Top tracks — play these first
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How Time Passes — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its intricate arrangements and emotive melodies, setting the tone for the entire record.
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Improvisational Suite #1 — This sprawling 22-minute piece highlights Ellis's inventive approach to jazz improvisation, blending structured elements with free-form exploration.
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Waste — The composition explores themes of loss through its haunting soundscapes and complex time signatures, demonstrating Ellis's mastery over mood and rhythm.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases ambitious compositions and unique arrangements that push the boundaries of big band jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features five tracks, each with varying lengths and complex arrangements that shift between structured sections and free improvisation.
- The title track opens with a slow build-up, gradually introducing layers of brass and woodwinds before transitioning into more chaotic improvisational passages.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- complex rhythms that challenge attention
- immersive long-form listening experience
- dynamic improvisation that surprises
- thoughtful exploration of soundscapes
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, catchy tunes
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1960, How Time Passes was Don Ellis's first major album under his own name following his work as a session musician. At this point, he was establishing himself as a leader in the jazz scene, blending traditional big band sounds with innovative approaches that would define his career. This album marked a shift toward more progressive and experimental styles that he would continue to explore.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Russell· Thad Jones· Buddy Rich
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 How Time Passes 6:30
- 2 Sallie 4:38
- 3 A Simplex One 4:17
- 4 Waste 8:15
- 5 Improvisational Suite #1 22:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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