AOTW: Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond - 1975: The Duets

[Captain Bacardi]

Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond -
1975: The Duets

A&M/Horizon SP-703

Released 1975
Format: Vinyl/8-Track/CD

Produced by John Snyder

Dave Brubeck - Piano
Paul Desmond - Alto Sax

Songs:

• 1. Alice In Wonderland (Fain-Hilliard) 4:04
  2. These Foolish Things (Marvell-Strackey-Link) 5:06
  3. Blue Dove (P.D. Arranged by D. Brubeck) 4:32
  4. Stardust (Carmichael-Parish) 4:39
  5. Koto Song (D. Brubeck) 5:54
  6. Balcony Rock (P. Desmond-D. Brubeck) 2:15
  7. Summer Song (D. Brubeck) 3:16
  8. You Go To My Head (Gillespie-Coots) 7:15

Recorded September 15 & 16, 1975 at CI Recording Studios, New York.
Mixed October 3 & 4, 1975 at CI Recording Studios.
Engineering by Elvin Campbell with Assistance from David Achelis.
"You Go To My Head" was recorded June 10, 1975 aboard the S.S. Rotterdam. * (mono recording)

*A&M gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the BBC for making this tape available.

Art Direction: Roland Young
Album Design: Stan Evenson, Phil Shima
Cover Photography: Harry Mittman

Liner Notes by Paul Desmond


Capt. Bacardi
NP: Brubeck & Desmond - 1975: The Duets

 

[Dave]

Hmmm...I wonder how this LP escaped me! I had the rest of the Desmond catalog; this one I've compltetely forgot about, but may have seen.

I did have the one Paul Desmond Live album, apparently done after this one, though.

Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is such a nice little album, and a perfect setting for Paul Desmond's lyrical sax. Even though it's just the two musicians this swings pretty good. Brubeck is terrific as usual. They did "Alice In Wonderland" a few years before this with the quartet on the Dave Digs Disney album. I think my favorite tune on this album is their rendition of "Stardust", where it never seems as if anyone was playing the melody, but the chord changes are unmistakable. I was glad to see Verve reissue this album.

And this is what I call "smooth jazz"!


Capt. Bacardi
NP: Brubeck & Desmond - 1975: The Duets

 

[Rudy]

I saw this all over the place when it was reissued on CD but, strangely enough, hardly see it in the used LP bins. Could be that it was not widely released originally.

 

[LPJim]

You're right about that. I've only seen one copy other than my own. The record has a standard gray A&M label instead of the gold Horizon one.
Even the Verve-A&M CD reissue doesn't show up in the stores much.
JB

 

[Captain Bacardi]

You're right about that. I've only seen one copy other than my own. The record has a standard gray A&M label instead of the gold Horizon one.

That's weird. My LP has the regular Horizon label.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mr Bill]

That's weird. My LP has the regular Horizon label.

I think after Horizon folded this LP stayed in print for a while and, when re-pressed, got the standard A&M label. In Southern California I see plenty of used copies -- one of the most common Horizon's to be found in the used bins...

--Mr Bill

 

[Jazzy]

is joe morello on this album??????

 

[Captain Bacardi]

is joe morello on this album??????

No, just Brubeck & Desmond, hence the title "Duets".


Capt. Bacardi