The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Crystal Disc CD Editorial Review
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Some albums survive history. Time Out continues to challenge it.
Recorded in 1959, Dave Brubeck’s rhythmic masterpiece transformed unconventional metres into music that sounded elegant, inviting and against every commercial expectation immensely popular.
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AudioNautes Recordings now presents this jazz landmark as an exceptionally luxurious Crystal Disc CD: a glass-substrate edition manufactured in Japan and advertised as MQA 176.4kHz encoded.
A masterpiece that made difficult rhythms feel natural
Time Out emerged from Brubeck’s fascination with rhythms encountered during the quartet’s travels. Yet the album never sounds like an academic demonstration. Its irregular metres are absorbed into melodies that swing, breathe and remain remarkably accessible.
“Blue Rondo à la Turk” opens with its famous asymmetrical 9/8 figure before moving confidently between tightly structured rhythmic patterns and more familiar jazz swing. Brubeck’s piano is both architectural and percussive, while Paul Desmond’s alto saxophone supplies the contrasting qualities of grace, air and lyrical calm.
“Strange Meadow Lark” initially appears almost suspended in time. Brubeck’s unaccompanied introduction is spacious and reflective; when the quartet enters, the piece settles into an effortless flow. Desmond’s tone seems to float above the rhythm section rather than push against it.
Then comes “Take Five.” Written by Desmond in 5/4 and conceived partly as a showcase for Joe Morello, it became one of the most recognisable jazz recordings ever made. Its success rests on a perfect balance: the instantly memorable saxophone theme, Eugene Wright’s recurring bass figure, Brubeck’s precisely judged chords and Morello’s controlled but increasingly dramatic drum feature.
The second half is equally rewarding. “Three to Get Ready” moves playfully between waltz and common time; “Kathy’s Waltz” evolves from lyrical delicacy into vigorous swing; and “Everybody’s Jumpin’” and “Pick Up Sticks” bring the programme to a relaxed yet rhythmically assured conclusion.
The classic quartet
This was the defining Dave Brubeck Quartet:
- Dave Brubeck — piano
- Paul Desmond — alto saxophone
- Eugene Wright — double bass
- Joe Morello — drums
Their chemistry is the album’s real achievement. Brubeck supplies weight, structure and rhythmic provocation. Desmond answers with one of jazz’s most recognisable alto sounds—dry, poised and exceptionally melodic. Wright anchors the changing metres without making them feel mechanical, while Morello turns rhythmic complexity into momentum.
Originally produced by Teo Macero and engineered at Columbia’s celebrated 30th Street Studio, the recording has long been valued for its clarity and natural spatial character. A comparative SoundStage! review of another premium edition particularly praised the recording’s piano openness, cymbal definition, bass presence, saxophone texture and the dynamic construction of Morello’s drum solo. Those qualities explain why Time Out remains such a revealing test for high-quality playback systems.
What makes this a Crystal Disc?
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A Crystal Disc is not merely a transparent or gold-coloured conventional CD. Memory-Tech’s manufacturing system replaces the usual injection-moulded polycarbonate substrate with precision optical glass.
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Its construction incorporates:
- A highly stable glass substrate
- A 24-karat gold reflective layer
- A photopolymer—or 2P—pit-transcription process
- Greater surface flatness than conventional polycarbonate
- Resistance to dimensional changes caused by temperature and humidity
- The absence of the optical birefringence associated with moulded polycarbonate
According to the format’s technical description, these properties are intended to improve the precision with which a player’s optical system reads the encoded pits, reducing read-related noise and jitter. It is important to distinguish this physical-disc engineering from the recording data itself: Crystal Disc does not rewrite the musical performance, but seeks to provide an exceptionally stable and accurately manufactured carrier for it.
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The AudioNautes edition is advertised as MQA 176.4kHz encoded and remains playable in a conventional CD player. Access to any MQA decoding or unfolding depends upon compatible playback equipment; without it, the disc functions through the normal CD-compatible playback path.
Sound character and listening expectations
Without conducting a controlled comparison of this exact Crystal Disc against other masterings, it would be irresponsible to declare it automatically superior merely because it is made from glass. The meaningful evaluation must consider both the mastering and the physical carrier.
Nevertheless, Time Out is exceptionally well suited to the format. Its acoustic recording offers numerous details through which a premium edition can distinguish itself:
- The attack, body and decay of Brubeck’s piano
- Desmond’s breath, reed texture and delicate phrasing
- The pitch definition and weight of Wright’s bass
- Morello’s cymbal shimmer, brushwork and drum transients
- The size and ambience of Columbia’s 30th Street Studio
- The quartet’s precise placement within the stereo image
“Take Five” is the obvious demonstration track, but “Strange Meadow Lark” may be even more revealing. A convincing edition should preserve the stillness around Brubeck’s opening piano, followed by a natural expansion of the soundstage when the ensemble enters. “Three to Get Ready” tests rhythmic separation, while “Kathy’s Waltz” reveals whether the piano retains resonance without becoming hard or congested.
Presentation and collectability
The edition’s gold glass disc, substantial black presentation case and reproduction of S. Neil Fujita’s celebrated abstract cover transform the release into a collector’s object. The appearance is appropriately restrained: black, gold and the original artwork rather than excessive decoration.
This is important because the asking price places the disc far outside the ordinary reissue market. The Sound of Tape listing shows £1,094.95. It should therefore be regarded as a specialist luxury edition for committed collectors, not as the most economical route to hearing Time Out. Prices and availability may change. UK product page.
Track listing
- Blue Rondo à la Turk
- Strange Meadow Lark
- Take Five
- Three to Get Ready
- Kathy’s Waltz
- Everybody’s Jumpin’
- Pick Up Sticks
| The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out |
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Editorial verdict
Time Out remains one of the rare recordings in which musical experimentation, memorable composition and popular appeal coexist perfectly. Its unusual metres no longer feel unusual; they have become part of the language of modern jazz.
The AudioNautes Crystal Disc edition treats the album not simply as catalogue repertoire but as an artefact worthy of preservation. Its glass substrate, gold reflective layer, specialist manufacturing and elaborate presentation offer a fascinating intersection of digital playback and physical craftsmanship.
It is undeniably extravagant and its ultimate value will depend on the mastering, the playback system and the priorities of the listener. For the dedicated Brubeck collector or digital audiophile seeking one of the most ambitious physical-CD editions of this landmark recording, however, this is Time Out elevated into a genuine luxury object.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Music: ★★★★★
Recording: ★★★★★
Historical importance: ★★★★★
Presentation: ★★★★★
Collector appeal: ★★★★★
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The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out - Special Luxury Limited Edition
Superior Crystal Sound - Ultimate High-Quality Sound - Made in Japan
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