Paul Desmond - Desmond Blue (1962/2014) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/192kHz]

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.

Tracklist:

01 - My Funny Valentine
02 - Desmond Blue
03 - Then I'll Be Tired of You
04 - I've Got You Under My Skin
05 - Late Lament
06 - I Should Care
07 - Like Someone in Love
08 - Ill Wind
09 - Body and Soul

Produced by George Avakian. Engineered by Roy Hall. Arranged and Conducted by Bob Prince, Jim Hall (Guitar).
Recorded at Webster Hall in New York City on September 13, 1961 ("1"), September 28, 1961 ("5-7") & October 2, 1961 ("2-4,8,9).
Transferred from a RCA 4-track tape.

Musicians:
Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
Albert Richman – French horn (1-4,8,9)
Phil Bodner (5-7), Robert Doty (1), George Marge (1), Romeo Penque (2-9), Stan Webb (2-4,8,9) – woodwinds
Gloria Agostini (2-9), Eugene Bianco (1) – harp
Jim Hall – guitar (1,5,6,7)
Gene Cherico (#1), Milt Hinton (2-9) – bass
Connie Kay (#1), Bobby Thomas (2-9) – drums
Unidentified string section conducted by Bob Prince


Thanks to the Original customer!