Bossa Antigua
picks up the samba-based rim shots of drummer
Connie Kay
on
Take Ten
and tries to make a whole new record out of them. While the title track duplicates the original percolating groove of
"El Prince,"
other tracks like
"Samba Cantina"
revert to a typical bossa nova rhythm of the period, which leads one to conclude that "bossa antigua" is merely whatever
Desmond
says it is. Of the album's two non-originals,
"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes,"
of course, is made-to-order for
's wistful, sophisticated temperament, and he delivers exactly what a
devotee would expect and love; and
"A Ship Without a Sail"
has some memorable off-the-cuff solo ideas.
Jim Hall
is around again to lend subtle rhythm support and low-key savvy in his solos, and like many
companions of this period, he makes a fine sparring partner in the contrapuntal exchanges.
The Brubeck Quartet
's
Gene Wright
again lends a sturdy hand on bass. The playing is wonderful throughout, though just missing the full-throttle inspiration of
. ~ Richard S. Ginell