Search - Paul Desmond :: Pure Desmond

Desmond's "mix and match" quartet album

08/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After the Dave Brubeck quartet, Paul Desmond recorded primarily in three settings: a guitar based quartet with Jim Hall featuring Connie Kay on drums, on a series of flawed, over-orchestrated albums with Ron Carter on bass and many, many back-up musicians, and finally, in a humble quartet with little known guitarist Ed Bickert. This album is unique because it finds Desmond in the quartet setting that suits him the best, but with a mix of all the different musicians he'd played with: Connie Kay, Ron Carter and Ed Bickert; all together for the first and only time! These are four great musicians and the album does in fact live up to their promise. Fans of any of these musicians would do well to pick up this album as they all get a chance to shine. Kay drums smooth, Carter is one of the greatest bassists ever, and Ed Bickert's guitar is distinctly different from Jim Halls (it's a bit more plucky, in lay-mans terms, but in a good way- it's complimented by Carter's bass and provides great support for Desmond) and Paul Desmond, well, Desmond proves why he's the greatest alto sax player. This is one of the best solo Desmond outtings out there, so don't pass it up."

Desmond Best When Pure & Unadulterated

elprofeloco | Chula Vista, CA United States | 04/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a huge Desmond fan (well, not so sizeable, but enthusiastic) for many decades, I've concluded that, for me, Desmond is best when he is in a minimal setting with a few capable musicians - this is usually a trio or quartet format without strings, orchestration or overdubs. I find that of the dozens of Desmond recordings I own, the over-produced and over-orchestrated ones get in the way of the true art and essence of Desmond.
The oft quoted "Desmond is (smooth) like a dry martini" has more than one truth to it - both are at their best with only four choice ingredients (gin, vermouth, olive, ice - or alto, bass, drums, guitar or piano). Desmond is so deceptively smooth, adept, and lyrical that he needs to be heard uncluttered and unfettered.
For me, some of Desmond's best recordings are in the quartet format with either Jim Hall or Ed Bickert on guitar. If you can't get the now out of print Mosaic label 4 CD set with Jim Hall (those 4 CDs would be 4 of my 5 desert-island-discs and I listen to a lot of music from Bach to blues), then at least get whatever you can of Desmond w. Hall or Bickert.
There is a saying that "if a man don't like the blues he's got a hole in his soul" - well, if someone can't appreciate Desmond at his best, they've got a void in their psyche - and "Pure Desmond" is one example of Desmond at his best."