"Unsquare Dance" | |
---|---|
Single by Dave Brubeck | |
B-side | "Camptown Races" |
Released | 1961 |
Recorded | 1961 |
Genre | Jazz |
Length | 2:00 |
Label | CBS |
Songwriter(s) | Dave Brubeck |
Producer(s) | Teo Macero |
"Unsquare Dance" is a composition by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck that was released as a single in 1961. Included on Brubeck's album Time Further Out, the piece reached No. 93 on the Cash Box chart on December 16, 1961. [1]
Written in
7
4 time, the piece is an example of Brubeck's exploration of
time signatures. According to Brubeck, it was written during a single trip from his home to the
recording studio and was recorded the same day. The composition is based on a
blues structure but also has a distinct
country and western feel, as implied in the title (a
square dance being a fixture of western US culture). "Unsquare Dance" is driven by a strong bass figure, with
percussion provided primarily by the rim of the snare drum and hand claps. It combines
duple and
triple meter.
[2]
The
piano enters with descending phrases crossing the 7
4 rhythm. The speed of the piece gradually increases from start to finish. The main
theme then
develops initially without left
accompaniment and then with a characteristic figure based around the use of
tenths. A drum solo using rim clicks follows, then a restatement of the theme and a distinctive conclusion.
Brubeck says in his liner notes:
"Unsquare Dance", in 7/4 time, is a challenge to the foot-tappers, finger-snappers and hand-clappers. Deceitfully simple, it refuses to be squared. And the laugh you hear at the end is Joe Morello's guffaw of surprise and relief that we had managed to get through the difficult last chorus.
"Unsquare Dance" was included on the album Time Further Out and became a hit single, peaking at No. 74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [3] and No. 14 on the U.K.'s Record Retailer chart. [4]
"Unsquare Dance" | |
---|---|
Single by Dave Brubeck | |
B-side | "Camptown Races" |
Released | 1961 |
Recorded | 1961 |
Genre | Jazz |
Length | 2:00 |
Label | CBS |
Songwriter(s) | Dave Brubeck |
Producer(s) | Teo Macero |
"Unsquare Dance" is a composition by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck that was released as a single in 1961. Included on Brubeck's album Time Further Out, the piece reached No. 93 on the Cash Box chart on December 16, 1961. [1]
Written in
7
4 time, the piece is an example of Brubeck's exploration of
time signatures. According to Brubeck, it was written during a single trip from his home to the
recording studio and was recorded the same day. The composition is based on a
blues structure but also has a distinct
country and western feel, as implied in the title (a
square dance being a fixture of western US culture). "Unsquare Dance" is driven by a strong bass figure, with
percussion provided primarily by the rim of the snare drum and hand claps. It combines
duple and
triple meter.
[2]
The
piano enters with descending phrases crossing the 7
4 rhythm. The speed of the piece gradually increases from start to finish. The main
theme then
develops initially without left
accompaniment and then with a characteristic figure based around the use of
tenths. A drum solo using rim clicks follows, then a restatement of the theme and a distinctive conclusion.
Brubeck says in his liner notes:
"Unsquare Dance", in 7/4 time, is a challenge to the foot-tappers, finger-snappers and hand-clappers. Deceitfully simple, it refuses to be squared. And the laugh you hear at the end is Joe Morello's guffaw of surprise and relief that we had managed to get through the difficult last chorus.
"Unsquare Dance" was included on the album Time Further Out and became a hit single, peaking at No. 74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [3] and No. 14 on the U.K.'s Record Retailer chart. [4]