Take Ten

While I've revered your Jazz writing since the twofer copy I read regarding Don Lanphere and Miles Davis years ago,I didn't discover your blog till today. I fell for jazz way back in 1957 lying on my back in an Izmir, Turkey, hospital, listening to the strange sounds eminating from a soldier's portable record player; it was Brubeck and Desmond, as I eventually learned... and I've never looked back since! I'll be getting your Desmond bio for Christmas (Mrs.E. doesn't know this yet) and eager to find more of his droll, dry-martini humor and your own journalistic acumen. But for now, may I put in a word for one of my true desert isle discs, Mulligan's and Desmond's RCA gem, "Two of a Mind", so much more inspired than the same-time alternate on Verve. Give us a review of those two, why don'cha?

(The two albums Mr. Leimbacher mentions were five years apart. "Two of a Mind" [ http://www.amazon.com/Two-Mind-Paul-Desmond/dp/B00008VGMU ] was recorded in 1962. "Gerry Mulligan-Paul Desmond Quartet" [ http://www.amazon.com/Gerry-Mulligan-Paul-Desmond-Quartet/dp/B000QGOBJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1228365839&sr=1-1 ] was done in 1957. Review? They are both necessary components of any serious collection. "Two of a Mind" gets a slight edge because of the inspired playing by both men on "Blight of the Fumble Bee." -- DR)

...and the book UNwraps even better!