180g Vinyl Re-mastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering! Featuring Jim Hall on Guitar! Pressed at Pallas in Germany!
Paul Desmond, jazz alto saxophonist and composer, was best know for the work he did with Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning the group's biggest hit "Take Five". He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast's 'cool jazz' scene.
"As intended, this album presents alto sax specialist Paul Desmond as never featured before, with the backing of a string orchestra. The record, filled with such beautiful jazz standards as "My Funny Valentine," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Body and Soul," is very rich in texture, yet subtle and mellow overall in mood. It's unyielding purpose: to soothe the souls of its listeners. Desmond's style and tone shine with an alluring quality, and the record is filled with melodies that don't fail to stimulate the sophisticated jazz listener. Desmond's melodies are eloquently detailed and charmingly spun in the midst of the string orchestra arranged and conducted by Bob Prince. The legendary Jim Hall is featured as guest guitarist, playing yet another scintillating role and using his classic comping style. Hall is perhaps the most highly respected of all jazz guitarists for his good taste and witty inventiveness. Desmond has always been most familiar to the jazz public for his sweeping scale passages and his seemingly effortless spontaneity during periods of improvisation, although here he is often featured in a more lyrical ballad style on such romantic tunes as "My Funny Valentine," "Late Lament," and "Then I'll Be Tired of You." This album is a highly innovative and meticulously crafted work, reflecting the ongoing success of both Desmond and Hall within the 1960s and the cool jazz period. Both of these musicians spent time working with Dave Brubeck and later lent themselves to many of Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova projects. The arrangements are extraordinary throughout this collection, including the charming "Valentine," which begins with a fantastic Elizabethan flavor. The intro sets up the mood to carry Desmond into the first chorus, which then glides into a 20th century style. The tune "I Should Care" is "a shimmering debt to Ibert and one of the most imaginative blendings you will ever hear of strings, reeds, French horn and harp," according to the liner notes. The tone of the album: lush, reflective, thought-provoking, and soul-stirring. This work is quite a plus for any listener and especially those who consider themselves avid fans of Paul Desmond." - Shawn M. Haney /AMG
"This is different from most sax & strings efforts of the period in that the arrangements are thoughtful and never corny, and the string orchestra doesnt drown out Desmond. This album succeeds because although it softens some of the edges of modern jazz, Desmonds own style of cool and silky tones fits in perfectly with the strings. Other plusses on the session were the presence of famed guitarist Jim Hall, and the terrific string arrangements and conducting of Bob Prince... Much of the music is rather introspective and soothing in style, fitting in well with Desmonds unique sound... [A] finely-balanced and appealing album from beginning to end, in the very best sonics which deliver the string sounds with great richness and clarity." - John Henry, audaud.com, 5 Stars!
Click here to read the entire review!
Recorded at Webster Hall, New York City
Features:
180g Vinyl
Pressed at Pallas in Germany
Re-mastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
Selections:
Side 1:
1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
Side 2:
1. I Should Care
2. Like Someone In Love
3. Ill Wind
4. Body and Soul
Paul Desmond, jazz alto saxophonist and composer, was best know for the work he did with Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning the group's biggest hit "Take Five". He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast's 'cool jazz' scene.
"As intended, this album presents alto sax specialist Paul Desmond as never featured before, with the backing of a string orchestra. The record, filled with such beautiful jazz standards as "My Funny Valentine," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Body and Soul," is very rich in texture, yet subtle and mellow overall in mood. It's unyielding purpose: to soothe the souls of its listeners. Desmond's style and tone shine with an alluring quality, and the record is filled with melodies that don't fail to stimulate the sophisticated jazz listener. Desmond's melodies are eloquently detailed and charmingly spun in the midst of the string orchestra arranged and conducted by Bob Prince. The legendary Jim Hall is featured as guest guitarist, playing yet another scintillating role and using his classic comping style. Hall is perhaps the most highly respected of all jazz guitarists for his good taste and witty inventiveness. Desmond has always been most familiar to the jazz public for his sweeping scale passages and his seemingly effortless spontaneity during periods of improvisation, although here he is often featured in a more lyrical ballad style on such romantic tunes as "My Funny Valentine," "Late Lament," and "Then I'll Be Tired of You." This album is a highly innovative and meticulously crafted work, reflecting the ongoing success of both Desmond and Hall within the 1960s and the cool jazz period. Both of these musicians spent time working with Dave Brubeck and later lent themselves to many of Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova projects. The arrangements are extraordinary throughout this collection, including the charming "Valentine," which begins with a fantastic Elizabethan flavor. The intro sets up the mood to carry Desmond into the first chorus, which then glides into a 20th century style. The tune "I Should Care" is "a shimmering debt to Ibert and one of the most imaginative blendings you will ever hear of strings, reeds, French horn and harp," according to the liner notes. The tone of the album: lush, reflective, thought-provoking, and soul-stirring. This work is quite a plus for any listener and especially those who consider themselves avid fans of Paul Desmond." - Shawn M. Haney /AMG
"This is different from most sax & strings efforts of the period in that the arrangements are thoughtful and never corny, and the string orchestra doesnt drown out Desmond. This album succeeds because although it softens some of the edges of modern jazz, Desmonds own style of cool and silky tones fits in perfectly with the strings. Other plusses on the session were the presence of famed guitarist Jim Hall, and the terrific string arrangements and conducting of Bob Prince... Much of the music is rather introspective and soothing in style, fitting in well with Desmonds unique sound... [A] finely-balanced and appealing album from beginning to end, in the very best sonics which deliver the string sounds with great richness and clarity." - John Henry, audaud.com, 5 Stars!
Click here to read the entire review!
Recorded at Webster Hall, New York City
Features:
180g Vinyl
Pressed at Pallas in Germany
Re-mastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
Selections:
Side 1:
1. My Funny Valentine
2. Desmond Blue
3. Then I'll Be Tired of You
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Late Lament
Side 2:
1. I Should Care
2. Like Someone In Love
3. Ill Wind
4. Body and Soul
