Time Further Out
Time Further Outextends upon the concepts first enunciated on the Brubeck Quartet's surprise hitTime Out, but in this case with the organizing principles involving the leader's varied compositional treatments of the blues--traditional and otherwise. Thus a darkly ruminative tune such as "Bluette" treats a fairly standard 12-bar form in a very non-standard manner, interpolating a variety of classical devices that suggest the melodic influence of Chopin and the contrapuntal devices of Bach in its treatment, with a yearning alto solo from saxophonist Paul Desmond that suggests the emotional content of a blues, without specifically referring to standard devices. As if to italicize his band's mastery of polymeter, pianist Brubeck treats the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth tunes in corresponding meters, to particular effect on the 7/4 hoedown of "Unsquare Dance," the 8/8 barrelhouse changes of "Bru's Boogie Woogie" and the engaging dissonances of his 9/8 mood piece "Blue Shadows in the Street." And on "Far More Drums," drummer Joe Morello displays a mastery of 5/4 metric variations and African-styled polyrhythms that was unheard of for that time, save for percussive grandmasters such as Max Roach.--Chip Stern