Paul Desmond Quartet Live

[Nil]

Last couple of days I've been listening to an LP I've had for years but
not really paid enough attention to: "Paul Desmond Quartet Live",
recorded in Toronto in 1975, featuring Ed Bickert. I've played this
record in the past as mellow background music, and it functions
beautifully as that, but it's only lately that I really paid attention
to the fine playing and interplay going on here. It's on the Horizon
label and produced by primo bassist Don Thompson, which is probably why
it has a similar sound to a couple of my other favorite jazz guitar
records, "Jim Hall Live" and Jim Hall's "Horizons". I just love this
kind of stuff, where you know that the players are playing quietly and
listening intently and intensely to each other. No grandstanding, just
musicians making music as a group at the highest level.

[Gerry]

Post by Nil
Last couple of days I've been listening to an LP I've had for years but
not really paid enough attention to: "Paul Desmond Quartet Live",
recorded in Toronto in 1975, featuring Ed Bickert. I've played this
record in the past as mellow background music, and it functions
beautifully as that, but it's only lately that I really paid attention
to the fine playing and interplay going on here. It's on the Horizon
label and produced by primo bassist Don Thompson, which is probably why
it has a similar sound to a couple of my other favorite jazz guitar
records, "Jim Hall Live" and Jim Hall's "Horizons". I just love this
kind of stuff, where you know that the players are playing quietly and
listening intently and intensely to each other. No grandstanding, just
musicians making music as a group at the highest level.

It really is brilliant played. Every side Desmond/Bickert did was
incredibly beautiful. As you say, no grandstanding for the audience,
just doing the work of their lives making things perfect.

Just for reference there is also Edmonton Festival ('76), Like Someone
in Love ('75), Pure Desmond ('74) and as mentioned Quartet Live ('79).
All are stellar.

[Lord Valve]

Post by Gerry

Post by Nil
Last couple of days I've been listening to an LP I've had for years but
not really paid enough attention to: "Paul Desmond Quartet Live",
recorded in Toronto in 1975, featuring Ed Bickert. I've played this
record in the past as mellow background music, and it functions
beautifully as that, but it's only lately that I really paid attention
to the fine playing and interplay going on here. It's on the Horizon
label and produced by primo bassist Don Thompson, which is probably why
it has a similar sound to a couple of my other favorite jazz guitar
records, "Jim Hall Live" and Jim Hall's "Horizons". I just love this
kind of stuff, where you know that the players are playing quietly and
listening intently and intensely to each other. No grandstanding, just
musicians making music as a group at the highest level.

It really is brilliant played. Every side Desmond/Bickert did was
incredibly beautiful. As you say, no grandstanding for the audience,
just doing the work of their lives making things perfect.
Just for reference there is also Edmonton Festival ('76),

I posted about this recording on my FarceBook page
in 2015, as an attempt to school the youngsters in
what a *real* recording is, and how skilled you need
to be to make one:

"Schooltime! OK, listen up, folks: this is a *real* recording. It's not cut together out of 47 jillion takes, time-shifted, pitch-corrected, sweetened, punched-in, or processed out the yinyang. This is a SINGLE PASS RECORDING, i.e., what you will hear is *exactly* what the musicians played in realtime. Note that within the entire 1-hour plus recording, you'd be hard-pressed to find a clam. There are no samplers, no arpeggiators, no triggered phrases, etc. THIS is the way music is made. These cats can play. Compared to this, most "modern" efforts are *tripe*. So if you're used to what's referred to as "music" nowadays, prepare to have your ears (and your mind) opened. This ain't Lady Gag-Gag or putrescent slime from the likes of Jay-Z (or however you spell it, not that I give two thirds of a shit); you need a quiet room and an hour to spend. Believe me, it'll be worth your while.

"

Unfortunately, the link is now dead. Anyone have a good
one?

Lord Valve, ThD
Organist

[Lord Valve]

Post by Lord Valve

Post by Gerry

Post by Nil
Last couple of days I've been listening to an LP I've had for years but
not really paid enough attention to: "Paul Desmond Quartet Live",
recorded in Toronto in 1975, featuring Ed Bickert. I've played this
record in the past as mellow background music, and it functions
beautifully as that, but it's only lately that I really paid attention
to the fine playing and interplay going on here. It's on the Horizon
label and produced by primo bassist Don Thompson, which is probably why
it has a similar sound to a couple of my other favorite jazz guitar
records, "Jim Hall Live" and Jim Hall's "Horizons". I just love this
kind of stuff, where you know that the players are playing quietly and
listening intently and intensely to each other. No grandstanding, just
musicians making music as a group at the highest level.

It really is brilliant played. Every side Desmond/Bickert did was
incredibly beautiful. As you say, no grandstanding for the audience,
just doing the work of their lives making things perfect.
Just for reference there is also Edmonton Festival ('76),

I posted about this recording on my FarceBook page
in 2015, as an attempt to school the youngsters in
what a *real* recording is, and how skilled you need
"Schooltime! OK, listen up, folks: this is a *real* recording. It's not cut together out of 47 jillion takes, time-shifted, pitch-corrected, sweetened, punched-in, or processed out the yinyang. This is a SINGLE PASS RECORDING, i.e., what you will hear is *exactly* what the musicians played in realtime. Note that within the entire 1-hour plus recording, you'd be hard-pressed to find a clam. There are no samplers, no arpeggiators, no triggered phrases, etc. THIS is the way music is made. These cats can play. Compared to this, most "modern" efforts are *tripe*. So if you're used to what's referred to as "music" nowadays, prepare to have your ears (and your mind) opened. This ain't Lady Gag-Gag or putrescent slime from the likes of Jay-Z (or however you spell it, not that I give two thirds of a shit); you need a quiet room and an hour to spend. Believe me, it'll be worth your while. http://youtu.be/1vKQe3BWfI8 "
Unfortunately, the link is now dead. Anyone have a good
one?
Lord Valve, ThD
Organist

FOUND IT! Here ya go...

[Nil]

Post by Gerry

Post by Nil
Last couple of days I've been listening to an LP I've had for
years but not really paid enough attention to: "Paul Desmond
Quartet Live", recorded in Toronto in 1975, featuring Ed Bickert.
I've played this record in the past as mellow background music,
and it functions beautifully as that, but it's only lately that I
really paid attention to the fine playing and interplay going on
here. It's on the Horizon label and produced by primo bassist Don
Thompson, which is probably why it has a similar sound to a
couple of my other favorite jazz guitar records, "Jim Hall Live"
and Jim Hall's "Horizons".

Sorry, I mis-spoke here... The Hall album I was referring to is called
"Commitment", not "Horizons" (that's the record label name.) I have
another Horizon LP, "Mel Lewis And Friends" which also has a beautiful
recorded sound to it (not to mention smokin' playing by Michael Brecker
and Freddie Hubbard). Seems Horizon jazz records always sounded good.

Post by Gerry
It really is brilliant played. Every side Desmond/Bickert did was
incredibly beautiful. As you say, no grandstanding for the
audience, just doing the work of their lives making things
perfect.
Just for reference there is also Edmonton Festival ('76), Like
Someone in Love ('75), Pure Desmond ('74) and as mentioned Quartet
Live ('79). All are stellar.

I gotta hear these!