Paul Desmond From The Hot Afternoon CD

Digitally remastered by Slai Chi (Universal Mastering Studios-East).

Paul Desmond's first genuine all-Brazilian album under the Creed Taylor signature was a beauty, a collection of songs by the then-moderately known Edu Lobo and the emerging giant Milton Nascimento, then only in his early twenties. All Desmond has to do is sit back and ride the Brazilian grooves while lyrically ruminating on whatever pops into his head. It sounds so effortless -- until you try it yourself. The swirling, often gorgeous orchestral arrangements are by Don Sebesky (one CD edition mistakenly gives Claus Ogerman credit on the cover), Airto Moreira leads the samba-flavored percussion forces, and Lobo and his wife Wanda de Sah appear on three of Lobo's four songs. Lobo's "To Say Goodbye," "Circles," and "Martha and Romao" have exactly the brand of wistful sadness that Desmond could communicate so well; on the former, de Sah has to sing well below the register with which she is comfortable, and the strain is painfully obvious. Some of Nascimento's best early tunes are here, including the tense title track, the popping "Catavento," and "Canto Latino." "Catavento" inspires a particularly inventive solo from Desmond where he pulls out one of his age-old tricks, quoting "St. Thomas." This 2000 Verve "By Request" edition adds no less than six alternate takes to the package. ~ Richard S. Ginell

This is part of the Verve By Request series.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey in 1969. Originally released on A&M (3024). Includes liner notes by Gene Lees.

Reissue producer: Richard Seidel.

Personnel: Edú Lobo (vocals, guitar); Paul Desmond (saxophone, alto saxophone); Wanda de Sah (vocals); Dorio Ferreira (guitar); Margaret Ross (harp); Lewis Eley, George Ockner, Avram Weiss, Eugene Orloff, Sylvan Shulman, Raoul Poliakin, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi, Paul Gershman (violin); Charles McCracken, George Ricci (cello); Stanley Webb, Stan Webb (flute, alto flute, percussion); Don Hammond, Hubert Laws (flute, alto flute); George Marge, Phil Bodner (clarinet, oboe, saxophone); Irwin "Marky" Markowitz, Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn); James Buffington (French horn); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Pat Rebillot (electric piano, keyboards); Airto Moreira (drums, percussion); Jack Jennings (percussion).

Recording information: Van Gelder Recording Studio, NE (06/24/1969-08/14/1969).

Photographer: Pete Turner .

Arranger: Don Sebesky.

Personnel includes: Paul Desmond (alto saxophone); Edu Lobo (vocals, guitar); Wanda De Sah (vocals); Phil Bodner, George Marge (saxophone, clarinet, oboe); Marky Markowitz, Marvin Stamm (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Jimmy Buffington (French horn); Stan Webb Jr. (flute, alto flute, percussion); Don Hammond, Hubert Laws (flute, alto flute); Patrick Rebillot (acoustic & electric piano); Dorio Ferreira (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Airto Moreira (drums, percussion).

Producer: Creed Taylor.

Q (10/00, p.141) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Desmond is never anything but lovely throughout..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/01, p.102) - "...His long-unavailable, gorgeous 1969 orchestral set of sultry Brazilian themes..."