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As intended, this album presents alto saxophonist Paul Desmond as you've never heard him before - with a string orchestra as a backdrop. This record full of beautiful jazz standards like "My Funny Valentine," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "Body And Soul" is very diverse in its texture, yet tender and serene in its overall mood. Its undisguised purpose: to quiet the souls of its listeners. Desmond's style and timbre shimmer in an alluring way, and the record is full of melodies that by no means fail to stimulate the discerning jazz listener. Desmond's melodies are eloquently detailed and enchantingly woven into the string orchestra, arranged by Bob Prince, who also conducts. The legendary Jim Hall is guest guitarist, playing another scintillating role here, utilizing his classic accompaniment style.
Hall is perhaps considered the most respected jazz guitarist for his good taste and imaginative inventiveness. Desmond has always been especially known by jazz audiences for his passages of long runs and his seemingly effortless spontaneity during his improvisational phases, although here he is more often presented with a more lyrical ballad style with such romantic songs as "My Funny Valentine," "Late Lament" and "Then I'll Be Tired of You." This album is a highly innovative and meticulously crafted work that reflects the continued success of both Desmond and Hall during the 1960s and cool jazz period. Both musicians collaborated for a time with Dave Brubeck and later participated in quite a few of Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova projects. The arrangements are exceptional on all the pieces in this collection, including the enchanting "Valentine," which begins with a fantastic Elizabethan echo. This introduction creates a mood that leads Desmond to the first chorus, which then slides into a 20th century style. The song "I Should Care" is "a luminous tribute to Ibert and one of the most imaginative arrangements of strings, winds, French horn and harp you will ever hear" as stated on the back cover.
The mood of this album: lush, reflective, thought-provoking, soul-stirring. This work is for the benefit of every listener, but especially those who consider themselves avid fans of Paul Desmond.
Paul Desmond (sax); Jim Hall (g); Bob Prince (arr, cond) & Streicher
Side 1
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
Side 2
1. I Should Care
2. Like Someone In Love
3. Ill Wind
4. Body And Soul