"The album Time Out was just an experiment in odd rhythms," according to Dave Brubeck, while Take Five was just supposed to be "a drum solo" on the album. Instead, composer Paul Desmond and Brubeck scored a gigantic hit, becoming one of the most well-known jazz albums of all time.
DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET
The resulting sound is superb, with lots of space, warmth and depth.
Track: Take Five (by Paul Desmond)
Album: Time Out (1959)
Label: Columbia Legacy
Appears on: DALI CD Vol. 2
The Dave Brubeck Quartet comprises Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello and Gene Wright.
When the album Time Out was recorded in 1959, record label Columbia Jazz was less than enthusiastic about it. It had nothing to do with the artists or the quality of their performance. The 'problem' was the compositions. Almost none of the seven tracks were in the (at the time) near mandatory 4/4 meter.
Columbia was simply afraid that all the 'strange' meters would make the LP too uncommercial. They were proven wrong.
Take Five
The track was recorded in July 1959 and, apart from the occasional 5/4 meter, sounds like many jazz recordings from that age. Drums on the left, piano to the right, bass and alto saxophone in the middle – not even in extreme ping-pong stereo. Recorded traditionally with reverb to spare, even though the piano was recorded almost 'dry'. The resulting sound is superb, with lots of space, warmth and depth. Desmond's alto saxophone is beautifully captured, as is the extended drum solo. You're left with a general impression of great dynamics and beautiful imaging.
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