Paul Desmond
Skylark
Paul Desmond, Alto Sax
Gene Bertoncini, Guitar
Gabor Szabo, Guitar
Bob James, Piano, Electric Piano
Ron Carter, Bass
Jack DeJohnette, Drums
Ralph MacDonald, Percussion
George Ricci, Cello
Arranged and Conducted
by Don Sebesky
Produced by 
Recorded at
Van Gelder Studios
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Rudy Van Gelder, Engineer
Recorded November 27, 28, December 4, 1973
Catalog Number:
ZK 65133
Format: CD
Label: CTI |
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Click on tracks
 to hear sound samples.
1. Take
Ten (6:05)
2. Romance de Amor (9:37)
3. Was A Sunny Day (4:50)
4. Music For A While (6:42)
5. Skylark (5:18)
6. Indian Summer (3:58)
7. Music For A While (alt. take) (5:53)
* 8. Skylark (alt. take)
(5:37)
* 9. Indian Summer (alt.
take) (5:28)
* Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks
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Skylark
Paul Desmond’s solo career, much of it guided by Creed Taylor from
1968 through 1974, was not dictated by risk-taking. The alto-saxophonist
became famed while with Dave Brubeck’s quartet for pretty intonation
and witty interjections. Skylark is an exception. This outstanding late-1973
date was the first of two records Desmond recorded for CTI under his own
name (he was also featured on projects by Don Sebesky, Jim Hall and Chet
Baker). What makes it so unusual is the addition of guitarist Gabor Szabo.
Unlike Desmond’s past partner-in-crime, Jim Hall (or Canadian Ed Bickert
shortly thereafter), Szabo was not an obvious accompanist (it was Creed
Taylor’s idea, having signed the guitarist to CTI). Szabo’s
jangled runs, metallic tone and unusual conceptions seemed opposed to Desmond’s
pretty playing and polite witticism. Oddly though, Desmond is more ideally
suited to guitarist Gene Bertoncini, who sticks to playing acoustic rhythm
throughout. Szabo gets the solos (formerly only on the brilliant “Take
Ten” and the mysterious “Romance de Amor” – and
now also on alternate takes of “Skylark” and “Indian Summer”).
To compound it, drummer Jack DeJohnette was hardly suited to Desmond either.
The busy, polyphonic, near-brilliant percussion cues evidenced here are
hardly the sort of thing Desmond would have expected from Joe Morello or
Connie Kay. What holds it all together is Fender Rhodes-man Bob James and,
of course, bassist Ron Carter. Together, the two conspire to wed the traditional
beauty of Desmond and Bertoncini with the exotica of Szabo and DeJohnette
into quite potent hypnotic performances. Skylark is strong, beautiful work
that provides an elegant platform for Desmond’s talents (more than
the ho-hum follow-up, Pure Desmond) and offers one of the best, most interesting
jazz records of the early 1970s. Highly recommended. –
Douglas Payne
One of the Greatest Albums
Ever
I am a devoted fan of Paul Desmond, and this is my favorite album, not just
out of Desmond albums, but all albums. I own a fairly large jazz collection,
mostly CDs, lots of Miles Davis and cool jazz of course, yet I listen to
my Skylark record more than any other album I own. Recorded in late ’73,
Desmond plays beautifully and swinging even just three short years before
his own death of lung cancer. Guitarist Gabor Szabo is featured on this
album, and for good reason. Jack DeJohnette plays drums. The first song,
“Take Ten,” a variation of the “Take Five” theme
Desmond wrote, is amazing. I find myself humming it in my head a great deal
and often switch to its melody in the middle of humming “Take Five.”
“Romance de Amor” is a well-organized and beautiful piece with
an interesting sound. “Was a Sunny Day” is a wonderful cut with
a great motivated solo by Desmond. It’s hard to sit still while listening
to it (or any part of this album). “Music for a While” is a
fine, beautiful song with some strings. The melody is an adaptation of the
classical “Dido’s Lament.” Finally, “Skylark,”
the last and most definitely the most awesome. Desmond’s playing on
this song can only be described as heavenly. One melodic line in “Skylark”
has kept me awake late into the night before, almost too gorgeous to seem
real. This is truly one of the greatest albums in jazz, recorded by one
of the greatest artists of all time, Paul Desmond. I was just looking at
reviews of Kind of Blue… take my word for it, buy this album. If Kind
of Blue gets 5 stars then Skylark gets at least 7.
– Peter Crisman
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Paul Desmond
Photos by Chuck Stewart |
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