Bossa Antigua
By Paul Desmond featuring Jim Hall, 1965.

Paul Desmond may be best known for his memorable saxophone features on the seminal Dave Brubeck Quartet jazz album, Time Out. Follow Desmond, with his own quartet, on to Bossa Antigua, his first excellent foray into bossa nova music.

In contrast to the incredible frenzied rhythms on Time Out, Paul Desmond’s alto sax soars over the subtle samba rhythms set down by Connie Kay (Modern Jazz Quintet). The other treat in this session is Jim Hall’s muted guitar –  it compliments Desmond’s solos gracefully. The sax and guitar bounce off each other so effortlessly that the listener forgets there was a melody back there somewhere, until they remind him in perfect unison. Brubeck fans, don’t miss Bossa Antigua.

Check out Bossa Antigua on CD from Nashville Public Library. Or download Bossa Antigua (and Time Out), plus hundreds of other great jazz albums from Freegal, using the Nashville Public Library card.

- Kyle