Paul Desmond was a Sagittarius and was born in the G.I. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Desmond first met pianist Dave Brubeck while both were in the Army, and in 1947 they connected again. Desmond was a heavy smoker, several packs a day, as well as a drinker who could play well while "in his cups." Lung cancer accounted for his decline and death at age 52. Desmond died on May 30, 1977, not of his heavy alcohol habit but of lung cancer, the result of his longtime heavy smoking. They toured the world, playing 300 concerts a year, and had a Columbia recording contract that called for four albums a year. The Dave Brubeck Quartet played until 1967, when Brubeck switched his musical focus from performance to composition and dissolved the group. Much of the success of the classic Brubeck quartet was due to the juxtaposition of his airy style over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, polytonal piano work.[14]. At that time, he began playing the alto saxophone, after being influenced by the likes of Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Desmond offered to perform arranging and administrative work for Brubeck's band, and to babysit Brubeck's children, and Brubeck finally relented and agreed to try working with Desmond again.[4]. Fortunately Don Thompson also doubles as a recording engineer, and a number of the club dates were recorded and released. For example, many of his acquaintances never knew that hed been previously married. Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, an arch rival in various jazz polls said, "I believe that Paul Desmond shares with Benny Carter the title of most lyrical altoist. Paul Desmond and members of his father's family "frequently speculated as to whether or not Sigmund or Hermine Breitenfeld had Jewish backgrounds", but they did not identify as Jewish, or observe Jewish traditions. After World War II, Desmond started working in the San Francisco Bay Area, working as a backing musician. Whereas, Brubeck was a dedicated family man, Desmond was a very private person. And I figure that it's a dumb move to trade a fairly secure place in the world of jazz for Number 493 Unemployed Humorist. Awash in Dewars and full of health." | Although this book is out of print, there are occasionally copies available in the used book ads, some priced at $100 or more. Whos the richest Saxophonist in the world. Reset your passwordClick the eye to show your password. Unlike Brubeck, Mulligan shared much in common with Desmond, such as similar interests and humor, and both men had no shortage of addictions in their lives. [15] His gift for improvised counterpoint is perhaps most evident on his two albums with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan (Mulligan-Desmond Quartet and Two of a Mind). He is also well-known for his over three decades of illustrations for Brooks Brothers catalogs including more than one-thousand drawings. One of Desmonds legendary performances was in collaboration with The Modern Jazz Quartet for a Christmas concert in 1971. All About Jazz musician pages are maintained by musicians, publicists and trusted members like you. You don't think of Paul Desmond as a real swinging musician, he's not famous for that. The economic boom and the Jazz Age were over, and America began the period called the Great Depression. Chinese Zodiac: Paul Desmond was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Desmond once told Marian McPartland of National Public Radio's Piano Jazz that he was taken aback by the chord changes which Brubeck introduced during that 1944 audition. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. With his special brand of humor, Desmond said that he took the job only because he was nearby and could tumble out of bed to work. After the Quartet disbanded in 1967, Desmond recorded a duet with Brubeck, guested with Brubecks musician sons, and played in pianoless groups with guitarist Jim Hall and baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. Though a mild-mannered, professorial-looking man, Desmond was capable of strong emotion. [10], Desmond had a celebrated studio partnership with guitarist Jim Hall. Famed critic Nat Hentoff called him "one of the most creative figures in modern jazz." } Bookstore Desmonds wry humor was intact even as he was dying. The book has been out of print for several years and I obtained my copy through interlibrary loan. It issaid that when Desmond started work in California at the Bandbox, Desmond hired Brubeck; only to first cut his pay in half and then fire him after taking him on tour just so that he (Desmond) could gamble in the casinos at Reno. Doug Ramsey in his book Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond reports that when asked if he wanted a memorial service, Desmond replied, I dont care. Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California, in 1924, the son of Shirley (ne King) and Emil Aron Breitenfeld. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. One thing I learned during the years of not playing I started hanging out in the bar in New York called Elaine's, where a lot of heavyweight writers spend a lot of time, and I discovered over a year or so that almost all of them have secret Walter Mitty dreams of becoming jazz players. He died on May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. Desmond was also drafted into the army for three years due to World War II, however, his unit was never called up to the front lines. Desmond worked several times during his career with baritone saxophonist and band leader Gerry Mulligan. The writing is exquisite. Nationality: American Paul Desmond was born on the 25th of November, 1924. Albums include Take Ten, Two of a Mind, and Brubeck Time. Generation. They recorded fifty tunes in all, plus an album with strings. Desmond meanwhile was gaining a reputation for his "original, intensely personal style." I read that the electronic version is available for around $15. Discography Paul Desmond Follow Artist + The quintessential cool jazz saxophonist, an alto with a shimmering sound and light, airy playing exemplified by his self-written "Take Five." Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Album Discography DR. After this long and expensive process, Desmond willed the piano to Cunningham, a characteristic and final prank. Desmond was also described as a womanizer who was unable to form (and was uninterested in maintaining) steady relationships with women, though he had no shortage of female companions throughout his life. Wild, subtle, delicate. The group also appeared on CBC-TV's Take 30, and were recorded at the Edmonton Jazz Festival. He began by playing clarinet in high school and was tutored in music theory by his father, a theater organist and arranger. Jim Hall talked him into coming to Toronto to play with Canada's premier jazz guitarist Ed Bickert. After years of chain smoking and poor health, Desmond succumbed to lung cancer in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck. Brubeck himself, thought that Desmond lacked ambition, but was upset when he signed a deal with RCA to record on his own, while still part of the Quartet. Died : May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York. In addition to his work with Brubeck, he led several groups and collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Ed Bickert. Large format (10x11"), hard bound with dust jacket, 372 pages, 190 photos, matte paper; complete with discography of all Desmond recordings. "url": "https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/paul-desmond" The Paul Desmond Papers are held at the Holt-Atherton Special Collections in the University of the Pacific Library. Drums, or Adventures in Tinky-Boom", "Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations", "Paul Desmond - 1959-65 Quartet Recordings - Mosaic Records", Paul Desmond Quartet Featuring Don Elliott, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Desmond&oldid=1143875769, United States Army personnel of World War II, Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Joker (Italy) SM-3804; Blue Vox (Switzerland) B/90174, Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond/Dave Van Kriedt, Europa Jazz (Italy) EJ-1032; Denon (Japan) 33C38-7681, Columbia C2L-26/C2S-826 [as double LP]; CL-2036/CS-8836 and CL-2037/CS-8837 [as single LPs], "How Long, Baby How Long, Pt. - Paul Desmond. He frequently played in Toronto, Canada, leading a quartet that included guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Don Thompson, and drummer Jerry Fuller. "[1] Desmond developed a talent for writing during high school as well, becoming co-editor of his high school newspaper. Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. No wonder that articles started appearing questioning the basis of the Desmond-Brubeck collaboration. [4] During Brubeck's Two Generations tours, Desmond and Mulligan shared the stage in 1974. The first Time Series album, Time Out, was released in 1959 and it was the first ever jazz album to sell over a million copies. Dave Brubeck. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Pristine, perfect. This is Desmond as leader and musical organizer, whose wit and warmth come singing through his song choices, his arrangements and his compositions. Is portrayed by John Timothy Burton in Crazy (2008). Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 - May 30, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer and proponent of cool jazz. Some found Brubeck's playing heavy-handed. Desmond was a heavy smoker, several packs a day, as well as a drinker who could play well while in his cups. Lung cancer accounted for his decline and death at age 52. "image": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/Paul-Desmond-200-2017.jpg", Songs | He donated many of his possessions to libraries and to charity. Thanks to Parkside Publications and author Dave Ramsey for this labor of love., Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, By Doug Ramsey with foreword by Dave and Iola Brubeck. One of the great livers of our time. These were released on the albums She Was Too Good to Me, You Can't Go Home Again, and The Best Thing For You. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. Then slowly, Desmond awoke. Paul Desmond was born in San Francisco. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. Soundtrack: Rushmore. Doug Ramsey. [4], Following his military discharge, Paul Emil Breitenfeld legally changed his last name from Breitenfeld to Desmond in 1946. Brubeck was studying at Mills College and playing nights with a trio in San Francisco. His friends called him "the perennial bachelor" few knew that he had been married early in life. Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond is the story of a jazz artist who transcended genres to establish one of the most immediately recognizable sounds in all of music.

Lpss Grading Scale 2021, Assumption Basketball Coach, Articles P