Stardust - Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond

June 1953 at Concert Hall in LA. Paul quotes 3rd movement of Debussy String Quartet. Dave on piano, Paul on alto, Ron Crotty on bass & Lloyd Davis on drums.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jazz
• Dave
• Brubeck
• Paul
• Desmond
• Ron
• Crotty
• Lloyd
• Davis
• piano
• alto
• saxophone
• Debussy

[da19lila38]

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...

[kocn53]

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.

[PaulBlichmann]

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.

[kocn53]

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]

@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.

[RichardOliverWY]

Oh man, I love this sort of thing.

[KrrisGlisaando]

@da19lila38

Yes, I think he is just great. Soft and tende sort of Stan getz with Tenor or Chris Botti with Trumpet ...

[taven46]

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.

[bergerkos]

@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]

@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...

[blondesirendesire08]

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=]

[da19lila38]

@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 .

[MichaelnChristine]

@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...