Desmond Blue [Original recording remastered]

Paul Desmond | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GN120
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,119 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. My Funny Valentine

2. Desmond Blue

3. Then I'll Be Tired of You

4. I've Got You Under My Skin

5. Late Lament

6. I Should Care

7. Like Someone in Love

8. Ill Wind

9. Body and Soul

10. Autumn Leaves [*]

11. Imagination [*]

12. Advise and Consent [*]

13. Autumn Leaves [#][*]

14. Autumn Leaves [#][*]

15. Imagination [#][*]

16. Advise and Consent [#][*]

Editorial Reviews

The alto saxophonist had success away from the Dave Brubeck Quartet, as seen here on this collection of his most appealing recordings. Includes My Funny Valentine; Body and Soul ; and the previously unreleased Autumn Leaves; Imagination ; and Advise and Consent .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INIMITABLE PURITY WITH A RELAXED SENSE OF TIME., August 17, 2002

By 

Paulo Leite (Lisbon, Portugal) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desmond Blue (Audio CD)

This man is a genius!!! I first listened to Desmond in the Dave Brubeck's legendary Quartet. This album is a gem! His unique style united with Jim Hall's cool guitar will drive a wide musical breeze through your speakers (and they'd better be good). The strings are lush and yet very subtle (if that's possible!!!). Clearly an orchestration made with taste by Mr.Bob Prince. A top album with six extra tracks!!
What a style...

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mediocre Desmond album?, August 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Desmond Blue (Audio CD)

Paul Desmond was probably the greatest jazz alto sax player out there, and he recorded surprisingly little outside of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Consequently, I'm a completist and try to obtain all I can by this artist, who seldom disappoints. Desmond Blue, however, disappoints. It is the first of his five or six albums recorded with Jim Hall in the form of a quartet (the five albums, including this one, are released in the form of the superb RCA box set) and it is by far the worst. What went wrong with this album? Well, the quartet is backed by an over-powering string section. The songs seem orchestrated and downright tacky because of these strings, and they get in the way of Paul Desmond¡¦s sax playing and actually make poor Desmond sound a bit whiney. The result is an album that is actually too annoying for me to really listen to that much. If you can get past the strings, you'll hear some excellent work by Desmond and Jim Hall's beautiful guitar, but thankfully Desmond recorded enough solo material with Hall that you don't have to settle for this. You're much better off with "Take Ten" (the classic Desmond solo album) or "Easy Living" (which I actually prefer to Take Ten). These albums are just the quartet, and they really can't be beat, but this album is only for Desmond completists who love Desmond¡¦s sax playing enough that they are willing to be disappointed.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I must be misunderstanding the 'star' rating system..., September 7, 2003

By 

"douglasnegley" (Pittsburgh, Pa. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desmond Blue (Audio CD)

I have two copies of this LP under two different titles, both released by RCA. The original, titled "Desmond Blue", as here on the CD, I wore out. The second time around, it had been renamed (and repackaged - the cover must have looked too dated by then) "Desmond Gold". I like the arrangements by Bob Prince and I think Desmond is as well suited to a string recording as any saxman can be. I have not heard the 'bonus' tracks contained on this CD. I am rating this 4 stars because I love it - I just can't put it up there with 5 stars, since that, to me, means "greatest ever". How can the previous reviewer, who obviously dislikes the CD, give it 4 stars after thrashing it? If I do not like a recording, I give it 1 star; if I find something redeeming on a recording, I give it 2 stars; if it's good but flawed, I'll go 3 stars; if it is REALLY good, I go 4 stars. The best ever LPs, CDs are reserved for my 5 stars. Am I misinterpreting this system? I sure hope not...