On the first page of the set's notes, we are informed that Toronto bassist and recording engineer Don Thompson recorded Desmond's quartet in March . His last concert was with Dave Brubeck in February, 1977 at New York's Avery Fisher Hall. 23, No. His last concert was with Brubeck in February 1977, in New York City. 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. Desmond was also described as a womanizer who was unable to form (and was uninterested in maintaining) steady relationships with women, though he had no shortage of female companions throughout his life. And Dave said, "Well let's run it through." Yet with different musical aspiration and taste, their relationship was full of tension. Biographies
His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. : same personnel. I could see him about 70-75 years old he would have been terrific just to talk to and hang out with. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. He was an actor and composer, known for Rushmore (1998), Say Anything (1989) and Constantine (2005). 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. 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. Theirs was a musical rapport that Desmond described as "kind of scary.". { Desmond meanwhile was gaining a reputation for his "original, intensely personal style." 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]. Paul Desmond was born on 25 November 1924 in San Francisco, California, USA. In the 1940s and 1950s, Desmond frequently took amphetamines, and in the 1970s, he was known to use cocaine. After making the cut heunlike Desmondwas sent overseas in 1944, to Europe. According to our Database, He has no children. Eventually he was coaxed out of retirement to play occasional gigs with his friends.
Take Five : The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond - Google Books 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]. He died on May 30, 1977 in New York City, New York, USA. 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: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic) Dave Brubeck(PBS interview with Hedrick Smith)[6]. He is also well-known for his over three decades of illustrations for Brooks Brothers catalogs including more than one-thousand drawings. Playing with Desmond and Mulligan was really mind-blowing because they were such heroes for me. Desmond's improvisation is praised for its logical structure and lyricism. Desmond officially started work with the Dave Brubeck Trio (now Quartet with the inclusion of Desmond) in 1951. 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.
Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond - Goodreads Take Five - Wikipedia He blew on a couple of albums with his old friend Chet Baker. The group also appeared on CBC-TV's Take 30, and were recorded at the Edmonton Jazz Festival. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Famed critic Nat Hentoff called him "one of the most creative figures in modern jazz." But usually they end up marrying some cat with a factory. |
In 1954, the quartet was featured on Time Magazine. At 53 years old, Paul Desmond height not available right now. His many fans didn't know that he was dying, and incapable of the level of playing that he was famous for.
Desmond specified in his will that all proceeds from "Take Five" would go to the Red Cross following his death. Songs |
Much to his own amusement his liver was fine, "Pristine, one of the great livers of our time. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. The Singing Program of World War I: The Crusade for a Singing Army Author(s): E. Christina Chang Source: Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, Vol. You don't think of Paul Desmond as a real swinging musician, he's not famous for that. For several weeks, he led a small jazz combo at the Band Box in Redwood City that included Dave Brubeck. An introvert whose literary ambitions found some expression in his bright and funny album liner notes, Desmond, who died of lung cancer in 1977 at 52, became famous in the 1950s with the hugely. Omissions? Twenty years after his death from cancer, his music still sells, is still played, and still moves people. Looking up, he searched his memory, trying to make sense of the image looming before him. JUMP TO: Paul Desmonds biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. Though various critics credited the success of the Dave Brubeck Quartet to Desmond's horn, others over-looked his playing as "too pretty". a question invariably asked by airline stewardesses. [5] He never remarried.[1]. Biography in: "American National Biography". Paul Desmond was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer, best known for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for composing that group's biggest hit, "Take Five". "@context": "https://schema.org", 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 that capacity, he interviewed comedian Bob Hope for his school newspaper during one of Hope's visits to San Francisco. There was a sign in our hospital medical library which read: Any book is new until youve read it. 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. And, in fact, he was a prolific correspondent, carrying his Olivetti portable typewriter with him even on his foreign trips. Updates? 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. Like many famous people and celebrities, Paul Desmond kept his personal life private. We have estimated These were released on the albums She Was Too Good to Me, You Can't Go Home Again, and The Best Thing For You. Desmond died on May 30, 1977, not of his heavy alcohol habit but of lung cancer, the result of his longtime heavy smoking. Please check back soon 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. Desmond was a guest artist on five tracks by Chet Baker recorded between 1975 and 1977. His ambition, he said, was to sound like a dry martini. Desmond first met pianist Dave Brubeck while both were in the Army, and in 1947 they connected again. Whos the richest Saxophonist in the world? "name" : "Paul Desmond", 1991 Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991. The initials "G.I." --publisher. When drummer Joe Morello joined the Quartet in 1956, Desmond disliked his crowd-pleasing performances so much that he threatened to quit the Quartet. The decade was one of learning and exploration. I knew Paul Desmond, but I found so much more I did not know."Nat Hentoff, author of American . 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. Desmond hoped for a "tinky-boom" background-type drummer while Morello wanted to be recognized and featured. |
Finally it clicked the hooded harvester from Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal. He was an actor and composer, known for Rushmore (1998), Say Anything (1989) and Constantine (2005).
Paul Desmond Musician - All About Jazz Desmond met Dave Brubeck in 1944 in the military. During the 1970s Desmond joined Brubeck for several reunion tours, including "Two Generations of Brubeck". One moment, you will be redirected shortly. 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. He had a reputation as a lady's man, and was often seen accompanied by gorgeous models.
Paul Desmond - IMDb They had four children (including Emil, father of Paul Emil). Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. It became the theme for the Quartet, de rigueur at all their concert appearances, and it made Desmond a small fortune in royalties. There was an early marriage for Desmond but for various reasons, it didnt work out. The rest of the Time Series albums were released between 1961 and 1963. Desmond produced a light, melodic tone on the alto saxophone, trying to sound, he said, "like a dry martini." Desmond was a heavy smoker, several packs a day, as well as a drinker who could play well while in his cups. Lung cancer accounted for his decline and death at age 52. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. Brubeck was trying out for the 253rd Army band, which Desmond belonged to. All rights reserved. This is Desmond as leader and musical organizer, whose wit and warmth come singing through his song choices, his arrangements and his compositions.
Paul Desmond Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | AllMusic Unlike some biographies which merely rehash each recording, Ramsey does a great job weaving the diverse strands of Desmond's personal life with his music making.
When is Paul Desmonds birthday? 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
Despite his many friends, Gene Lees wrote that Desmond was the "loneliest man" he ever knew. 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. Baker and Desmond also appeared together on two tracks included on Jim Hall's 1975 Concierto album. "Doug Ramsey's Take Five is an invaluable addition to jazz literatureby an especially enduring writer on the music. 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. 19-45 Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. Born 30 August 1927 in Los Angeles. 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. Paul Desmond, alto sax; Dave Brubeck, piano; Wyatt Ruther, bass; Herb Barman, drums. Desmonds wry humor was intact even as he was dying. Best known as a member of Dave Brubeck's legendary quartet and the man who wrote the biggest-selling jazz single ever, 'Take Five', Paul Desmond's importance as a jazz performer cannot be underestimated. Other articles where Paul Desmond is discussed: Dave Brubeck: the addition of alto saxophonist Paul Desmond.
After some time spent inactive, Desmond was asked to play the Half Note in New York City in 1971 by Hall. Desmond's mother, born Shirley King, was of an Irish Catholic family. Accompanying them were Brubeck's sons Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck and Darius Brubeck. Paul Desmond was a legendary American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. The book has been out of print for several years and I obtained my copy through interlibrary loan. Desmond was torn for a time between a career as a writer and one as a musician. [1] Starting in 1933, Desmond spent nearly five years living with relatives in New Rochelle, New York due to his mother's mental health problems. |
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."
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. Paul Desmond was born in the Year of the Rat. He began by playing clarinet in high school and was tutored in music theory by his father, a theater organist and arranger. [4][7] That is how the Dave Brubeck Quartet had its start, a group that began in 1951 and ended in December 1967.
Paul Desmond - Wikipedia Ramsey has a musical background and was a writer, so it was a fortuitous fit. Desmond's grudge against Morello could also be heard during their performance. He was 43 years old, and he didn't play his horn again for three years.
Paul Desmond Death Fact Check, Birthday & Date of Death When pianist Marian McPartland asked him about his dates he punned, "Sometimes they go around with guys who are scuffling for a while. 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. Jazz Goes to College , Columbia, 1954. Though a mild-mannered, professorial-looking man, Desmond was capable of strong emotion. 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". Awash in Dewars and full of health." Desmond also played with guitarist Jim Hall in New York City in 1971, and with Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert in Toronto. Desmonds childhood was problematic as his parents had a somewhat unhealthy relationship. Some found Brubeck's playing heavy-handed.
Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond Although this book is out of print, there are occasionally copies available in the used book ads, some priced at $100 or more. Jazz at Oberlin , Fantasy, 1953. Desmond was cremated and his ashes were scattered. 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. Desmond's mother Shirley was emotionally unstable throughout his upbringing, and appears to have suffered from obsessivecompulsive disorder and other mental illnesses. This page is updated often with new details about Paul Desmond. It comprises seven discs of live recordings from iconic alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and his quartet across 11 nights at Toronto's Bourbon Street: four in March 1975 and seven in October. They made two studio albums together (Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet (1957), and Two of a Mind (1962)). In his first year of college, Desmond was drafted into the United States Army and joined the Army band while stationed in San Francisco. Articles
Their uncanny rapport and ability to interact kept the music exciting and fresh.
is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. , money, salary, income, and assets. He was an eminent member of the highly renowned Dave Brubeck Quartet, and he earned a reputation as one of West Coasts best jazz saxophonists. Corrections? Desmond was a heavy smoker, several packs a day, as well as a drinker who could play well while "in his cups." Lung cancer accounted for his decline and death at age 52. 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. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. His time was amazing. Was he just a minor figure in a jazz landscape of greats? He was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composed that group's biggest hit, "Take Five".
He donated many of his possessions to libraries and to charity.
Doug Ramsey, author of Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul "@type": "Person", Desmond began to study the clarinet at the age of twelve, which he continued while at San Francisco Polytechnic High School. [8], After drummer Joe Dodge decided to leave the group, Joe Morello joined in late 1956 with Desmond's recommendation. Desmond featured Bickert on his 1975 studio album Pure Desmond, and the two played together at the 1976 Edmonton Jazz Festival. 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". He took whatever work he could get as a player. And he grinned. No wonder that articles started appearing questioning the basis of the Desmond-Brubeck collaboration. - Downbeat Magazine, July, 2005an invaluable addition to jazz literature. The Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Cole Porter, We're All Together Again for the First Time, The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings- 7 CD box, "Desmond Vs. Fortunately Don Thompson also doubles as a recording engineer, and a number of the club dates were recorded and released. 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 Credits (1-1,530 of 1,530) Overview
Desmond was also credited as the lead songwriter for the Quartets most famous composition, Take Five. Paul Desmond was a legendary American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. Soundtrack: Rushmore.
Paul Desmond - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of Death - CelebsAges Paul Desmonds mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. We will continue to update information on Paul Desmonds parents. In 1953 Iola Brubeck Iola Brubeck wrote to more than 100 colleges and universities enclosing reviews of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, a . All rights reserved. He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 53 years old group. Darius Brubeck recalls thinking that Desmond was his uncle almost into adolescence. 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 Extensive biography of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond, one of the major jazz figures of all time, written by noted jazz critic Doug Ramsey. Jazz at the College of the Pacific, Volume 2, Anything Goes! By the time he reached college, he started playing the Alto Saxophone, which later became his most preferred instrument. Paul Desmond. Real Name: Paul Emil Breitenfeld Profile: American jazz alto saxophonist and composer (Composed "Take Five" for the Dave Brubeck Quartet). Wild, subtle, delicate. Desmond continued with the Quartet until their breakup in 1967, after which the Quartet only reassembled for reunion tours, the last of which was held in 1976, a year before Desmonds death. Born : November 25, 1924 in San Francisco, California. Add photos, demo reels Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Known for A Civil Action 6.6 Paul Shalline 1998 Legends of the Fall 7.5 Roscoe Decker 1994 Glory 7.8 10th Connecticut Soldier 1989 All the King's Men 6.1 Slade 2006 Credits IMDbPro They toured the world, playing 300 concerts a year, and had a Columbia recording contract that called for four albums a year. Born: November 25, 1924Died: May 30, 1977.
Also during this time, Brubeck became one of the first jazz musicians to regularly tour and conduct seminars at. "[1], Desmond was married from 1947 to 1949 to Duane Reeves Lamon. He is not dating anyone. Paul never said it would be the end. 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]. 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. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. Desmond appeared only half a dozen times with his "Canadian Quartet" Ed Bickert on guitar, Don Thompson on bass, and Jerry Fuller on drums. |
At the time I really thought it was kind of a throw-away. 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.