Wow… What an absolutely slamming album. Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet came out in 1959, a year that is known as a turning point in jazz. I’ve also heard it being stated as the year of jazz… Regardless of what you say about the year 1959, the importance of the albums that transpired from this “golden year”cannot be understated. Some favorites of mine from 1959 include Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis (an album that marks the shift towards modal jazz), Giant Steps by John Coltrane, Moaning’ by Art Blakey, and Far Wes by Wes Montgomery (Also known as The Thumb, and one of my favorite guitarists of all time).

There is plenty of time to dive into these other albums, but right now we’re gonna give Brubeck and the Boys the spotlight. This album opens with one of my favorites, Blue Rondo A La Turk. With Dave pounding it out on the keys, the first minute and a half of this song puts me a bit on edge, but not in a bad way! My mind envisions a cat and mouse type chase where something is trying to flee. Where the song really grabs me is at the break that follows. After this big stressful buildup, all that pressure and anxiety is alleviated. To me it feels like if you were being chased by monsters, and at the last second you shut the door in their faces which secures your safety. Once that time change happens, you’re going back to a carefree existence that awaits you.

The following track is Strange Meadow Lark, which makes me feel like I’ve been transported into the winter time at Central Park. I’m watching the snow fall but thank goodness I’m nice and bundled up with hot chocolate in hand. Just a long way to say that this song feels nice and cozy. There’s a feeling that I get from certain albums that I can only describe as being observational. These “observational” pieces are ones that have me feeling like I’m disconnected from my surroundings and watching the world go by as I stand still in time. Kind of like the opposite of Adam Sandler in the incredibly depressing film Click.

While it might be one of the most recognizable jazz standards to date, I can’t state how perfect of a song Take Five is, with Paul Desmond taking the helm as Dave, Tom Morello, and Eugene Wright hold down the rhythm. What’s That?! All of a sudden it’s time for our all star bassist and saxophonist to “take five”. Dave Brubeck so graciously holds down the rhythm, as Joe Morello goes absolutely bonkers with his drum fill/solo.

Overall this is an amazing album with a beyond talented group of musicians. I’ll never forget the summer of 2019 when I was working in New Brunswick, New Jersey (my corn era). My parents were visiting and one day, me and my dad gallivanted in Philly while my mom was spending some quality time with Amanda! One of the stops me and my dad took was in a record store, where I found an original pressing of this album for 20$! You best believe this albums is being played every time I visit Kentucky and we’re having a nice dinner, especially in the wintertime! A year or two later Time Out was put out as a critic’s pick in the NYT, and my mom was going to buy it but learned shortly after about the copy we have at home.

My Dad in Philadelphia posing with the find…