Not many authentic jazz albums yield hit singles: Time Out is one of them. “Take Five,” a melodic gem riding a hypnotic 5/4 rhythm composed by the group’s star saxophonist, Paul Desmond, captured the airwaves in 1959. Pianist Dave Brubeck had been popular before, but the single and album made him a bona fide jazz superstar. “Take Five” maintains its luster to this day, as do such superior performances as Blue Rondo à la Turk and Strange Meadowlark. Time Out exhibits both the indivisible unity of the Brubeck quartet and the outstanding individual contributions of Desmond, with his stunning “dry martini” tone, drummer Joe Morello, a technically adept master of unusual time signatures, and the leader, whose eccentric improvising remains inimitable. The opener’s rhythmic novelty may have drawn initial attention to this legendary album, but the memorable tunes and outstanding playing made it a keeper. There’s a reason that this classic remains a favorite long after Brubeck’s spectacular popularity has worn off.
Japanese SACD pressing. Features DSD remastering. Sony.
