This is one of the happiest recordings I’ve had the pleasure of hearing for a long time – a get-together by a clutch of master melodists, backed by a strong, but disciplined rhythm section. A particular pleasure is the reappearance of Chet Baker, whose graceful deliberations show a new maturity. With greater technical ability has come greater assurance, so that he has been able to lose that air ot detachment that marred even his later recordings. Admittedly, he is not tested by any frantic tempos, but, for the first time in his problem-filled career, one gets the impression that he is succeeding fully in what he attempts.
Desmond, too, plays as well as I have ever heard him. It must have come as something of a surprise to him to find a pianist who treated his fragile limnings with sympathy. Hanna in fact plays throughout with singular taste and restraint, if a little unadventurously. And the guitar work demonstrates all the virtues for which Hall’s praises have ever been sung.
The tone for the session is set by a bustling You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To – bright Desmond, mellow Baker, bouncy Hall, all flattering the patently corny song with loping, breezy solos. Hall’s line teases some frisky melodies from all soloists.
Rodrigo’s Concierto has enjoyed something of a revival of late; it has even survived attention from the Pop world. Once again, it is the moving Second Movement that is investigated here and, although it would be unrealistic to expect it to be developed quite as deeply as by its composer, Hall & Co. find in it a vehicle for some deliciously melodic improvisation. Curiously, it is Baker who gets closest to its Andalusian inspiration, despite its being conceived as a guitar piece.
This album might seem unadventurous to some, but to me it is a thing of beauty.
Discography
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; Two’s Blues; The Answer Is Yes (18¼) – Concierto De Aranjuez (19¾ min)
Chet Baker (tpt); Paul Desmond (alt); Jim Hall (gtr); Roland Hanna (pno); Ron Carter (bs); Steve Gadd (dm). Hackensack, NJ, April 1975.
(CTI 6060 £2.45)
