Paul Desmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Desmond
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Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, October 8, 1954
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Paul Emil Breitenfeld |
| Born | November 25, 1924 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 30, 1977 (aged 52) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Cool jazz, West Coast jazz, mainstream jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone, clarinet |
| Labels | Columbia, RCA Victor, Horizon, CTI |
| Associated acts | Dave Brubeck, Ed Bickert, Gerry Mulligan, Jim Hall, Chet Baker |
Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was an American jazz musician. He was a famous alto saxophonist and a talented composer. Paul Desmond is best known for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He also wrote their biggest hit song, "Take Five". He was one of the most popular musicians in the cool jazz style.
Besides playing with Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond also led his own music groups. He worked with other great musicians like Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Ed Bickert. Paul Desmond passed away in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck, due to a serious illness.
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Paul Desmond's Early Life and Family
Paul Emil Breitenfeld was born in San Francisco, California, in 1924. His father, Emil Aron Breitenfeld, was a pianist and composer. Emil played music for silent films and wrote songs. During World War I, he wrote a famous soldier's song called The Last Long Mile.
Paul's mother, Shirley, had some health challenges. Because of this, Paul lived with relatives in New Rochelle, New York, for almost five years when he was a child.
Learning Music and Writing Skills
Paul Desmond started learning the clarinet when he was twelve. He continued playing it at San Francisco Polytechnic High School. He wanted to learn the violin, but his father told him to choose a different instrument.
Paul also enjoyed writing in high school. He became a co-editor for his school newspaper. In this role, he even interviewed the famous comedian Bob Hope. After high school, Paul went to San Francisco State University to study English. This is when he started playing the alto saxophone. He was inspired by jazz legends like Lester Young and Charlie Parker.
Military Service and Name Change
During his first year of college, Paul was drafted into the United States Army. He joined the Army band and served for three years in San Francisco. His unit did not go into combat.
After leaving the military in 1946, Paul Emil Breitenfeld officially changed his last name to Desmond. He had heard the singer Johnny Desmond in 1942 and thought it was a "great name."
Paul Desmond was married once, from 1947 to 1949, to Duane Reeves Lamon. He did not marry again.
Paul Desmond's Music Career
After World War II, Paul Desmond began working as a musician in the San Francisco Bay Area. He sometimes played with Dave Brubeck in San Francisco. For a short time, Desmond led his own jazz group that included Dave Brubeck.
Later, Desmond and Brubeck had a disagreement. But in 1950, Desmond decided he wanted to work with Brubeck again. He went to Brubeck's apartment and offered to help with the band. Brubeck agreed, and their musical partnership began.
Working with the Dave Brubeck Quartet
Paul Desmond first met Dave Brubeck in the military in 1944. Desmond was amazed by Brubeck's musical ideas. After Desmond convinced Brubeck to hire him, they made a special agreement. This agreement started the famous Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951. The group played together until December 1967.
The quartet became very popular, especially with college students. They often performed at colleges, including their famous 1953 album Jazz at Oberlin. Their success led to a Time magazine cover story about them in 1954, featuring Brubeck's picture.
When drummer Joe Dodge left the group, Joe Morello joined in 1956. Desmond had recommended Morello. However, Desmond and Morello had different ideas about music. Desmond wanted a quiet drummer, while Morello wanted to show off his skills. This caused some tension between them for years. But later in their lives, they became good friends.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet stopped playing regularly in 1967. Brubeck wanted to focus more on writing music. However, in the 1970s, Desmond joined Brubeck for several reunion tours. These tours included "Two Generations of Brubeck," where Brubeck's sons also played. In 1976, Desmond played 25 concerts in 25 nights with Brubeck, traveling across the United States.
Other Musical Projects
Paul Desmond also worked with other great musicians. He played with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan several times. They made two studio albums together: Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet (1957) and Two of a Mind (1962). Desmond and Mulligan had a lot in common, including a similar sense of humor.
Desmond also had a famous partnership with guitarist Jim Hall. Hall played on many of Desmond's albums between 1959 and 1963. In 1971, Hall asked Desmond to play at a club in New York City. Desmond joked that he only took the job because it was close to his home! They continued to play to large crowds.
Desmond was a guest musician on five songs by Chet Baker between 1975 and 1977. He also played with Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert. Desmond featured Bickert on his 1975 album Pure Desmond. They also played together at the 1976 Edmonton Jazz Festival.
Paul Desmond's Personal Life
Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck were very close friends, even though they had different personalities. Dave's son, Darius Brubeck, thought Desmond was his uncle when he was young. Desmond was especially close to Dave's son Michael, and he left his saxophone to Michael when he passed away.
Desmond was known for his clever sense of humor. He once joked about a former girlfriend, saying, "There she goes, not with a whim but a banker." This was a funny twist on a famous quote. Unlike Brubeck, who was very religious and focused on his family, Desmond enjoyed reading books by thinkers like Timothy Leary and Jack Kerouac.
Paul Desmond passed away on May 30, 1977, from lung cancer. Even when he was sick, he kept his humor. He joked that he was happy his liver was healthy! His last concert with Brubeck was in February 1977. His fans did not know how sick he was.
In his will, Desmond said that all the money from his famous song "Take Five" should go to the Red Cross. This was a generous gift. He also played a final prank with his piano. He lent his grand piano to a friend, saying it had to be moved back to his apartment first. After the long and expensive move, Desmond then left the piano to his friend in his will!
Paul Desmond was cremated, and his ashes were scattered. His papers and writings are kept at the University of the Pacific Library.
Paul Desmond's Musical Style
Paul Desmond had a unique and light sound on the alto saxophone. He once said he wanted to sound "like a dry martini." His style was similar to another jazz musician, Lee Konitz, who influenced him. Desmond quickly became one of the most famous saxophonists in the West Coast's cool jazz movement.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet was so successful partly because of how Desmond's airy, light style mixed with Brubeck's sometimes heavier piano playing. Desmond's improvised solos were praised for being logical and beautiful. He was also very good at playing counterpoint, which is when two or more melodies are played at the same time. You can hear this clearly on his albums with Gerry Mulligan.
Desmond was also known for being able to play very high notes on his saxophone, called the altissimo register. He played a Selmer Super Balanced Action alto saxophone from around 1951. He used a special mouthpiece and a specific type of reed.
Paul Desmond's Music Albums
Paul Desmond recorded many albums throughout his career, both with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and as a bandleader. He also collaborated with other jazz greats.
Albums with Dave Brubeck
Paul Desmond was a key part of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Here are some of the albums they made together:
- 1951: Brubeck/Desmond
- 1953: Jazz at Oberlin
- 1954: Jazz Goes to College
- 1959: Time Out (This album includes "Take Five")
- 1961: Time Further Out: Miro Reflections
- 1963: At Carnegie Hall
- 1975: 1975: The Duets (with Paul Desmond)
Albums as a Bandleader
Paul Desmond also released albums where he was the main artist:
- 1959: First Place Again
- 1962: Desmond Blue (with strings)
- 1963: Take Ten
- 1965: Glad to Be Unhappy (featuring Jim Hall)
- 1969: Summertime
- 1974: Pure Desmond
Albums with Gerry Mulligan
Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan made music together:
- 1957: Blues in Time
- 1962: Two of a Mind
Albums with Chet Baker
Paul Desmond also played on albums with Chet Baker:
- 1974: She Was Too Good to Me
- 1977: You Can't Go Home Again
See also
In Spanish: Paul Desmond para niños
