Npr jazz profiles paul desmond biography
•
Noon Edition
Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond is best known for the key role that he played for many years as a member of pianist Dave Brubeck's 1950s and 60s quartet-but what did Desmond do after the Brubeck group disbanded at the end of 1967? In the next hour we'll hear some of the studio and concert recordings that Desmond made in his post-Brubeck era, both as a leader and with musicians such as Chet Baker and the Modern Jazz Quartet, as well as a duet reunion with Brubeck himself. We'll also talk with Desmond friend and biographer Doug Ramsey, author of Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond.
A Sense Of Relief
On December 26, 1967, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, one of the most popular jazz acts of the post-World War II era, gave what its members thought at the time might be its sista performance. Paul Desmond, the group's alto saxophonist, had written its biggest hit, "Take Five," the royalties of which would enable him to live bekvämlighet
•
Affectionately nicknamed “the swingin' introvert” by his friends and peers, Paul Desmond's dulcet alto sax voice has become one of the iconic sounds of modern jazz. Although best known for his long-time musical relationship with Dave Brubeck, Desmond quietly carved his name into jazz history with other luminaries of the day as well. Over 30 years after his passing, he remains one of the most lyrical and melodic saxophonists ever heard, and typifies his genre perfectly—if Miles Davis gave birth to the cool, and if Chet Baker was its prince, Desmond was certainly its idol.
San Francisco and the Early Days
Born Paul Emil Breitenfield, on November 25, 1924, Desmond's musical background was fostered throughout his childhood. His father, an organist, also arranged music for the Golden Gate Theater in their native San Francisco. Desmond played violin and clarinet throughout high school, but switched to alto saxophone at 19 years of age, the same year he would be dr
•
"This is how the world ends... not with a whim but a banker."
--Paul Desmond
Click for NPR Jazz Profiles: Paul Desmond, a 52-minute program hosted by vocalist Nancy Wilson. Takes 90 seconds to download, but then comes up fine in iTunes. It's worth the wait, since this January 2, 2008 radio documentary captures the essence of Paul Desmond.
In addition to his abilities as an acclaimed alto saxophonist and composer, Desmond was also a skilled punster. Seeing a newspaper photo of Aristotle Onassis planning to purchase Buster Keaton's house, Desmond remarked, "Hm. Aristotle contemplating the home of Buster."
I was fortunate to see Brubeck and Desmond when they were at their peak, performing before a huge, totally tuned-in audience absorbed in every unpredictable permutation, with much laughter and applause when drummer Joe Morello's cymbal flew off the rod and went