Time Out

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The album was intended as an experiment with rhythms the quartet had come to know on a tour of Eurasia sponsored by the US State Department. In Turkey, Dave Brubeck heard street musicians playing a folk tune in 9/8, divided as 2+2+2+3. Columbia president Goddard Lieberson took a gamble, financing Time Out and releasing it in 1959, after the quartet had first recorded a conventional album.

The theme is unusual time signatures. Blue Rondo à la Turk begins in 9/8, Take Five stays in 5/4 throughout and Three to Get Ready alternates between 3/4 and 4/4. Take Five was written by the alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, the only title not by the pianist; he said it was really meant to be a drum solo for Joe Morello. The album became the first jazz record to sell a million copies. In 2005 the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Strange Meadow Lark7:24Apple Music ↗
2. 2Take Five5:27Apple Music ↗
3. 3Three to Get Ready5:26Apple Music ↗
4. 4Kathy's Waltz4:51Apple Music ↗
5. 5Everybody's Jumpin'4:25Apple Music ↗
6. 6Pick up Sticks4:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• Dave Brubeck Quartet