Countdown: Time In Outer Space - Dave Brubeck Quartet (1962)
Ideated from: the year in music, 1962
The famous Brubeck record was Time Out from 1959, where each track had a different non-standard time signature. That was followed by the similarly themed Time Further Out, and then this one.
I’m not really sure if the group actually found odd time signatures really compelling, or if they had a schtick that made them stand out in the genre and just kept making sequels.
It doesn’t really matter. It’s great music, and Brubeck and his group (featuring saxophonist Paul Desmond) could really cook.
Tracks I Liked
Countdown - a slightly Monk-sounding romp, with a great boogie-woogie-style “heavy left hand”
Castilian Drums - quick and nimble
Waltz Limp - I don’t know if I have enough music knowledge to get it, but I feel like it’s in waltz time, but with enough swing that it sounds like it’s limping? It’s clever little tune regardless.
