{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Design in Time | type = studio | artist = Ken Vandermark | cover = Design_in_time_cover.jpeg | alt = | released = 1999 | recorded = July 6 & 7, 1999 | venue = | studio = Airwave, Chicago | genre = Jazz | length = 69:50 | label = Delmark | producer = Sound in Action Trio | chronology = Ken Vandermark | prev_title = Live at the Glenn Miller Café | prev_year = 1999 | next_title = Expansion Slang | next_year = 2000 }}
'''''Design in Time''''' is an album by American jazz reedist Ken Vandermark, which was recorded in 1999 and released on Delmark. It was the debut recording by the Sound in Action Trio, which features two drummers: former Sun Ra percussionist Robert Barry and frequent Vandermark collaborator Tim Mulvenna. Most of the tunes are classics written by Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Sun Ra, Don Cherry and Albert Ayler.<ref name="Notes">Original Liner Notes by Peter Margasak</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic"/> | rev2 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz | rev2Score = {{rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="Penguin Guide"/> }} In her review for AllMusic, Joslyn Layne states "''Design in Time'' is a very strong jazz release that becomes more wowing and impressive with each listen."<ref name="Allmusic">{{allMusic|last=Layne|first=Joslyn|class=album|id=mw0000255004|title=Ken Vandermark – ''Design in Time'': Review|accessdate=November 21, 2014}}</ref>
''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' says "Barry and Mulvenna make an unapologetically swinging team, playing at least as much time as they do free, and with Coleman, Monk and Ayler among the composer-credits, this is an amenable place to acquaint a newcomer with Vandermark's methods."<ref name="Penguin Guide">{{cite book|last = Cook|first = Richard|author-link = Richard Cook (journalist)|author2=Brian Morton |author-link2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title = The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD|edition = 6th|series = The Penguin Guide to Jazz|year = 2002|publisher = Penguin|location = London|isbn = 0140515216|pages = 1488}}</ref>
The ''JazzTimes'' review by Bill Shoemaker notes that "If playing solo is, as often stated, like working a high-wire without a net, venturing out with arrangements for a single horn and two drummers adds a bed of spikes to the simile."<ref name="JazzTimes">Shoemaker, Bill. [http://jazztimes.com/articles/10916-design-in-time-ken-vandermark-s-sound-in-action-trio ''Design in Time'' review] at ''JazzTimes''</ref>
In his review for All About Jazz, Derek Taylor states "Given the solid rhythmic foundry the two afford him, Vandermark is free to cut loose at will on both tenor and clarinet, but unexpectedly he often opts on the side of restraint. His decision is a shrewd move and rightly places the textural emphasis on the intricate interplay between all three players, particularly the drummers."<ref name="AAJ">Taylor, Derek. [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/design-in-time-ken-vandermark-delmark-records-review-by-derek-taylor.php ''Design in Time'' review] at All About Jazz</ref>
The ''PopMatters'' review by Imre Szeman says "Vandermark tones it down somewhat, opting for a more melodic and even introspective approach, while still maintaining a high degree of energy and movement. The results are impressive: this is a flat out stellar jazz album, even though it may well come to occupy only a minor place in Vandermark’s already considerable ouevre."<ref name="PopMatters">Szeman, Imre. [http://www.popmatters.com/review/vandermarkken-design ''Design in Time'' review] at ''PopMatters''</ref>
==Track listing== :''All compositions by Ken Vandermark except as indicated'' # "Law Years" (Ornette Coleman) – 8:21 # "Sounds and Somethihng Else" (Sun Ra) – 6:10 # "One More Once" – 6:02 # "Well Suited" – 7:17 # "Cut to Fit" – 5:09 # "Angels" (Albert Ayler) – 7:04 # "Feet Music" (Ornette Coleman) – 6:32 # "The Thing" (Don Cherry) – 5:25 # "Top Shelf" – 5:30 # "Green Chimneys" (Thelonious Monk) – 6:07 # "Peace" (Ornette Coleman) – 6:13
==Personnel== *Ken Vandermark – tenor sax, clarinet *Robert Barry – drums *Tim Mulvenna – drums
==References== {{reflist}} {{Ken Vandermark}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1999 albums Category:Ken Vandermark albums Category:Delmark Records albums