paul desmond biography

Finally it clicked the hooded harvester from Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal. He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 53 years old group. 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. Large format (10x11"), hard bound with dust jacket, 372 pages, 190 photos, matte paper; complete with discography of all Desmond recordings. She died in 2013. "Okay, set up the chess board." [5] He never remarried.[1]. Omissions? He learned to play the alto saxophone during his first year at San Francisco State College. Born: November 25, 1924Died: May 30, 1977. In one Down Beat review he was described as "oftimes loud and pounding and seemingly at a loss for melodic ideas." Influenced by Lester Young and Pete Brown he originally played clarinet in the big bands of Jack Fina and Alvino Rey. a question invariably asked by airline stewardesses. - Paul Desmond. 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. The harmony was always right, the melodies were always right. 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. Desmond began to study the clarinet at the age of twelve, which he continued while at San Francisco Polytechnic High School. Dave Brubeck. Desmond was torn for a time between a career as a writer and one as a musician. Paul never said it would be the end. They were greeted with enthusiasm wherever they played until the deteriorating eyesight of drummer Joe Morello cut short the tour. Born in San Francisco in 1924, Desmond was one of the leading proponents of the West Coast "cool" style. 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 Sign up with your email address to receive Brubeck news and updates. Although this book is out of print, there are occasionally copies available in the used book ads, some priced at $100 or more. For the critics it was a strange musical relationship. Although this book is out of print, there are occasionally copies available in the used book ads, some priced at $100 or more. Of course, the author goes into detail about Desmonds long association with Dave Brubeck and family. Wild, subtle, delicate. Playing with him, you really couldn't go wrong. Looking up, he searched his memory, trying to make sense of the image looming before him. Pauls education details are not available at this time. Paul Emil Breitenfeld was born on November 25, 1924 in San Francisco, California. [1] His chemical-dependency problems would sometimes drain him of his energy on the road. Most readers likely are familiar with that musical combination and recordings. : Paul Emil Breitenfeld : American jazz alto saxophonist and composer (Composed "Take Five" for the Dave Brubeck Quartet). Paul Desmond. Articles | We have estimated Jazz at Oberlin , Fantasy, 1953. [2] However, Fred Barton, songwriter/arranger and Desmond's cousin, found extensive genealogical proof that both the Breitenfeld and Lwy families were Bohemian Jews. But his best work of the period was a happy collaboration with three Toronto musicians. 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]. His time was amazing. When pianist Marian McPartland asked him about his dates he punned, "Sometimes they go around with guys who are scuffling for a while. Desmond also played with guitarist Jim Hall in New York City in 1971, and with Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert in Toronto. But he had really great time feel, he really did swing beautifully. He told many stories over the years regarding how he chose the name Desmond, but his biographer Doug Ramsey offers an account from Desmond's friend Hal Strack that the two were listening to the Glenn Miller band singer Johnny Desmond in 1942, and Desmond told Strack "that's such a great name. The paper is high-quality and the photographic illustrations, some two pages, are equally elegant. Desmond appeared at Brubeck's San Francisco apartment one day while Dave was in the back yard hanging diapers on a laundry line, and Iola, defying Brubeck's wishes, let Desmond in and took him to Dave. Desmond resented this, and threatened to leave the group. | Died : May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York. His ambition, he said, was to sound like a dry martini. I've never seen a biography like it. - Gene Lees, Editor of "The Jazz Letter"This is the finest biography we've had of an important jazz figure. - Dan Morgenstern (Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies), LEARNTimelineBrubeck BooksAbout Dave BrubeckBrubeck Living Legacy, LISTENLullabiesJazz WorksCompositionsTime OutTakes, CONNECTContact Find EventsDave Brubeck 100. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. During Morello's first performance with the group, he was featured by Brubeck and received an ovation from the audience for his solo. Jeff Barnhart, Hal Smith -with- Andy Schumm. He is currently single. Paul Desmond died on May 30, 1977 due to lung cancer. Theirs was a musical rapport that Desmond described as "kind of scary.". [4] During Brubeck's Two Generations tours, Desmond and Mulligan shared the stage in 1974. You don't think of Paul Desmond as a real swinging musician, he's not famous for that. Desmond hoped for a "tinky-boom" background-type drummer while Morello wanted to be recognized and featured. Paul Desmonds income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. 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. But usually they end up marrying some cat with a factory. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Buy. Discover Paul Desmond's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. - Ben Ratliff, The New York Times"Every jazz musician should be lucky enough to get a biography as thoroughly researched and luxuriously produced." There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print. Was he just a minor figure in a jazz landscape of greats? Brubeck was studying at Mills College and playing nights with a trio in San Francisco. Playing with Desmond and Mulligan was really mind-blowing because they were such heroes for me. Brubeck was trying out for the 253rd Army band, which Desmond belonged to. Desmond featured Bickert on his 1975 studio album Pure Desmond, and the two played together at the 1976 Edmonton Jazz Festival. Read Full Biography. He stood in silent vigil at Desmond's bedside. 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. 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. There was a sign in our hospital medical library which read: Any book is new until youve read it. This planet represents abundance, prosperity and the principle of expansion. [10], Desmond had a celebrated studio partnership with guitarist Jim Hall. Played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet from 1951 until 1967. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. Chinese Zodiac: Paul Desmond was born in the Year of the Rabbit. The Dave Brubeck Quartet 25th Anniversary Reunion , A&M, 1976. 2" [78rpm 10" disc], "The Man I Love" // "Down In Honkytonk Town" [78rpm 10" disc], This page was last edited on 10 March 2023, at 12:58. Generation. The quartet became especially popular with college-age audiences, often performing in college settings, including their ground-breaking 1953 album Jazz at Oberlin at Oberlin College and at the campuses of Ohio University and the University of Michigan. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. Nationality: American Paul Desmond was born on the 25th of November, 1924. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. He frequently played in Toronto, Canada, leading a quartet that included guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Don Thompson, and drummer Jerry Fuller. He did however, play one last concert with Brubeck in February 1977. Ramsey and Desmond were friends for a long period. Lemme Tell Ya 'Bout Desmond: the Music of Paul Desmond, Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, Desmond After Dark (With the Dave Brubeck Quartet). Paul Desmond - Biography. During the 1970s Desmond joined Brubeck for several reunion tours, including "Two Generations of Brubeck". Large format (10x11"), hard bound with dust jacket, 372 pages, 190 photos, matte paper; complete with discography of all Desmond recordings. | Though a mild-mannered, professorial-looking man, Desmond was capable of strong emotion. He is also well-known for his over three decades of illustrations for Brooks Brothers catalogs including more than one-thousand drawings. 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". Instead, though they shared the same concert stage nearly every night, he didn't speak to Morello for a year. Supplement 1, pp. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. Biographies People born under this sign are clever and charming. Never without his humor, after he was diagnosed with cancer he expressed pleasure at the health of his liver. Is portrayed by John Timothy Burton in Crazy (2008). After Desmond died, the editor of Parkside Publications sought out Ramsey and persuaded him to write the book. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Overview Discover what happened on this day. 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. 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. Darius Brubeck recalls thinking that Desmond was his uncle almost into adolescence. Desmond's improvisation is praised for its logical structure and lyricism. 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. In contrast, Brubeck was deeply religious and a stalwart family man.[7]. The greatest overall compatibility with Sagittarius is Gemini and Aries. It's so smooth and yet it's uncommon.If I ever decide I need another name, it's going to be Desmond. 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. 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. Later married Willis Dean Kaye (died 1986); they had one child, Christopher (1956-2014). 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. All Rights Reserved Awash in Dewars and full of health." We will continue to update information on Paul Desmonds parents. His friends called him "the perennial bachelor" few knew that he had been married early in life. Jazz at the College of the Pacific, Volume 2, Anything Goes! "url": "https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/paul-desmond" New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. 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 New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. } [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. Also during this time, Brubeck became one of the first jazz musicians to regularly tour and conduct seminars at. He was famous for being a Saxophonist. And that's what made "Take Five". He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. Desmond first met pianist Dave Brubeck while both were in the Army, and in 1947 they connected again. 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]. Other of his compositions such as Audrey, Desmond Blue, and Wendy are often visited by jazz musicians. Bookstore After years of chain smoking and poor health, Desmond succumbed to lung cancer in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck. After high school, Desmond enrolled at San Francisco State College where he majored in English. Whereas, Brubeck was a dedicated family man, Desmond was a very private person. After this long and expensive process, Desmond willed the piano to Cunningham, a characteristic and final prank. I have won several prizes as the world's slowest alto player, as well as a special award in 1961 for quietness. As a child, he played the violin and the clarinet. Trivia (5) About, Paul Desmond had a sound on alto saxophone that remains highly recognizable. Soundtrack: Rushmore. Frequently covered by a variety of artists, the track is the biggest-selling jazz song of all time and a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee.. Dave Brubeck was inspired to create an album based on odd time signatures during his state sponsored 1958 . In 1976 Desmond played 25 shows in 25 nights with Brubeck, touring the United States by bus. Paul Desmond was a legendary American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. Paul Desmond was born on 25 November 1924 in San Francisco, California, USA. The Paul Desmond Papers are held at the Holt-Atherton Special Collections in the University of the Pacific Library. Lesser known, however, are the personal traits of Desmond. Desmond grew especially close to Dave's son Michael, to whom he left his saxophone upon his death. Jim Hall talked him into coming to Toronto to play with Canada's premier jazz guitarist Ed Bickert. 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. There were no children by that marriage and long thereafter Desmond was the man-about-town with multiple romances, some serious and some extremely casual. History Desmond met Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert through a recommendation by Jim Hall, and Desmond performed with Bickert at several clubs in the Toronto area during 19741975. "[1] Desmond developed a talent for writing during high school as well, becoming co-editor of his high school newspaper. So, how much is Paul Desmond worth at the age of 53 years old? Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. Desmond meanwhile was gaining a reputation for his "original, intensely personal style." Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. Brubeck managed to keep both Desmond and Morello in the group but with frictions between them for years. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 25 November. This is the way the world ends, not with a whim but a banker." Desmond's mother Shirley was emotionally unstable throughout his upbringing, and appears to have suffered from obsessivecompulsive disorder and other mental illnesses. He was known for being a Saxophonist. The strengths of this sign are being generous, idealistic, sense of humor, while weaknesses can be to promise more than can deliver, impatient and say anything no matter how undiplomatic. Eventually he was coaxed out of retirement to play occasional gigs with his friends. 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]. Permission & contact information, Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, Paul Desmond - Standard Time (Artist Transcriptions), DownBeat - The Great Jazz Interviews (A 75th Anniversary Anthology) (Book), Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Joshua Redman, Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years, The Complete Oberlin & College of the Pacific Concerts. The success of the quartet led to a Time magazine piece on them in 1954, with the famous cover featuring Brubeck's face. Desmond's mother, born Shirley King, was of an Irish Catholic family. It was a sound that made him a favourite with critics and fans alike, and won him jazz poll after jazz poll. Paul Desmond, alto sax; Dave Brubeck, piano; Wyatt Ruther, bass; Herb Barman, drums. The rest of the Time Series albums were released between 1961 and 1963. 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. Real Name: Paul Emil Breitenfeld Profile: American jazz alto saxophonist and composer (Composed "Take Five" for the Dave Brubeck Quartet). In their private lives Dave Brubeck and his family were very close to Paul Desmond, though the two men possessed very different personalities. He worked occasionally for Dave Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. But through their years together Desmond remained remarkably loyal to his partner, "There's certainly nobody else with whom I would have stuck around this long." 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 Who are the richest people in the world? Desmond made the move from the San Francisco area to New York where he spent his remaining years. Live recordings of that concert and club dates with Bickert performed during 1974-1975 were released during and after Desmond's lifetime. 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. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. 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. Paul Desmond was a legendary American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. Ill be dead., Copyright 2005-2020 - One of the greats, Charlie Parker, named him as his favourite alto player. 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. His last concert was with Brubeck in February 1977, in New York City. radio broadcast, "Birdland", NYC, December 15, 1951 At A Perfume Counter (as Perfume Counter) Alto AL 711 That Old Black Magic How High The Moon * Alto AL 711 Dave Brubeck - Modern Complex Dialogues At first the Quartet spent time touring colleges with Desmond on the Alto Saxophone, and in 1953, they released their debut album titled Jazz at Oberlin, which was a live recording of their performances at Oberlin College. "I have won several prizes as the world's slowest alto player, as well as a special award in 1961 for quietness." Within several months they attained a measure of national fame, largely by word of mouth among West Coast critics who championed the group's innovations. He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the cool jazz scene. Accompanying them were Brubeck's sons Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck and Darius Brubeck. 156-157. For example, many of his acquaintances never knew that hed been previously married. 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. The Dave Brubeck Quartet played until 1967, when Brubeck switched his musical focus from performance to composition and dissolved the group. 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 (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 their 'Take The A Train' performance in Hanover, Germany in 1958, for example, Desmond's playing sounded lack-luster and uninterested. He was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composed that group's biggest hit, "Take Five". All rights reserved. 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. He took whatever work he could get as a player. Desmond produced a light, melodic tone on the alto saxophone, trying to sound, he said, "like a dry martini." In their later years they reconciled and became close friends.[9]. He first collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, with whom he shared stage in 1969 and in 1974, the former being for the New Orleans Jazz Festival. At the time, Brubeck and wife Iola had three small children, and Brubeck had instructed Iola not to let Desmond set foot in the family home. While in high school, Desmond wished to study the violin, but his father dissuaded him, saying that violin players were "a dime a dozen.with the violin, you'll starve. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. Also during this time, Brubeck became one of the first jazz musicians to regularly tour and conduct seminars at Interestingly, usually these were with guitaristsnotably Jim Hall and Canadian Ed Bickert. He is primarily known for his paintings, drawings and sketches of horses and equestrian sports. Interested? { I read that the electronic version is available for around $15. This page is updated often with new details about Paul Desmond. These illustrations made him a major influence on the image of urban males in twentieth-century America. Much to his own amusement his liver was fine, "Pristine, one of the great livers of our time. "@type": "Person", Desmond had a falling out with Brubeck when he resigned from the Band Box and prevented Brubeck from taking over the residency. Desmond who had studied creative writing and loved the "concept" of being a writer never got around to it. Doug Ramsey knew Paul Desmond personally for years and is a musician as well as a journalist so he has both the insight as well as the ability to tell the story well. They toured the world, playing 300 concerts a year, and had a Columbia recording contract that called for four albums a year. When drummer Joe Morello joined the Quartet in 1956, Desmond disliked his crowd-pleasing performances so much that he threatened to quit the Quartet. Influenced by Lester Young and Pete Brown he originally played clarinet in the big bands of Jack Fina and Alvino Rey. So thrilled was he with his first two weeks at Toronto's "Bourbon Street", that Desmond rushed back to New York and talked record producer Creed Taylor into flying Bickert in so that he could record an album with him. After meeting and playing together in the late 40s, they formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and never looked back. "image": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/Paul-Desmond-200-2017.jpg", 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. Zodiac Sign: Paul Desmond was a Sagittarius. People of this zodiac sign like freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors and dislike clingy people, constrained, off-the-wall theories. He was known to have several addictions, including Dewar's Scotch whisky and Pall Mall cigarettes. 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. Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. Permission & contact Paul Desmond discography and songs: Music profile for Paul Desmond, born 25 November 1924. His mother had some psychological issues such that Paul was sent off to live with relatives from elementary school age until his late teens. - Downbeat Magazine, July, 2005an invaluable addition to jazz literature. Desmond appeared only half a dozen times with his "Canadian Quartet" Ed Bickert on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Jerry Fuller on drums. 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. Awash in Dewar's and full of health. Biography in: "American National Biography". - Paul deBarros, Seattle Times"Rarely in the annals of jazz biography has a subject's career been documented so thoroughly a monumental work." The co-author of that enduring hit, "Take Five," was the band's alto sax player, Paul Desmond, who is now the subject of a lavish, beautifully produced, large-format biography by Doug Ramsey called Take Five (Parkside Publications, $44.95). Standards such as "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "For All We Know" shared album space with Desmond originals like "Take Ten", and "El Prince". He died on 30 May 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. Desmond specified in his will that all proceeds from "Take Five" would go to the Red Cross following his death. 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."

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