For All Time

Read About This Recording

The Dave Brubeck Quartet was one of the most popular of all jazz groups as early as 1952. Matching the leader's percussive piano with the light, airy and witty alto solos of Paul Desmond, the group was always notable for its melodic and logical explorations of polyrhythms (two or more rhythms at once) and polytonality (sometimes playing in two keys simultaneously).

With the release of "Take Five" in 1960, the Dave Brubeck Quartet became even more famous, exploring unusual time signatures and taking jazz beyond its reliance on 4/4 or even 3/4 time. "Take Five" showed that it was possible to have a pop hit in 5/4 time while "Blue Rondo a la Turk" explored 9/4 time in its melody statement.

Five of Brubeck's albums from the 1960s focused on unusual time signatures and they have now been reissued on this five-CD set: Time Out (which has the original version of "Take Five"), Time Further Out, Countdown: Time In Outer Space, Time Changes and Time In.

Seven bonus cuts not on the original LPs have been added to this perfectly conceived package, which is even recommended to Brubeck fans who already have some of the original albums. These sets feature The Dave Brubeck Quartet at its most innovative and are very significant both historically and musically.

—Scott Yanow

Extended Article

More than any other improvising artist during the past 45 years, the pianist/composer/bandleader Dave Brubeck (b.1920) has expanded the rhythmic horizons for the general public, essaying with ever-increasing assurance time signatures like 5/4, 7/4 and even 13/4 while creating a body of work that is notable for its consistent levels of melodic content and harmonic invention. Recorded between 1959 and 1965, this five-disc set captures the Brubeck quartet featuring the floating alto saxophone of Paul Desmond (composer of the million-selling Take Five), at the peak of their powers.

In addition to such Brubeck signatures as It's a Raggy Waltz, Blue Rondo a la Turk, Unsquare Dance and, of course, Take Five, For All Time's repertoire also presents an improvisation from one of Dave's liturgical pieces, a variation of the folk song Frankie and Johnny and Brubeck's work for quartet and 45-piece orchestra, Elementals.

For All Time is for all ears.

Contents

Blue Rondo a la Turk; Strange Meadow Lark; Take Five; Three to Get Ready; Kathy's Waltz; Everybody's Jumpin'; Pick Up Sticks; It's a Raggy Waltz; Bluette; Charles Matthew Hallelujah; Far More Blue; Far More Drums; Maori Blues; Unsquare Dance; Bru's Boogie Woogie; Blue Shadows in the Street; Slow and Easy (a.k.a. Lawless Mike); It's a Raggy Waltz (Live at Carnegie Hall); Countdown; Eleven Four; Why Phillis Waltz; Someday My Prince Will Come (From Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs); Castilian Blues; Castilian Drums; Fast Life; Waltz Limp; Three's a Crowd; Danse Duet; Back to Earth; Fatha*; Ilberia; Unisphere; Shim Wha; World's Fair; Cable Car; Theme From Elementals**; Elementals; Lost Waltz; Softly, William, Softly; Time In; Forty Days; Travelin' Blues; He Done Her Wrong; Lonesome; Casandra; Rude Old Man*; Who Said That?*; Watusi Drums*.

(*Bonus track; **previously unreleased.)

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Dave Brubeck, Piano; Paul Desmond, Alto Sax; Eugene Wright, Bass; Joe Morello, Drums.

CD Special Features

If you loved Take Five, then this is the perfect collection for you!

• Dave hand-picked each CD for this set

• Dave also wrote new comments for each CD

• 24-Bit digitally remastered