When From the Hot Afternoon was released in 1969, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, best known for his long tenure with Dave Brubeck’s quartet, had recently gone out on his own. With his laid-back, sensuous sound and lithe rhythmic variations, Desmond was ideally suited to interpret Brazilian standards. The brainchild of Sérgio Mendes, From the Hot Afternoon features lush orchestral backing and settings by Don Sebesky, with rhythmic support from Ron Carter (bass) and Airto Moreira (drums, percussion). Guitars by Dorio Ferreira and Edu Lobo provide an ideal cushion for Desmond’s sly yet warm sound, while compositions by Lobo and a young Milton Nascimento reflect the songbook of the Brazilian generation that followed Bossa Nova masters like Antonio Carlos Jobim. This Verve Record Club pressing marks the album’s first U.S. vinyl reissue in over 40 years.

* Mastered from analog sources

* Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Record Technology, Inc. (RTI)

* Numbered Tip on Gatefold Jacket

* Limited to just 2,500 copies