[albummaster]

Today's album of the day

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet (View album | Buy this album)

Year: 1959.
Country:
Overall rank: 306
Average rating: 84/100 (from 573 votes).

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Tracks:
1. Blue Rondo À La Turk
2. Strange Meadow Lark
3. Take Five
4. Three To Get Ready
5. Kathy's Waltz
6. Everybody's Jumpin'
7. Pick Up Sticks

About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album, or artist, has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety. A full history of album of the day can be viewed here.

[Fischman]

As it has been for so many, Brubeck's "Time Out" was one of my early exposures to jazz. Also as it was for many, "Take Five" grew into a level of overexposure that drove me to set the album aside. I wanted to break it out and give it another go with fresh ears, reflecting on not only its impact, but also the why. This resulted in me recognizing a great contradiction. On one hand, this album is hugely experimental in its application of rhythm. Most notable is the use of unusual and sometimes shifting time signatures, something hitherto unknown in jazz. Normally, such progressive elements turn off casual listeners of any genre. However, this album, and especially "Take Five," which stays in the potentially awkward 5/4 time signature throughout, became a popular favorite. This is testament to Brubeck and (saxophonist) Desmond's fantastic ability as composers. That they could take something which should have been jarring, and make it smooth and accessible is rather incredible. So in the end, this album has appeal for listeners with either mainstream or avant garde leanings. Wow.

Interestingly, the ubiquitous "Take Five," is not only not the only unusual time signature, it's not even the oddest of the bunch. The opener, "Blue Rondo à la Turk," (no actual relation to Mozart's Rondo alla Turca despite the obvious play on the wording), sits in 9/8. What's more, when the rare 9/8 does appear in other music, the meter is an eve 3/3/3, but here, it is a far more exotic 2/2/2/3. Nevertheless, this became another Brubeck signature tune. Even when the group is playing in standard 4/4 time, they employ unusual polyrhythms that belie the simple time signature.

During my most recent listen, I was particularly struck by the indescribable beauty of the second cut, "Strange Meadow Lark," which starts with a very time-signature-agnostic piano solo before settling into standard 4/4. This is Brubeck at his most ethereal. The other fresh joy to my ears, the closing "Pick Up Sticks" is in the just slightly off kilter 6/4 time signature, and ends up being a perfect way to ease the listener out of the familiar yet exotic world of this album as the ensemble gently fades into the distance.