Great to see this posted here! This LP is what got me hooked on jazz in my early teens. I've worn out two vinyl records and eventually acquired it as a CD. I keep coming back to it, like a faithful friend.
Stardust is my favorite track, with Desmond at his best. Though, having heard the Quartet live on three occasions it seems he was always at his best.
@Thekingofpop1958 This is a modern jazz performance, where improvisation within a definite framework is the main goal. The framework here is the harmonic progression which H. C. created originally for the tune Stardust. The saxophone and piano improvise new melodies which fit the original harmonies. The ultimate goal, which is rarely achieved, is to improvise melodies which are better than the original. This is a very difficult art which has little or no mass appeal.
@kocn53 Thank you very much for your brilliant definition :D!! You helped me to define it at last...
-- Given that the original melody is usually a very fine piece of music, created by trying and rejecting a lot of material, such improvisations quite often end up in just stirring up all those possibilities once rejected by the author of the original melody. That explains why they sound so tiresome and boring to me...
@bergerkos I mean, few are them who have the real gift for improvisation.
With them "old school" masters it would always be some kind of "their personal vision" of the tunes everyone knew, so the tunes were always recognizable or they would often come back to the original theme...
But improvisation for the sake of improvisation is not for me. I believe "fine art" must be pleasing to ear and heart in the first place.
Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond my hero after a long day's work of sifiting through the human emotion and psyche nothing goes better with a hot cup of joe or tea=]
The tenor has a broader array of tonal variance due to the tip opening being bigger, thus a larger opening through a small opening is possible. Also, the reed is larger and can be manipulated in more varying ways. Bari mouthpieces are different in that they cannot have an even larger tip opening thn the tenor because humans don't have that kind of lung capacity nor mouth strength. Soprano has the least tonal variance.
Some tenor sax player said once that alto is less interesting. But when you are listening to paul desmond such a seditious idea never comes to your head/ do you agree with me? He does it so tenderly...
I think it's a matter of who is playing. Across jazz I think there is greater variation in individual tones on tenor than there is on alto. Tenor probably has a deeper sound to most ears. There also may have been more "greats" on tenor. In terms of which instrument one would prefer to hear, I think that's a matter of personal taste. I slightly prefer alto but not by much. Nobody on any instrument surpassed Desmond's purely melodic inventive abilities.
Alto is more compact, but the sound is filled out more. Tenor has a wider sound spectrum, but the sound is spread thin between the fundamental pitch and buzzy-reedy sounds.
Alto sax sound is pleasing because it mimicks the physics of traditional woodwinds- there is more sound from the air column resonating. A tenor sax sometimes amplifies reed buzz more than it resonates. Bari sax takes it even further, although there is some real resonance for almost an octave in the lower range.
Wow, thanks for the extensive description. This must explain why there is more variation in tone among tenors than altos. Think of Cannonball, Bird, Phil Woods, not a huge difference in tone. Now think of John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Don Byas, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins. Each of those tenors is startlingly unique. Neat! Thanks again!!
This is beautiful. Paul Desmond is my favorite on the saxophone. My dad and I used to listen together to Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. Thank you so much for posting this.
@da19lila38 Tenor sax has a real verile, masculine sound. I think that's why it's so appealing. Alto is much closer to more tradition winds, in colour, tone, range etc...
@MichaelnChristine Thanks to everyone who responded to my question concerning alto and tenor saxophones. All responses are quite comprehensive and very interesting for a neophyte (that is me). Thank you! Still Paul Desmond remains a greatest favorite of mine though I certainly highly appreciate tenor saxophonists mentioned above .
I love the approach of including photos of the album cover, the platter itself, and the liner notes in readable bites. The audio quality of albums--scratches, pops and all-- has always seemed to me superior to CDs. This is nice.
Oh man, I love this sort of thing.
RichardOliverWY 2 days ago
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If you liked this one, check out their rendition of Stardust on "Jazz at Oberlin."
Saxman1219 8 months ago
Great to see this posted here! This LP is what got me hooked on jazz in my early teens. I've worn out two vinyl records and eventually acquired it as a CD. I keep coming back to it, like a faithful friend.
Stardust is my favorite track, with Desmond at his best. Though, having heard the Quartet live on three occasions it seems he was always at his best.
taven46 8 months ago
@Thekingofpop1958 This is a modern jazz performance, where improvisation within a definite framework is the main goal. The framework here is the harmonic progression which H. C. created originally for the tune Stardust. The saxophone and piano improvise new melodies which fit the original harmonies. The ultimate goal, which is rarely achieved, is to improvise melodies which are better than the original. This is a very difficult art which has little or no mass appeal.
kocn53 1 year ago
@kocn53 Thank you very much for your brilliant definition :D!! You helped me to define it at last...
-- Given that the original melody is usually a very fine piece of music, created by trying and rejecting a lot of material, such improvisations quite often end up in just stirring up all those possibilities once rejected by the author of the original melody. That explains why they sound so tiresome and boring to me...
bergerkos 1 year ago
@bergerkos I mean, few are them who have the real gift for improvisation.
With them "old school" masters it would always be some kind of "their personal vision" of the tunes everyone knew, so the tunes were always recognizable or they would often come back to the original theme...
But improvisation for the sake of improvisation is not for me. I believe "fine art" must be pleasing to ear and heart in the first place.
bergerkos 1 year ago
Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond my hero after a long day's work of sifiting through the human emotion and psyche nothing goes better with a hot cup of joe or tea=]
blondesirendesire08 1 year ago
The tenor has a broader array of tonal variance due to the tip opening being bigger, thus a larger opening through a small opening is possible. Also, the reed is larger and can be manipulated in more varying ways. Bari mouthpieces are different in that they cannot have an even larger tip opening thn the tenor because humans don't have that kind of lung capacity nor mouth strength. Soprano has the least tonal variance.
laughingtiger123 1 year ago
heaven
killerwasabub 1 year ago
Thanks a lot fo a detailed answer!
da19lila38 3 years ago
Some tenor sax player said once that alto is less interesting. But when you are listening to paul desmond such a seditious idea never comes to your head/ do you agree with me? He does it so tenderly...
da19lila38 3 years ago 12
I think it's a matter of who is playing. Across jazz I think there is greater variation in individual tones on tenor than there is on alto. Tenor probably has a deeper sound to most ears. There also may have been more "greats" on tenor. In terms of which instrument one would prefer to hear, I think that's a matter of personal taste. I slightly prefer alto but not by much. Nobody on any instrument surpassed Desmond's purely melodic inventive abilities.
kocn53 3 years ago
Alto is more compact, but the sound is filled out more. Tenor has a wider sound spectrum, but the sound is spread thin between the fundamental pitch and buzzy-reedy sounds.
Alto sax sound is pleasing because it mimicks the physics of traditional woodwinds- there is more sound from the air column resonating. A tenor sax sometimes amplifies reed buzz more than it resonates. Bari sax takes it even further, although there is some real resonance for almost an octave in the lower range.
PaulBlichmann 3 years ago
Wow, thanks for the extensive description. This must explain why there is more variation in tone among tenors than altos. Think of Cannonball, Bird, Phil Woods, not a huge difference in tone. Now think of John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Don Byas, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins. Each of those tenors is startlingly unique. Neat! Thanks again!!
kocn53 3 years ago
This is beautiful. Paul Desmond is my favorite on the saxophone. My dad and I used to listen together to Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. Thank you so much for posting this.
jazz0685 3 years ago
@da19lila38 Tenor sax has a real verile, masculine sound. I think that's why it's so appealing. Alto is much closer to more tradition winds, in colour, tone, range etc...
MichaelnChristine 1 year ago
@MichaelnChristine Thanks to everyone who responded to my question concerning alto and tenor saxophones. All responses are quite comprehensive and very interesting for a neophyte (that is me). Thank you! Still Paul Desmond remains a greatest favorite of mine though I certainly highly appreciate tenor saxophonists mentioned above .
da19lila38 1 year ago
@da19lila38
Yes, I think he is just great. Soft and tende sort of Stan getz with Tenor or Chris Botti with Trumpet ...
KrrisGlisaando 2 weeks ago
I love the approach of including photos of the album cover, the platter itself, and the liner notes in readable bites. The audio quality of albums--scratches, pops and all-- has always seemed to me superior to CDs. This is nice.
bloorondo 3 years ago
Hey, what a nice cut. Desmond was great as usual. Thanks for posting this classic DBQ performance!
saxophoney 3 years ago