For All Time [Box set]

Dave Brubeck | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0001FGB9I
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,918 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. It's a Raggy Waltz

2. Bluette

3. Charles Matthew Hallelujah

4. Far More Blue

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Blue Rondo a la Turk

2. Strange Meadow Lark

3. Take Five

4. Three to Get Ready

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Iberia

2. Unisphere

3. Shim Wha

4. World's Fair

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Lost Waltz

2. Softly, William, Softly

3. Time In

4. Forty Days

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 5

1. Countdown

2. Eleven Four

3. Why Phillis Waltz

4. Someday My Prince Will Come [From Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs]

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

More than any other improvising artist during the past 45 years,the pianist/composer/bandleader Dave Brubeck (b. 1920) has expanded the rhythmic boundaries of Jazz, 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."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take 5! - the Brubeck Quartet's five great 'Time' Pieces, March 14, 2004

By 

Steven Kosakowski "kosmonaut" (West Coast Jazz) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For All Time (Audio CD)

Columbia/Sony have finally completed the remastered re-rollout of all five Brubeck Quartet 'TIME' albums (each with extra tracks), and collected them here in a budget-priced box set.

The box in this case is simply a very sturdy slipcase holding the five individualy available jewel-cased cd's. Three of the albums, as detailed in another review here, have not been available for years, so this collection is a great and inexpensive way to sweep them all up at once.

For the record, the five albums are:

1 - TIME Out (1959), including the classic Desmond/Brubeck cut 'Take Five';

2 - TIME Further Out (1961) with 1 bonus track from the sessions plus a live 'Raggy Waltz' from the '63 Carnegie Hall shows;

3 - Countdown TIME in Outer Space (1961) with 1 bonus track;

4 - TIME Changes (1963-64) including the orchestral 'Elementals';

5 - TIME In (1965) with 3 bonus tracks, and the last of the Brubeck Quartet's 'time signature' albums.

Not included (though well worth picking up) is the 1954 'Brubeck Time', as its titular 'Time' refers to the news magazine's 1954 cover story on Brubeck and jazz rather than to the experiments in time signatures cut by the complete classic quartet.

Anyone enjoying this Time Box should also take a good hard look at Paul Desmond's 'Complete RCA' Box of his solo work for that label from '61-'65, including his reworking of the 'Take Five' theme called 'Take Ten'.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz at its best, October 24, 2004

By 

Tweeedly Eeeedly "blahblahblah" (Fremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For All Time (Audio CD)

Short review:
This is a superb set. If you love: jazz, Brubeck, any one of the quartet members, superb musicianship, great drumming, great piano jazz, beautiful bass tone, beautiful alto sax tone... then buy this set

Long review:
I came to jazz late and discovered Time Out around 1995. I loved it. Till now I thought that was all there was this quartet produced (I admit I was ignorant). I fell in love with the bold experimentation of this group, and as a bassist myself I was inspired by Eugene Wright's bass sound.

Fast forward to 2004 and lo and behold, I discover this boxed set. My favorite jazz quartet playing with time... it was like discovering "lost" tunes by a favorite band and I couldn't resist purchasing it. Its been several days now and I am thrilled with it.

Several people have commented on the packaging being subpar. This may be true when compared to Columbia's Miles Davis sets which I don't own, but I happen to think the packaging is excellent. In particular I feel there is a unity to this set that must be rare in the history of jazz. Allow me to eloborate: 1) The same band was used for the entire set 2) The same (superb) recording studio was used (the famed NY 30th street), 3) The same exciting experimentation is used throughout the set, 3) The same producer was used (probably the most respected in jazz - Teo Macero), 4) The same engineer was available (and a top notch one at that! - Fred Plaut), 5) The same reissue director was used, 6) All tracks were remastered to greater than a CD's 16-bit sound quality (most are 24bits, the rest are 20... not sure it matters beyond 16bits but suffice it to say that it sound very good!), 7) The compositions are excellent working both as "background music" and music you can listen to in a trance-like state, 8) The CDs all have the same "look" - clear CD cases with original liner notes and additional notes from Brubeck, and 9) the cost is reasonable for 5 CDs.

I was afraid that this was going to be "Time Out" plus filler albums, but I assure you this is NOT the case. Time Out was the first album and not necessarily the best (at the moment I am partial to "Time in Outer Space" and "Time Explorations"). I don't know what else to say, I plan on listening to this for the rest of my life and am grateful that Columbia had the foresight to release this set. Do yourself a favor and buy this boxed set.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relook time at Mr Brubeck's experiments, October 4, 2004

By 

Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For All Time (Audio CD)

When I first encountered the Brubeck Quartet I could not get enough of the straight ahead jazz of these four, and did not venture beyond TIME OUT. I missed out on some fine albums as a consequence. This is my first taste of the remainder and these other four are worthy editions to own. Very well recorded, with quite good definition of Mr Wright's bass. Something of a bargain. An excellent companion to Mr Brubeck's own selection of his music on TIME SIGNATURES.