Other articles where Paul Desmond is discussed: Dave Brubeck: the addition of alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. 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. [1] In 1950 Desmond joined the band of Jack Fina and toured with Fina for several months, but he returned to California after hearing Brubeck's trio on the radio and deciding that he should repair his relationship with Brubeck and attempt to join Brubeck's increasingly successful band. The success of the quartet led to a Time magazine piece on them in 1954, with the famous cover featuring Brubeck's face. The Dave Brubeck Quartet played until 1967, when Brubeck switched his musical focus from performance to composition and dissolved the group. He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the cool jazz scene. For several weeks, he led a small jazz combo at the Band Box in Redwood City that included Dave Brubeck. 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. According to our Database, He has no children. The book never appeared. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Once more details are available, we will update this section. There was a sign in our hospital medical library which read: Any book is new until youve read it. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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." 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. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. A new biography of Paul Desmond is a jazz fan's delight. 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. Desmond specified in his will that all proceeds from "Take Five" would go to the Red Cross following his death. But we knew he was getting weaker and weaker. 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. We will update Paul Desmond's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. But that that was when he was playing great. Desmonds airy, melodic style was a perfect balance to Brubecks forceful, polytonal playing. One of the great livers of our time. I shudder to think how close we came to not using that, because I said "Well I got this theme that we could use for a middle part". 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. In their later years they reconciled and became close friends.[9]. She died in 2013. Playing with him, you really couldn't go wrong. After Desmond convinced Brubeck to hire him following his stint with Jack Fina, the two had a contract drafted (of which Brubeck was the sole signatory); the language forbade Brubeck from firing him, ensured Brubeck's status as group leader, and gave Desmond twenty percent of all profits generated from the quartet. Born: November 25, 1924Died: May 30, 1977. Doug Ramsey. DESMOND,PAUL - Complete Albums Collection: 1953-1963 - Amazon.com Music In an era that worshipped the frenetic, bebop style of Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond found his own sound, a tone that he claimed imitated a "dry martini." Desmond had a falling out with Brubeck when he resigned from the Band Box and prevented Brubeck from taking over the residency. In 1951 Desmond joined what was to become one of the most famous groups in jazz, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Pauls education details are not available at this time. Also learn how He earned most of Paul Desmond networth? Paul Desmond Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | AllMusic They were greeted with enthusiasm wherever they played until the deteriorating eyesight of drummer Joe Morello cut short the tour. 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. Title: Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond Author: Doug Ramsey, Foreword by Dave and Iola BrubeckPublished: February 2005, Parkside Publications, Inc.Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. 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. 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. "[1] Desmond developed a talent for writing during high school as well, becoming co-editor of his high school newspaper. Some found Brubeck's playing heavy-handed. What used to scare me is I'd look at him and it would just be whites in his eyes, wouldn't be any eyeballs. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Paul Desmond's sound was like a dry martini, and his melodies flowed He frequently played in Toronto, Canada, leading a quartet that included guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Don Thompson, and drummer Jerry Fuller. Paul Desmond was born in San Francisco. Live recordings of that concert and club dates with Bickert performed during 1974-1975 were released during and after Desmond's lifetime. In the 1940s and 1950s, Desmond frequently took amphetamines, and in the 1970s, he was known to use cocaine. 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. Paul Desmond's net worth Though various critics credited the success of the Dave Brubeck Quartet to Desmond's horn, others over-looked his playing as "too pretty". "Doug Ramsey's Take Five is an invaluable addition to jazz literatureby an especially enduring writer on the music. Paul Desmond - 1959-65 Quartet Recordings - Mosaic Records : Paul Emil Breitenfeld : American jazz alto saxophonist and composer (Composed "Take Five" for the Dave Brubeck Quartet). Paul Desmond was a Sagittarius and was born in the G.I. Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond - Kindle He died on May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. [8], After drummer Joe Dodge decided to leave the group, Joe Morello joined in late 1956 with Desmond's recommendation. 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. Paul Desmond | | Discogs He was known for being a Saxophonist. | Overview 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? [1] His grandfather Sigmund Breitenfeld, a medical doctor, was born in Austria in 1857; he and wife Hermine (ne Lewy) emigrated to the US at the end of the 19th century. When is Paul Desmonds birthday? Paul Desmond Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family "Take Five" is a jazz standard composed by Paul Desmond. After Morello's complex rhythm, Desmond would play even quieter and even dropped for a few bars. And when it came time for the encore, because the whole audience wanted Paul back onstage he said the old cliche "Leave em wanting more." The two continued to play at the club to jam-packed audiences. In 1959, Desmond penned the first million-seller, jazz single, "Take Five". Take Five : The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond - Google Books In his first year of college, Desmond was drafted into the United States Army and joined the Army band while stationed in San Francisco. 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]. Buy. Within several months they attained a measure of national fame, largely by word of mouth among West Coast critics who championed the groups innovations. { 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. --publisher. Privacy Policy | We do not sell or share your personal information | 2023 All About Jazz & Jazz Near You . We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 25 November. Died : May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York. His last concert was with Brubeck in February 1977, in New York City. | Twenty years after his death from cancer, his music still sells, is still played, and still moves people. Darius Brubeck recalls thinking that Desmond was his uncle almost into adolescence. He learned to play the alto saxophone during his first year at San Francisco State College.