VIRTUAL Dave Brubeck’s Time Out: A Jazz Landmark, an evening with Gil Harel

Join us for a fascinating evening of music history as musicologist Gil Harel delves into one of jazz’s most groundbreaking and best-loved recordings: Dave Brubeck’s 1959 album Time Out. Among the many seminal jazz records released in 1959, Time Out stands apart for its bold exploration of unusual time signatures and metrical patterns. Recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet at Columbia’s famed 30th Street Studio in New York City, the album was inspired in part by the group’s recent State Department-sponsored tour abroad, where they encountered a rich variety of musical traditions and rhythmic structures.Defying expectations, Time Out blended these complex rhythms with accessible melodies, and audiences responded enthusiastically. The album climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard pop albums chart. In this engaging program, Professor Gil Harel will explore the album’s genesis, its innovative musical features, and its enduring impact on both jazz and popular music. Whether you’re a longtime jazz enthusiast or new to this iconic recording, you’ll gain a fresh appreciation for why Time Out remains a cornerstone of American music more than six decades after its release.

Presenter: Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is an award-winning musicologist and composer whose interests include styles ranging from western art music to contemporary musical theater. He is Full Professor of Music at CT State Naugatuck Valley, where he conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.

This event is sponsored by The Friends of BTL.

Registration required to receive Zoom link.  Click here to register.