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Paul Desmond
From the Hot Afternoon
A&M Records - Verve by request 543 487-2

Crotchet  Amazon UK   Amazon US

1. Outubro (October)
2. Gira Girou (Round n Round)
3. Faithful Brother
4. To Say Goodbye
5. From the Hot Afternoon
6. Circles
7. Martha & Romao
8. Catavento
9. Canto Latino (Latin Chant)
10. Crystal Illusions
11. Gira Girou - alternative take
12. Faithful Brother - alternative take
13. From the Hot Afternoon - alternative take
14. Catavento - alternative take
15. Canto Latino - alternative take
16. From the Hot Afternoon - alternative take

The music on this album was recorded in 1969, two years after Desmond had left the Dave Brubeck Quartet after many years with that very successful outfit. Paul Desmond was to me the outstanding musician in the quartet, all were very talented but

He was unique. His tone clear and precise with faultless intonation and a sound overall, not unlike our own John Dankworth. Paul Desmond had that ability to do the unexpected that singles him out as a world class player. When I first heard him in 1954, I was unsure about this sound of his, I was brought up on Charlie Parker and it all seemed a bit insipid to me. After a lot more listening to his work with Dave Brubeck, I began to realise that in his own way, what Desmond had to say was as valid as Parker, in any case it had the same roots.

After leaving the Brubeck Quartet ( by the way he wrote their biggest hit "Take Five"), he recorded with Gerry Mulligan and toured with Ed Bickert on Guitar and later with another guitarist Jim Hall. He had intended to write a book about his time with Brubeck called "How many of you are there in a Quartet?", unfortunately he died of lung cancer in 1977 before the book was finished.

The album features the compositions of two Brazilian musicians, Edu Lobo and Milton Nascimento, between them they wrote all of the tunes. Arrangements are by Don Sabesky a very talented and well respected American writer. The playing of the backings, mostly by a 12 piece ensemble is to a very high standard, there are three vocal tracks and the remainder are instrumental compositions.

Reviewer

Don Mather

Don Mather is a Saxophone Player and Bandleader based in Coventry