, or what instrument it was. At first I thought it was soprano sax ! Anyway, it sounded fantastic, a really different rendering of the blues. It certainly sounded out of place in a large department style cd store that stocked mostly mainstream music. I ended up buying the cd for $10 Australian, which is extremely cheap for any cd. For that small sum of money, Time Out became an almost indispensible part of my life for about three months. I have heard so many jazz artists, from Parker to Coltrane to Bud Powell to Wynton Marsalis. Each one I prize because of their individual style of playing. I never thought I would find two other such players on one cd. Both Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck are, for me, among the most polished and inventive improvisers of all time. Their compositions on this album (all originals) are also strikingly unique and lyrical. I must admit, it did take me several listenings to actually enjoy the music, but after that I was hooked. My personal favourites are Strange Meadow Lark, a pretty medium tempo ballad, and Kathy's Waltz, which features a standout improvisation from Desmond. I have since bought several other recordings from Desmond and Brubeck, all of them gems, and each exemplifying the lyrically beautiful and completely infallible improvisatory technique of both musicians. If you are looking for a good introduction to these two, slightly advanced musicians, this is the one.

This album by the Brubeck Quartet was not their first nor it was their last. It was the first DBQ album I herd and to this day, I'm hooked on the Brubeck Quartet. It is not a straight ahead jazz album, but it's fabulous; solid gold. If you're a first Brubeck timer, this is the album to get you on your way for a lifetime of Brubeck collecting of cds, pictures, videos, and memorabilia.