This planet represents abundance, prosperity and the principle of expansion. The Paul Desmond Papers are held at the Holt-Atherton Special Collections in the University of the Pacific Library. He appeared with Dave Brubeck in a series of concerts called "Two Generations of Brubeck" in which Dave played with his musical sons, and in 1976, the Quartet reunited for the Silver Anniversary Tour. [4] During Brubeck's Two Generations tours, Desmond and Mulligan shared the stage in 1974. He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. Pauls education details are not available at this time. Desmonds airy, melodic style was a perfect balance to Brubecks forceful, polytonal playing. Paul Desmond - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges Some found Brubeck's playing heavy-handed. Clarinetist Perry Robinson recalls in his autobiography that Desmond would sometimes need a vitamin B12 shot just to go on playing during his later career.[10]. 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. Though a mild-mannered, professorial-looking man, Desmond was capable of strong emotion. Paul Desmond. Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic) 23, No. Born in San Francisco in 1924, Desmond was one of the leading proponents of the West Coast "cool" style. He was famous for being a Saxophonist. Paul Desmond Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic | is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Basically, Paul was a clarinet player for many years, but he started playing alto after high school and more during the time he was in the Army band at the Presidio in San Francisco. Paul Desmond Biography - Jazz Standards In their later years they reconciled and became close friends.[9]. I could see him about 70-75 years old he would have been terrific just to talk to and hang out with. Eventually they became friends, but Desmond could often be found backstage, reading a book during Morello's extended drum solo on "Take Five". Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991. There was a period of time when Desmond left Brubeck and performed with small groups. Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. Officially he was writing a humorous memoir of his years on the road with the Quartet, to be titled How Many of You Are There in the Quartet? At 53 years old, Paul Desmond height not available right now. Brubeck went back home to California and started work with his trio, with whom he landed a radio gig; upon hearing of Brubecks success, Desmond travelled back to California and begged Brubeck to hire him, which Brubeck did not, until he made Desmond babysit his children. So, how much is Paul Desmond worth at the age of 53 years old? We will update Paul Desmond's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. There was a sign in our hospital medical library which read: Any book is new until youve read it. This is Desmond as leader and musical organizer, whose wit and warmth come singing through his song choices, his arrangements and his compositions. He began by playing clarinet in high school and was tutored in music theory by his father, a theater organist and arranger. His time was amazing. Interested? We will continue to update information on Paul Desmonds parents. After World War II, Desmond started working in the San Francisco Bay Area, working as a backing musician. A master of the alto saxophone as well as a consummate composer and musician, Desmond was a pivotal figure on the West Coast cool jazz scene. Jim Hall Show less, Paul Desmond & His Canadians, The Complete Set At Last, More From The Late Ed Bickert With Paul Desmond, Instrument: Saxophone, alto [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). The writing is exquisite. In the 1940s and 1950s, Desmond frequently took amphetamines, and in the 1970s, he was known to use cocaine. According to our Database, He has no children. He died on May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. Biographies Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his well-known composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. Colin Skinner: In Praise of British Big Bands, The Scintillating Enigma of Una Mae Carlisle, Integration in the Recording Studio: Eddie Condons Story, Peggy Haine & The Lowdown Alligator Jass Band to Play Again, James Reese Europe and the Clef Club Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. For the critics it was a strange musical relationship. They toured the world, playing 300 concerts a year, and had a Columbia recording contract that called for four albums a year. Jazz musician and songwriter who played alto saxophone for the Dave Brubeck Quartet and penned the group's 1959 hit song "Take Five." He was a prominent member of the post-World War II "cool jazz" movement. Who are the richest people in the world? Dave Brubeck(PBS interview with Hedrick Smith)[6]. Theory And that's what made "Take Five". Though various critics credited the success of the Dave Brubeck Quartet to Desmond's horn, others over-looked his playing as "too pretty". He was an actor and composer, known for Rushmore (1998), Say Anything (1989) and Constantine (2005). Many of Desmond; own pieces have a breathy bossa nova lyricism, true to the Brazilian original, not the jivey Americanized version. As guest soloist he ventured out with the Modern Jazz Quartet for a 1971 Christmas concert. Some people called him the stork'Cause he would stand on one leg and leaned on the piano. The harmony was always right, the melodies were always right. Later married Willis Dean Kaye (died 1986); they had one child, Christopher (1956-2014). He worked occasionally for Dave Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. Trivia (5) Desmond's pure tone, the ingenuity of his melodic lines, his harmonic resourcefulness, the musical wit that reflected his literate and sophisticated personality, made him one of the most personal and appealing of all jazz stylists. He was known to have several addictions, including Dewar's Scotch whisky and Pall Mall cigarettes. Influenced by Lester Young and Pete Brown he originally played clarinet in the big bands of Jack Fina and Alvino Rey. Search Paul Desmond died on May 30, 1977 due to lung cancer. Although this book is out of print, there are occasionally copies available in the used book ads, some priced at $100 or more. - Ben Ratliff, The New York Times"Every jazz musician should be lucky enough to get a biography as thoroughly researched and luxuriously produced." Paul Desmond was born in the Year of the Rat. Bookstore This is the way the world ends, not with a whim but a banker." Died : May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York. Most readers likely are familiar with that musical combination and recordings. Large format (10x11"), hard bound with dust jacket, 372 pages, 190 photos, matte paper; complete with discography of all Desmond recordings. Observers noted that he seemed out of shape, needing 2 or 3 breaths to complete a phrase that he usually did with one great gasp. Discover Paul Desmond's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Perhaps it was their uncanny ability to play counterpoint that endeared them to their fans and to each other. 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]. When the Quartet split up in 1967, Desmond unofficially retired. Yet with different musical aspiration and taste, their relationship was full of tension. At that time, he began playing the alto saxophone, after being influenced by the likes of Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Then slowly, Desmond awoke. Better Than A Dry Martini And the thing that makes "Take Five" work is the bridge, which we almost didn't use. Zodiac Sign: Paul Desmond was a Sagittarius. Paul Desmond Musician - All About Jazz Paul Desmond was a Sagittarius and was born in the G.I. Desmond officially started work with the Dave Brubeck Trio (now Quartet with the inclusion of Desmond) in 1951. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. In 1953, Down Beat proclaimed, "It is again a case where the sideman (in this instance Desmond) seems to be quite superior to the leader as a jazzman." We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Quartet was extremely successful for their Time Series, which was a series of five albums that featured songs in irregular, unusual time signatures such as 5/4 and 9/8. Hall played on several albums recorded by Desmond between 1959 and 1963 for Warner Bros. and RCA Victor. Jazz at Oberlin and Take Five were considered essential purchases by college students of the era, but Jazz Impressions of Japan was its most innovative recording. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. His many fans didn't know that he was dying, and incapable of the level of playing that he was famous for. Paul Desmond (November 25, 1924 - May 30, 1977), born Paul Emil Breitenfeld, was a jazz alto saxophonist and composer born in San Francisco, best known for the work he did in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning that group's greatest hit, "Take Five". In 1954, the quartet was featured on Time Magazine. 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 Highlights Paul Desmond / Gerry Mu Two of a Mind Paul Desmond Desmond featured Bickert on his 1975 studio album Pure Desmond, and the two played together at the 1976 Edmonton Jazz Festival. History They recorded fifty tunes in all, plus an album with strings. The groups popularity had spread via college campuses, but a Time magazine article featuring Brubeck brought them international attention in 1954, the same year that Paul recorded his first album as a leader, The Paul Desmond Quintet - Desmond. Desmond grew especially close to Dave's son Michael, to whom he left his saxophone upon his death. " attractive combination of affection and candor A serious, thoughtful book, as lucidly written as a first-class literary biography" - Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal"A major piece of jazz scholarship, the book cuts no corners." People who are born with Jupirer as the ruling planet are optimistic and have a big appetite for life. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. I have won several prizes as the world's slowest alto player, as well as a special award in 1961 for quietness. No wonder that articles started appearing questioning the basis of the Desmond-Brubeck collaboration. [2] However, Fred Barton, songwriter/arranger and Desmond's cousin, found extensive genealogical proof that both the Breitenfeld and Lwy families were Bohemian Jews. You don't think of Paul Desmond as a real swinging musician, he's not famous for that. He took whatever work he could get as a player. Long before his success as the alto saxophonist with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, decades before he wrote "Take Five," Desmond determined that he would be himself, never a disciple or an imitator, whatever the . Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond - Goodreads He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the cool jazz scene. Died : May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York. Baker and Desmond also appeared together on two tracks included on Jim Hall's 1975 Concierto album. Please check back soon for updates. Desmond also played with guitarist Jim Hall in New York City in 1971, and with Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert in Toronto. | Paul Emil Breitenfeld is part of G.I. 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. He was great to play with. Fortunately Don Thompson also doubles as a recording engineer, and a number of the club dates were recorded and released. They had four children (including Emil, father of Paul Emil). By the time he reached college, he started playing the Alto Saxophone, which later became his most preferred instrument. Desmond made the move from the San Francisco area to New York where he spent his remaining years. Jazz Goes to College , Columbia, 1954. Desmond appeared only half a dozen times with his "Canadian Quartet" Ed Bickert on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Jerry Fuller on drums. [1] His chemical-dependency problems would sometimes drain him of his energy on the road. Take Five - Paul Desmond And Dave Brubeck - Piano Solo (with Sheet I knew Paul Desmond, but I found so much more I did not know. - Nat Hentoff, noted critic and jazz writerThe detail of the research is astonishing. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Then in the 70s he changed labels to CTI, and did half a dozen more albums, proving once again that he was more than just a sideman. 156-157. Never without his humor, after he was diagnosed with cancer he expressed pleasure at the health of his liver. Born : November 25, 1924 in San Francisco, California. Jim Hall talked him into coming to Toronto to play with Canada's premier jazz guitarist Ed Bickert. 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. Paul Desmond - Biography. Desmond who had studied creative writing and loved the "concept" of being a writer never got around to it. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. To me his lyricism has never been equalled, as far as logic and lyricism combined, because there's always a strand going back some place in his melodies, and in his choruses that shows a great intellect combined with a great emotionalism, and usually you don't find the two things in one person. They made two studio albums together (Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet (1957), and Two of a Mind (1962)). The Complete Recordings of the Paul Desmond Quartet with Jim Hall (1959-65) , Mosaic, 1988. As a child, he often played the violin (even though his father forbade him to do so), and the age of twelve, he would start studying the clarinet at San Franciscos Polytechnic High School. And, in fact, he was a prolific correspondent, carrying his Olivetti portable typewriter with him even on his foreign trips. He died on 30 May 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. Supplement 1, pp. The two continued to play at the club to jam-packed audiences. After this long and expensive process, Desmond willed the piano to Cunningham, a characteristic and final prank. Desmonds wry humor was intact even as he was dying. Paul Desmond | American musician | Britannica He began by playing clarinet in high school and was tutored in music theory by his father, a theater organist and arranger. Paul Desmond (Paul Emil Breitenfeld) was born on 25 November, 1924 in San Francisco, California, USA, is a Soundtrack, Music Department. He blew on a couple of albums with his old friend Chet Baker. Looking up, he searched his memory, trying to make sense of the image looming before him. Played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet from 1951 until 1967. In 1951 Desmond joined what was to become one of the most famous groups in jazz, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. His friends tell of his last weeks, when an old friend, jazz legend Charles Mingus, appeared at his apartment draped in a swirling black cape and a matching Spanish cowboy hat. "Take Five" is a jazz standard composed by Paul Desmond. He was known for being a Saxophonist. 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. Interestingly, usually these were with guitaristsnotably Jim Hall and Canadian Ed Bickert. After high school, Desmond enrolled at San Francisco State College where he majored in English. But his best work of the period was a happy collaboration with three Toronto musicians. [4], Following his military discharge, Paul Emil Breitenfeld legally changed his last name from Breitenfeld to Desmond in 1946. He is not dating anyone. Live recordings of that concert and club dates with Bickert performed during 1974-1975 were released during and after Desmond's lifetime. "[1], Desmond was married from 1947 to 1949 to Duane Reeves Lamon. Awash in Dewar's and full of health. Paul Desmond is known for A Civil Action (1998), Legends of the Fall (1994) and Glory (1989). 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. Discover what happened on this day. (1924 - 1977) Paul Desmond had a sound on alto saxophone that remains highly recognizable. Played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet from 1951 until 1967. But it was his simpatico partnership with the formally-trained pianist Dave Brubeck that rocketed him to fame on the concert stages of the world. [4][7] That is how the Dave Brubeck Quartet had its start, a group that began in 1951 and ended in December 1967. The book never appeared. Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond In contrast, Brubeck was deeply religious and a stalwart family man.[7]. Doug Ramsey, author of Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul JJM Strack said that Desmond's two influences were most likely Lester Young for his soft palette, and Artie Shaw for his lyricism. Born : November 25, 1924 in San Francisco, California. The closest he came was one hilarious chapter that appeared in the British humour magazine, Punch. Desmond played a Selmer Super Balanced Action model alto saxophone with an M. C. Gregory model 4A-18M hard rubber mouthpiece, both dating from circa 1951, with a moderately stiff Rico 3 reed.[16]. Tell us why you would like to improve the Paul Desmond musician page. Permission & contact Desmond was influenced by Lester Young, but took it further, into melodic and harmonic worlds never before traveled by reedmen -- especially in the upper registers. There were also two albums with a Desmond/Gerry Mulligan quartet. | Whos the richest Saxophonist in the world? One of the things I thought about after Paul died was that it was really a shame because he would have been a really great old man. Eliot's "This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper"). "[1] Desmond developed a talent for writing during high school as well, becoming co-editor of his high school newspaper. Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He is also well-known for his over three decades of illustrations for Brooks Brothers catalogs including more than one-thousand drawings. The group also appeared on CBC-TV's Take 30, and were recorded at the Edmonton Jazz Festival.