After all these years, I'm still not exactly sure why the sound of Paul Desmond's alto saxophone is so hypnotizing. Part of the reason, I suspect, is he played high on the instrument's register, and for some reason the ear favors that range. Another is that he was a wizard of lyrical improvisation, inventing new melodies that rivaled the song's original. A third is that his tone was impossibly pretty, again, hitting the ear just right. But I think there's a fourth reason. He's one of those players—like Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Stan Getz and Bill Evans among others—who loved hearing himself play. And self-joy makes a difference.
Long considered Desmond's finest live leadership albums are three recorded in Toronto in 1975: Like Someone in Love (Terlarc), recorded on March 29; Paul Desmond (Artists House), recorded on October 27, 28 and 29; and Live (A&M Horizon), recorded on the same dates. All three were captured at Toronto's Bourbon Street Jazz Club. The club's owner, Doug Cole, operated the establishment between 1971 and 1986, along with George's Spaghetti House.
Now Mosaic Records has released Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings. For the box, the label pulled together all of Desmond's live Toronto recordings in '75, a set that includes an extensive number of previously unreleased recordings. Of the 51 tracks on the 7-CD box, 31 were previously unreleased. And seven of these include Rob McConnell on valve trombone. The trio behind Desmond on all the dates are Ed Bickert (g), Don Thompson (b) and Jerry Fuller (d). The tasteful Canadian rhythm section was a perfect fit for Desmond's glorious sound and feel.
But don't think of this as a box set. Better to consider it a big fat album, since once you listen to the first track—Too Marvelous for Words—you'll wind up listening all the way through. The first batch of previously unreleased tracks were recorded on March 25, 26 and 28; the second on October 25, 26, 30 and 31.
Desmond, of course, had been a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet for 17 years, starting in 1950. His composition, Take Five, with Brubeck was a massive hit ever since its release in 1959. After Desmond's retirement in 1967, writes Desmond biographer Doug Ramsey of Rifftides in the new set's liner booklet, the saxophonist no longer toured at a marathon pace. Instead, he learned to put his feet up and enjoy vacations. But Desmond was hardly a slacker. He continued to play and perform (most notably with guitarist Jim Hall at New York's Half Note), reuniting from time to time with Brubeck and others.
When Desmond was invited in early 1975 to play in Toronto at Bourbon Street, he immediately asked Jim Hall, his musical soulmate. But Jim couldn't make it. As Jane Hall, Jim's wife recalled last night, he had his own tour lined up. "They always had fun together," Jane said. "Did you know Paul and I played Scrabble a lot? He was a really good writer, too. We had dinner every week when he and Jim were both in town. I miss them terribly." [Photo above of Jane Hall and Paul Desmond at the White House on April 29, 1969 to celebrate Duke Ellington's 70th birthday party; photo by Milt Hinton and courtesy of Jane Hall]
Jim recommended Ed Bickert in Toronto (who passed away last year). Bickert was a perfect fit, as was the light-handed Fuller on drums (who passed in 2002). Don Thompson (who continues to play and record on piano, bass and vibes) is superb here on bass. [Photo above of Don Thompson]
Box highlights include I Should Care, Meditation, Emily (all versions), Let's Get Away From It All and Wendy (with McConnell) and Tangerine. Throughout the box, Desmond blows around on songs like a November leaf, rising and falling and gracefully spinning with each gust.
The only tracks that fall short are the two takes of Take Five. They are surprisingly harsh and labored, as if Desmond was sick and tired of playing his song but knew he had to and chose to torture ears in the process. But that's just me.
Paul Desmond died in 1977.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's a previously unreleased Emily...
And here's a previously unreleased Line for Lyons...
