Two of a Mind [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Paul Desmond | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00008VGMU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,308 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. All the Things You Are

2. Stardust

3. Two of a Mind

4. Blight of the Fumble Bee

5. The Way You Look Tonight

6. Out of Nowhere

7. Easy Living [#][*]

8. All the Things You Are [Alternate Take][#][*]

9. The Way You Look Tonight [Alternate Take][#][*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fans of Paul or Gerry or sax in jazz will enjoy this reissue, September 22, 2003

By 

William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two of a Mind (Audio CD)

"Two of a Mind" is a studio-only project from the summer of 1962. Desmond had done a record led by Gerry several years prior, and it was Mulligan's turn to play with Paul on a project he would control. Because of heavy workloads, the two principals collaborated in three separate sessions during June, July and August in New York. Also due to scheduling difficulties, the rhythm section changed at each session. On the six tunes which made the original LP, there are three different bassists and two different drummers. Also on the six LP selections, Desmond did a little studio trickery: some of the improvised solos were put together from different sessions, and on one tune he overdubbed a third saxophone for one verse. If you didn't know this, however, you'd never guess it. The counterpoint improvs of Gerry on baritone and Paul on alto are consistently interesting. Overall the disc is more uptempo than Desmond's other work as a leader. The product lacks that special magic which can often be found on a good recording by a quartet which plays live together and often, but it is a subtle loss. This reissue adds five bonus tracks, including two with guitarist Jim Hall which did not make Desmond's final list for LP inclusion, but which are quite nice. The two leads are highly skilled, and they seemed to like each other a lot and to bring out good things for one another. Not Desmond's best work by a long shot, nor Mulligan's, but worth owning if you are partial to either man. I'm glad BMG is doing these Bluebird First Edition releases from the RCA vaults. The booklets are usually quite good. They come in cardboard cases instead of jewel cases, and I'm not sure if I like that or not yet. Maybe they could knock a dollar or two off the price and be an even better value, but if, like me, you enjoy the classic jazz of the 1946-'66 generation, you should buy some of these reissues to encourage the company to keep them coming.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two sax stars jamming together in '62, May 2, 2003

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Two of a Mind (Audio CD)

A nice, informal session with cool jazz alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and his likeminded West Coast pal, baritone Gerry Mulligan. This disc features several songs that were skillfully edited together from multiple studio takes -- pretty seamlessly, when you listen to them -- and they show the deft, good-natured interplay and genuine warmth these two shared. The CD reissue adds five new tracks, only two of which are alternate (or unedited) versions of songs that appeared on the original 1962 album. Included are two loose-limbed jam sessions that also featured guitarist Jim Hall, one of Desmond's most sympathetic creative partners. Perhaps a bit forceful overall, and not as fluid and soft-touched as Desmond's best work, but still a fine jazz album.

4.0 out of 5 stars A fugue like sound, April 6, 2009

By 

Koeeaddi "shmuelman" (Denver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Of A Mind (MP3 Download)

If I was told that some parts of this were taken from Bach fugues for Harpsichord and Basso Continuo, and were transcribed for an alto and baritone sax, I would believe it.
By leaving out the piano they create a magnificent contrapuntal effect, and worth the price of the disc just to hear it. Unfortunately, my disc only has 6 tracks, this version seems to have more.