The title of this set by alto saxophonist
Paul Desmond refers to his having placed first once again in the alto chair in the Downbeat poll. Released in 1959, First Place Again is the result of an unexpected gathering of the rhythm section of
the Modern Jazz Quartet:
Percy Heath and
Connie Kay, and
Jimmy Giuffre 3 guitarist
Jim Hall. The four musicians were all unexpectedly at home in New York and took full advantage of cheap, after-hours recording studio time to play out this set of standards and a pair of newer tunes,
John Lewis' great blues, "Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West," and "East of the Sun (and West Of The Moon)," from a Princeton University theater work. The rest, including a fine reading of "Greensleeves," which is short and tight here,
Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick out of You,"
J. Fred Coots' "For All We Known," "You Got to My Head" -- another
Coots' tune -- and
Sammy Cahn's "Time After Time," are done with an airy, amiable vibe, especially the work between
Hall and the rhythm section, which is full of counterpoint and sharp accents.
Desmond, of course, being at that time the king of melodic improvisation on the alto -- with the possible exception of
Art Pepper's ascendancy -- is in fine form. His whimsical, breathy, dry tone is sharp, on the spot, and full of ideas as he quotes from a vast number of tunes. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed set if ultimately unmemorable. [Though the album was first released under the title First Place Again, it was reissued by the Discovery label in 1986 under the title East of the Sun. The track listing was the same, though the running order was shuffled.] ~ Thom Jurek