Search - Paul Desmond :: Take Ten

Cool?

Antoine P. MANENS | Rennes, France | 06/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess everybody knows Paul Desmond from "Time out" and from his composition Take Five. On this recording, it doesn't take much time to recognize his beautiful floating tone, his wonderful solos which are new melodies by themselves, his "cool jazz" signature. On this repertoire -- mostly bossa nova tunes, plus a few standards -- Paul Desmond and Jim Hall (on the guitar) rival of grace: their solos are full of twists and turns, they never hurry and they both contribute to create a very relaxed atmosphere. Connie Kay's drums add some sun to this session. Everything sounds so clean and sweet! Though, they escape the tentation of playing "too easy", thanks to their always surprising lines. The result is very even and this is an extremely pleasant recording overall."

Dry Martini Music

Andrew Stevenson | Union Springs, New York | 08/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first owned this music on LP and then paid an exorbitant amount of money to buy it on CD as a Japanese import. I just couldn't gamble that it would ever appear in the States at a more reasonable price. That's how much I love this music! I am pleased to see that it is now available at that more reasonable price! Buy it! I hope that this reissue includes Desmond's original liner notes. Lucky for me his liner notes in my import are included in English as well as Japanese! Like the music contained on the disc Desmond's written words are wry, witty, urbane, and cool. He was a very funny man and, of course, a great saxophone player. His soft light tone is always instantly recognizable and he seems to swing effortlessly. I believe I read somewhere that he had a deal with Dave Brubeck that if he recorded under his own name it wouldn't be with a piano in a quartet setting. If this is true music lovers can be grateful because Desmond and the sublime guitarist Jim Hall are totally simpatico. They recorded together a number of times; all of their collaborations are worth having. I also seem to remember that Desmond once compared his own playing to a dry martini. As a lover of dry martinis I couldn't agree more.....and if Paul didn't say that it is the kind of thing he would have said!"

Pure Listening Enjoyment

sil871 | Wallkill Hills, NY | 06/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a musician and buying jazz records for study purposes often, very rarely has a record moved me so to just put down my saxaphone and listen for the pure thrill of listening to great music. Each song here has that loose, casual, joyful feel that can only be attained by musicians of this caliber. They are not playing for other listeners on this album, they are playing for themselves,and that is what captivates you and draws you in to this album on such a personal level. Paul Desmond and Jim Hall are two of the most unique and original to ever play their particular instrument, but you can infer that from listening to any record with Jim Hall or Paul Desmond. This album is not about that but about how those two combine their ingenious melodic ideas to form something so incredibly unique and brilliant it can't be can't be put into words in this short review. The idea of solos that are both textbook in fundamentals and beautiful to listen to is something signature of both these musicians, but it is especially present on this album. The softness of these tunes is so intense that you must close your eyes and tune out everything around you when you put on this record. The best tracks are 'Theme for Black Orpheus', 'Embarcedaro', and all the rest. 'Nuff said. Buy the record!"