Someone who identifies himself on YouTube as “liveacid” went to painstaking trouble to manufacture a video of Chet Baker and Paul Desmond playing
“Autumn Leaves.” The music track is from Baker’s 1974 album She Was Too Good To Me. It was later reissued on the compilation Chet Baker & Paul Desmond Together. From disparate sources, the editor rounded up shots of Baker, Desmond, pianist Bob James, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Steve Gadd. You’ll hear Hubert Laws’ flute, but “liveacid” did not include shots of Laws.
The breaths Desmond and Baker take don’t match those in the music, although they often come uncannily close. Pay attention to what fingers and drumsticks are doing in relation to the notes and you’ll see the misses and near-misses. You never see the players together. The editor repeatedly recycles the same shots. Still, despite its flaws it’s a clever job of digital cut and paste. It is reason enough to listen again to players who, as the liner notes of that compilation remind us, were wonderful together.
Have a good weekend.
Not to mention the fact that Chet’s playing trumpet on that recording, not flugelhorn.
You’re kidding, right, about close? The finger movement don’t at all match the music.
(“…often come uncannily close” referred to the breathing, not the fingers.—DR)
wonderful liner notes on the original album by Doug!!
I was a freshman in high school when I bought that record. I
studied it like it was the Torah! Loved everything about it… Chet,
Paul, Gadd, Bob James, Ron Carter, the strings arranged by Sebesky,
the beautiful and hip cover art, and of course, your liner notes. I
still love it 35 years later!
Very good sounding performance but there was video manipulation?
(Uh…yes. Read the text of the item, then watch the video again.—DR)
It was fun to watch..and the music was sublime. Thanks.
Amazing job of editing!!! How neat to see these two lyrical geniuses “together”, in a sense!!! There will never be another Chet, there will never be another Paul!!!
Thank you so much!!!