Subtitled ‘Paul Desmond plays the songs of Simon & Garfunkel’, this is probably the dullest record Paul Desmond has ever made. However it may well outsell many of his better albums, simply on the strength of the subtitle.
Desmond is largely restricted to subdued melody statements, the teeniest bits of elementary improvisation (usually slight paraphrases of the tune) quickly followed by a restatement of the tune. The strings murmur gently in the background, the drummers rattle their pots and pans quietly, and everyone is gently lulled to sleep.
Even the pop-rock albums have more going for them than this. At least they make you tap your foot sometimes.
Discography
El Condor; So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright; The 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy); Mrs. Robinson; Old Friends (19¼ min) – America; For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her; Scarborough Fair/Canticle; Cecilia; Bridge Over Troubled Water (19 min)
Paul Desmond (alt); Herbie Hancock (elec-pno); Ron Carter (bs); Sam Brown, Gene Bertoncini (gtr); Jerry Jemott (fender-bs); Airto Moreira, Joao Palma. Bill Lavorgna (dm); strings.
(A & M AMLS 2005 £2.15)
