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Paul Desmond

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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." It was a sound that made him a favourite with critics and fans alike, and won him jazz poll after jazz poll. "I have won several prizes as the world's slowest alto player, as well as a special award in 1961 for quietness." He was a modest, retiring man, known to his friends for his wit and charm. Twenty years after his death from cancer, his music still sells, is still played, and still moves people.

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. —Dave Brubeck

Born in San Francisco in 1924, Desmond was one of the leading proponents of the West Coast "cool" style. Influenced by Lester Young and Pete Brown he originally played clarinet in the big bands of Jack Fina and Alvino Rey. 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. Desmond's melodic solos were in marked contrast to the polytonal rhythms of Brubeck, but somehow they clicked and drove each other to greatness. After meeting and playing together in the late 40s, they formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and never looked back.

For the critics it was a strange musical relationship. Some found Brubeck's playing heavy-handed. In one Down Beat review he was described as "oftimes loud and pounding and seemingly at a loss for melodic ideas." Desmond meanwhile was gaining a reputation for his "original, intensely personal style." Famed critic Nat Hentoff called him "one of the most creative figures in modern jazz." No wonder that articles started appearing questioning the basis of the Desmond-Brubeck collaboration. 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." 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." Perhaps it was their uncanny ability to play counterpoint that endeared them to their fans and to each other. Theirs was a musical rapport that Desmond described as "kind of scary."

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7
Album Review

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From The Northwest, 1959

Read "The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From The Northwest, 1959" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Like Elemental Music's previously unheard Bill Evans' set, Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964), The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From The Northwest, 1959 may not hold the historical weight of other posthumous Brubeck releases, but it certainly displays the effortless virtuosity and invention the quartet brought to every gig, large or small, far and wide and in-between. Just months before Brubeck, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright, and drummer Joe Morello would set the music world alight with Time Out (Columbia, 1959), Wally ...

7
Album Review

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: The Dave Brubeck Quartet Live from the Northwest,1959

Read "The Dave Brubeck Quartet Live from the Northwest,1959" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


The Dave Brubeck Quartet Live from the Northwest,1959 was recorded in a moment of jazz history that showcased the quartet's exceptional musical prowess and Dave Brubeck's innovative approach to jazz composition. The album offers a vibrant snapshot of the group's improvisational energy and collective synergy exemplified by the four incomparable musicians, which, in addition to Brubeck, were Paul Desmond alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass and Joe Morello drums. This seven-track concert was recorded over two ...

7
Album Review

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Debut In The Netherlands 1958: The Lost Recordings

Read "Debut In The Netherlands 1958: The Lost Recordings" reviewed by Chris May


For some people, the Dave Brubeck Quartet's catalogue starts with 1959's Time Out (Columbia) and ends with Time Further Out (Columbia) two years later. Verily, they know not what they are missing. The band was burning from 1951, when Brubeck and alto saxophonist Paul Desmond founded it, until 1967 and the breakup of the “classic" lineup. That lineup comprised Brubeck, Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright, who joined in early 1958, and drummer Joe Morello, who joined in late 1956, and it ...

6
Album Review

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Jazz at the College of the Pacific

Read "Jazz at the College of the Pacific" reviewed by Keith Hatschek


December 14th 2021 marked the 58th anniversary of the concert by the Dave Brubeck Quartet held at College of the Pacific and immortalized on the album Jazz at College of the Pacific (Fantasy, 1954). Nat Hentoff praised the recording at the time of its release as, “Five stars... ranks with the Oberlin and Storyville sets as the best of Brubeck on record."Time has done little to diminish the impact of this monumental live recording. The six selections showcase ...

1
Album Review

Dave Brubeck: Time OutTakes

Read "Time OutTakes" reviewed by Stefano Merighi


Time OutTakes è il frutto della scoperta dell'insieme dei nastri giacenti nei vaults della Columbia, riguardanti il celebre album di Dave Brubeck, edito nel 1959. Come spesso accade per questo genere di operazioni, il supplemento di materiale che esce fuori dallo scavo coincide con versioni alternative dei medesimi brani della collezione definitiva (outtakes), ma anche con pezzi scartati dalla produzione--due in questo caso--oppure con la scoperta che in certi casi è bastata una sola “take" per essere soddisfatti ...

15
Album Review

Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings

Read "The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Even if he had never played another note following the break-up of the Dave Brubeck group in 1967, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond would have entered the history books as one of music's most brilliant improvisers. During his 17 years with Brubeck, Desmond proved himself to be an indispensable part of that quartet with a wistful and witty sound that he himself described as akin to a “dry martini." Fortunately, Desmond continued to add to his legacy starting in ...

14
Album Review

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time OutTakes

Read "Time OutTakes" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


When, for the first and the millionth time Paul McCartney is queried by lazy savants and crazed fans about what he would have cut from epic double White Album (Apple, 1968) to make it the strongest of the strongest single disc ever, the cutely weathered one just replies “It's the Beatles' bleedin' White Album, man" and the discussion, at least for that moment, is done. The fans and essayists will go on and on and on while he pursues other ...

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1

Recording

Perfection: Paul Desmond, Any Other Time (1964)

Perfection: Paul Desmond, Any Other Time (1964)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond recorded six albums for RCA backed by guitarist Jim Hall between 1962 and 1965. One of the finest was Glad to Be Unhappy, recorded between July 1964 and early September. And on that album, the most exquisite track was Desmond's own composition “Any Other Time," recorded on August 20, 1964, with Eugene Wright on bass and Connie Kay on drums.  On this minimalist Thursday, the only track I want to play for you is the resplendent ...

Video / DVD

A Tribute to Paul Desmond and Jim Hall

A Tribute to Paul Desmond and Jim Hall

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Between 1959 and 1965, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and guitarist Jim Hall (both above) recorded six quartet albums together that are still among jazz's most elegant small-group recordings. These albums are First Place Again (recorded in 1959), Easy Living (1963-'65), Take Ten (1963), Glad to Be Unhappy (1964), Bossa Antigua (1964) and Desmond Blue (1962), which featured Desmond and Hall framed by a larger group. Their first album was on Warner Bros., produced by Bob Prince, and the rest were ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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." It was a sound ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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." It was a sound ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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." It was a sound ...

4

Recording

Paul Desmond & His Canadians, The Complete Set At Last

Paul Desmond & His Canadians,  The Complete Set At Last

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Mosaic Records reports that the first release of Paul Desmond–The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings has sold out. The seven-CD set features the former Dave Brueck Quartet alto saxophonist with his prized Canadian rhythm section of guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Don Thompson and drummer Jerry Fuller. Mosaic’s Michael Cuscuna says that he expects the next batch of pressings to be available by the end of May. When after 17 years together the Brubeck Quartet disbanded, Desmond vacationed in the Caribbean, then ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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... Read more.

Place our ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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... Read more.

Place our ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today!

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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... Read more.

Place our ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Desmond

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Desmond's birthday today! He is revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. 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... Read more. Place our Musician ...

Brent Jensen
saxophone, alto
Christopher Burnett
saxophone, alto
Jon De Lucia
saxophone, alto
Greg Abate
saxophone
Grace Kelly
saxophone
Patrick Cornelius
saxophone, alto
Alan Gaumer
trumpet
Rich Willey
cornet
Stéphane Mercier
saxophone, alto
Brent Bowman
saxophone, alto
Yuichiro Tokuda
saxophone, alto
Beppe Aliprandi
saxophone, alto
Daryl Gott
saxophone, alto
Eric Seddon
clarinet
Mick Foster
saxophone
Bees Deluxe
band / ensemble / orchestra
David Larsen
saxophone, baritone
Jol Tai
saxophone
Mark R DeJong
saxophone
Mary Amaral
vocals
Tibor Debreceni
guitar, electric
Alex Hand
guitar
Olivia Hughart
saxophone, alto
Stratøs
saxophone, tenor
Russ Strathdee
saxophone
Chuck Currie
woodwinds
Daniel Yeabsley
saxophone
Kasper Rietkerk
saxophone, alto
Malcolm Mosteller Hunter
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Debut In The...

The Lost Recordings
2023

buy

Live From the...

Brubeck Editions
2023

buy

Time OutTakes

Brubeck Editions
2020

buy

The Complete 1975...

Mosaic Records
2020

buy

First Place Again

Essential Jazz Classics
2019

buy

Videos

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