Paul Desmond

[six string]

Several years ago I acquired a nice collection of jazz records from a friend. Amongst the records were several Paul Desmond albums that I've fallen in love with. I have since bought more Desmond, so I want to know what's missing from my collection that I should own.

Here's what I have:

Glad to be Unhappy

Easy Living

Pure Desmond

Take Ten

Bossa Antigua

The Paul Desmond Quartet Live

First Place Again

Desmond w/Strings

Blues In Time

Bridge Over Trouble Water

Today I ordered:

From the Hot Afternoon

Paul Desmond

East of the Sun

Of the ones I own, Bridge Over Trouble Water and Blues In Time are my least favorites. Covering Simon and Garfunkel was not the best idea imho, but it has its moments. Blues in Time has never caught on with me either. I'm not sure why, but it doesn't get me like the albums with Jim Hall.

I know he has others, so before I get more obsessive about collecting his lps, I'd like to know what else I should get by him.

Thanks for your help.

Edited September 26, 2007 by six string

[Bright Moments]

get this one - NOW!!!

[six string]

That's another Desmond album I've never seen. What's the overall sound of the album like?

[Big Al]

Also get Jim Hall's CONCIERTO for some fantastic Desmond playing. It, like SKYLARK, is a CTI production: nice sound, smooth sheen, great playing all around.

FROM THE HOT AFTERNOON is one of my favorite Desmond albums.

Edited September 26, 2007 by Big Al

[(BB)]

Smooth sheen is a good description for Skylark, but not with the usual negative connotations. It has a great version of Take Ten and Mr. Szabo fits in nicely.

[DMP]

I very much like "Summertime," maybe his first big "production," some excellent Herbie Hancock in there, too. (Can't think of anything by him that I DON'T like...)

[six string]

Also get Jim Hall's CONCIERTO for some fantastic Desmond playing. It, like SKYLARK, is a CTI production: nice sound, smooth sheen, great playing all around.

FROM THE HOT AFTERNOON is one of my favorite Desmond albums.

I have Concierto on lp and it is indeed a beautiful album. Probably one of my favorite CTI albums. Hot Afternoon should be in my hands in a week. Yippee!

The Penguin Guide didn't have many nice things to say about Skylark, but I don't always agree with their opinions anyway. I'm glad others have weighed in positively on the album.

[Free For All]

I really like the one he did w/Mulligan on Bluebird, I believe it's called "Two of a Mind".

[Guest Bill Barton]

I like this one a lot:

Paul Desmond with The Modern Jazz Quartet

My vinyl copy is in storage right now and I'm not familiar with the quality of the CD reissue. It's a lovely recording.

[Chuck Nessa]

Be sure to collect all the sessions with Elvin.

[gnhrtg]

I really like the one he did w/Mulligan on Bluebird, I believe it's called "Two of a Mind".

:tup

[Big Al]

Be sure to collect all the sessions with Elvin.

??????????

[Guest Bill Barton]

Be sure to collect all the sessions with Elvin.

??????????

Say, aren't those the ones with Cecil on piano...

[brownie]

Don't overlook this one:

A Telarc CD that has additional material from the 'Paul Desmond Quartet Live' sessions from Toronto.

Some of Desmond's very best music was recorded at that Bourbon Street jazz club!

[Tom Storer]

I like this one a lot:

Paul Desmond with The Modern Jazz Quartet

My vinyl copy is in storage right now and I'm not familiar with the quality of the CD reissue. It's a lovely recording.

I concur. The CD sounds fine. It's available on eMusic as well, with bonus tracks.

[six string]

Don't overlook this one:

A Telarc CD that has additional material from the 'Paul Desmond Quartet Live' sessions from Toronto.

Some of Desmond's very best music was recorded at that Bourbon Street jazz club!

Indeed. I didn't mention that I had this on my original post. Everything else I have is on lp, but I bought this cd based on my love of the "other" live album with this band.

I've never seen or heard of that album he did with the MJQ. That's a perfect match, if I ever saw one.

Today I listened to Blues in Time to try and figure out why I wasn't very enamored with it. I seem to really miss hearing a piano or guitar with Desmond's playing for some reason. It's hard to explain.

[mjzee]

If you can find it, this is a very good summary of his CTI work:

The Best of Paul Desmond

Because it also draws from his sideman work, the album goes through a lot of different styles, and it flows very nicely.

[garthsj]

I am not sure if this very swinging Paul Desmond album has been mentioned: "The Paul Desmond Quintet, and The Paul Desmond Quartet with Don Elliott" (OJCCD-712-2)

This is great early Desmond, with some very inventive solos.

[alocispepraluger102]

one of my favorite desmond recordings is brubeck's early 60's columbia recording of 'brandenburg gate' with his classic quartet and symphony orchestra.

..not sure if it was ever put on cd. i have the vinyl.

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the desmond-bickert pairing is magic.

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oh, too.

jim hall and desmond's quartet recording, 'easy living' is one of the greatest recordings ever made.

if i could have just one desmond recording, that would be the one.

...like taking 3 or 4 placidyl at once, or whatever folks take these days.

Edited October 3, 2007 by alocispepraluger102

[six string]

one of my favorite desmond recordings is brubeck's early 60's columbia recording of 'brandenburg gate' with his classic quartet and symphony orchestra.

..not sure if it was ever put on cd. i have the vinyl.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the desmond-bickert pairing is magic.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

oh, too.

jim hall and desmond's quartet recording, 'easy living' is one of the greatest recordings ever made.

if i could have just one desmond recording, that would be the one.

...like taking 3 or 4 placidyl at once, or whatever folks take these days.

Ummmmmmmm placidyl......aaaarrrrghhhhhhh........

I just got burned (sort of) buying a Paul Desmond album on line on the Discovery label. It's called East of the Sun and it's the same damn album on Warner Brothers titled First Place Again, which I already had. It was listed as an original Discover album. Ok, so it's an original on that label, but it's a f***in' reissue. Grrrrr. It's in pristine shape and I love the cover but I didn't need two copies of the album. Or maybe I do. It is a great album.

I concur about your thoughts on Easy Living. It's a favorite of mine too and one that made me really pay attention to Desmond.

Edited October 3, 2007 by six string

[randyhersom]

At the risk of being told to buy my own freaking Lord or Bruyninckx, I'll ask. What are the Desmond sessions with Elvin.

And what's a henway?

[paul secor]

I don't have it, but I imagine that Doug Ramsey's book, Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond would be a good addition to any collection of Desmond recordings.

[brownie]

At the risk of being told to buy my own freaking Lord or Bruyninckx, I'll ask. What are the Desmond sessions with Elvin.

Chuck found the Desmond/Elvin sessions on the Bruynincks discography

Of course, the Lord does not have them

[brownie]

I don't have it, but I imagine that Doug Ramsey's book, Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond would be a good addition to any collection of Desmond recordings.

The Doug Ramsey book is better than a good addition. No Desmond addict can afford not to have it!

Reall a woderful opus!

[Daniel A]

I very much like "Summertime," maybe his first big "production," some excellent Herbie Hancock in there, too. (Can't think of anything by him that I DON'T like...)

I second this! "Summertime" has everything that "Troubled Waters" lacks. Good Sebesky arrengements and CTI production - still on the A&M imprint at the time - at its best. It's exciting to hear the rhythm section of Hancock, Carter and Leo Morris or Airto behind Desmond; despite the big band and the reverb they are quite audible.

Only offered as a download from the Verve site, but it may still be possible to get this from Japan, and not too expensive. Or get the LP!

Edited October 5, 2007 by Daniel A