Paul Desmond b. Paul Breitenfeld, 25 November 1924, San Francisco, California, USA, d. 30 May 1977. Alto saxophonist Desmond is best-known as a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, in which he played from 1951-67 and to whose popular success he greatly contributed by writing the hit "Take Five." However, aficionados and critics alike agree that much of his best work was done away from Brubeck's often stiff improvisations and tricky time signatures; in particular, on two albums with Gerry Mulligan (BLUES IN TIME, TWO OF A MIND) and five with Jim Hall (EAST OF THE SUN, BOSSA ANTIGUA, GLAD TO BE UNHAPPY, TAKE TEN, EASY LIVING), which Mosaic Records later reissued in one of their splendidly-packaged box-sets. Influenced by Lee Konitz, but very much his own man, Desmond's pure tone and fluid, inventive solos ? into which he often wove witty quotes from other songs ? marked him out as one of modern jazz's most original and distinctive voices. A noted humorist too, he once declared his aim was to make his saxophone "sound like a dry martini" and also claimed to have won prizes as "the world's slowest alto player." In fact, Desmond's pellucid tone and relaxed, floating style required an architect's sense of structure and the lightning reflexes of a master improviser. In the late '60s/early '70s he sometimes sounded out of place on the CTI label, amid fusion, strings, Simon And Garfunkel songs and the other accoutrements of Creed Taylor's production; but a 1971 date with the Modern Jazz Quartet, and two albums from a 1975 concert with his own quartet, catch him back at his best. In 1975 he also recorded a set of duets with Brubeck and rejoined the pianist's quartet for a reunion tour. In 1976 his doctor diagnosed lung cancer ? "I only went with swollen feet," Desmond wryly remarked ? and he died the following May. Desmond is remembered as one of the most literate, amusing and reflective of jazzmen. Paul Desmond THIS IS JAZZ #3 (1996) by Dave Brubeck Performer THIS IS JAZZ #2 (1996) by Chet Baker Performer JAZZ COLLECTION (1995) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone Bass Marimba VERVE JAZZ MASTERS 32 (1994) by Chet Baker Performer POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS (1992) Primary Artist Performer Alto Saxophone EASY LIVING (1990) Primary Artist Performer Alto Saxophone THE QUARTET (1989) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone 1975 - THE DUETS (1976) by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Performer LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE (1975) by Paul Desmond Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone CONCIERTO (1975) by Jim Hall Performer Alto Saxophone SHE WAS TOO GOOD TO ME (1974) by Chet Baker Performer PURE DESMOND (1974) Primary Artist Performer SKYLARK (1974) Primary Artist PURE DESMOND (GOLD DISC) (1974) Primary Artist Performer Alto Saxophone WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME (1972) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME (GOLD DISC) (1972) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone JAZZ FEST MASTERS (1969) by Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Performer TAKE TEN (1963) by Paul Desmond/Jim Hall Performer Alto Saxophone TWO OF A MIND (1962) by Paul Desmond/Gerry Mulligan Performer Alto Saxophone TIME FURTHER OUT (MIRO REFLECTIONS) (1961) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer TIME OUT (1959) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone TIME OUT (GOLD DISC) (1959) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone JAZZ IMPRESSIONS OF EURASIA (1958) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone QUARTET (1957) by Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Performer Alto Saxophone QUARTET (GOLD DISC) (1957) by Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Performer Alto Saxophone DAVE BRUBECK OCTET (1956) by Dave Brubeck Octet Performer Alto Saxophone INTERCHANGES '54: FEATURING PAUL DESMOND (1954) by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone JAZZ AT THE COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC (1954) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone JAZZ GOES TO COLLEGE (1954) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer STARDUST (1954) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone DAVE BRUBECK/PAUL DESMOND (1954) by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Performer Alto Saxophone JAZZ AT OBERLIN (1953) by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone 24 CLASSIC ORIGINAL RECORDINGS (1951) by Dave Brubeck Trio Performer THE BEST THINGS FOR YOU by Chet Baker Performer YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN by Chet Baker Performer DAVE DIGS DISNEY by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone MUSIC FROM WEST SIDE STORY by Dave Brubeck Performer THE GREAT CONCERTS...AMSTERDAM, COPENHAGEN, CARNEGIE HALL by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone THESE FOOLISH THINGS by Dave Brubeck Performer Alto Saxophone FEATURING PAUL DESMOND IN CONCERT by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone LIVE 1954 & 1959 by Dave Brubeck Quartet Performer REUNION by Dave Brubeck/Desmond/VanKriedt Performer Saxophone DUET by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Performer LIVE IN 1956-57 by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Performer Alto Saxophone ST. LOUIS BLUES by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Performer BEST OF PAUL DESMOND Primary Artist FROM THE HOT AFTERNOON Primary Artist LATE LAMENT Primary Artist PAUL DESMOND & THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET by Paul Desmond & The Modern Jazz Quartet Performer Alto Saxophone SWEET PAUL, VOL.1 Primary Artist Performer Alto Saxophone FEATURING DON ELLIOTT by Paul Desmond Quartet Performer THE PAUL DESMOND QUINTET AND VOICES by Paul Desmond Quintet Performer TIME & LOVE by Jackie & Roy Performer GERRY MULLIGAN/PAUL DESMOND by Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond Performer Alto Saxophone MEETS THE SAXOPHONISTS - SILVER COLLECTION by Gerry Mulligan/Webster/Hodges Performer GIANT BOX by Don Sebesky Performer
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