The Garden Party

[GodinFan]

I just re-listened to Alone Together from At The Garden Party by Ed Bickert and Don Thompson.

I’ve been digging this album for years, but somehow, this evening was a bit of an epiphany.

Both Ed and Don are phenomenal. I count myself lucky to have worked with them both in my primary career as a woodwind doubler.

However, the thing that caught me tonight was the internal melodic movement in Ed’s comping. It’s not just a few little stabs, it’s like an entire countermelody at times.

So good.

[DougB]

Great, great album-it's on my regular play list. Besides, he's a Canadian! :-)

Doug

[mr. beaumont]

Paul Desmond about Don Thompson said something like "looks like Jesus, plays nearly as well."

Wonderful record. I think I'll listen to it tonight.

[A. Kingstone]

I'm no nationalist but the players in Toronto when I was coming up were amazing. Don Thompson et al.

[PMB]

I was just thinking about that album yesterday, perhaps as a result of the Lorne Lofsky thread. One of the best!


New organ trio album:
A Passing Instant | PMB3

[pamosmusic]

I’ve been listening to this one all week. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it in the last twenty minutes, so I suppose I might as well say it again: I’ve been on a big Bickert kick lately.

[Spirit59]

Absolutely love that record and that version of Alone Together is insanely beautiful!

[darkwaters]

Saw Ed for the first time around 30+ years ago playing with Dizzy. Been a BIG fan ever since.

[KirkP]

It’s a great track on a great album. But my desert island album Is the Concord Duo #7 with Bill Mays & Ed Bickert.

[Cunamara]

Been listening to the Desmond/Bickert box set this week. So, so, so good. Like four halves of the same musical brain*. Ed's comping and chordal soloing are just mindblowing. Arguably my favorite guitarist**- a giant talent on par with Smith, Pass, Hall, Wes...


* Yes, I know the math doesn't work.

** Subject to change at whim. I find I resonate with strongly chordal players like Ed, GVE, Weir, etc., rather than mainly single line stylists, but there are exceptions to that too.

[DougB]

I just re-listened to Alone Together from At The Garden Party by Ed Bickert and Don Thompson.

Another excellent version of Alone Together is Live! by Jim Hall and Ron Carter. :-)

Doug

[Sam Sherry]

Paul Desmond about Don Thompson said something like "looks like Jesus, plays nearly as well."

A Hall-of-Fame quipster. Among my favorites is this one, on dating a fashion model:

Sometimes they go around with guys who are scuffling — for a while. But usually they end up marrying some cat with a factory. This is the way the world ends, not with a whim but a banker.