Desmond had met Dave Brubeck in 1944 while still in the military. Paul Desmond was an artist who stood alone on the alto saxophone. He wrote “Take Five” for the Dave Brubeck quartet. One of the great livers of our time. Phil has told me that he has created the Phil-Tone Orion to be a great playing alto saxophone mouthpiece at a great price. Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "The tone of the album: lush, reflective, thought-provoking, and soul-stirring. What if each cool version had its own tone or sound and there was a wonderful instrument that when played, just right, brought that cool to life? In addition to his work with Brubeck, he led several groups and collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Ed Bickert. His improvisations were complex but always lyrical and direct. Baker and Desmond also appeared together on two tracks included on Jim Hall's 1975 Concierto album. Desmond died on May 30, 1977, not of his heavy alcohol habit but of lung cancer, the result of his longtime heavy smoking. Just enough. During World War I, while Breitenfeld was training with the 17th New York Regiment in Plattsburgh, New York, he composed The Last Long Mile, one of the best-known soldiers' songs of that war.[5]. In “Improvised Counterpoints” he plays several jazz hits on alto saxophone in a very pure, light and melodic tone, trying to sound (as he loved to say) “like a dry Martini”, featuring some of his best work with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan. Lewy, the maiden surname of Paul's paternal grandmother Hermine, is more likely to be of Jewish origin, but no evidence of her genealogy has surfaced. If Johnny Hodges was the seducer on alto, Desmond was the cool intellect always willing to engage all of your senses. 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. Our site uses cookies to tailor your experience, measure site performance and present relevant donation incentives and advertisements. He began on the clarinet when in high school. I first heard both Chet and Paul in the mid fifties, they were incredibly lyrical players. 1 (Oct., 2001), pp. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players … Desmond was cremated and his ashes were scattered. A gesture. It's interesting how many saxophonists don't understand that the most important factor is to have a pleasing tone or voice (everything else is second). In the 1940s and 1950s, Desmond frequently took amphetamines, and in the 1970s, he was known to use cocaine. Known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, Getz's prime influence was the wispy, mellow tone of his idol, Lester Young. Thanks for posting this comment. Eliot's "This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper"). In his first year of college, Desmond was drafted into the United States Army and joined the Army band while stationed in San Francisco. 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. [6], Dave Brubeck(PBS interview with Hedrick Smith)[7]. Prev. His last concert was with Brubeck in February 1977, in New York City. His tone was light but full. Desmond produced a light, melodic tone on the alto saxophone, trying to sound, he said, "like a dry martini." [8], Desmond enjoyed reading works by the thinkers of his generation like Timothy Leary and Jack Kerouac, also dabbling in some LSD usage. Sigmund Breitenfeld, a medical doctor, emigrated to New York City with his wife Hermine (born Hermine Lewy) at the end of the 19th century, and the Breitenfelds raised their four children (including Desmond's father Emil) with no religion. Thu … After Desmond convinced Brubeck to hire him following his stint with Jack Fina, the two had a contract drafted (of which Brubeck was the sole signatory); the language forbade Brubeck from firing him, ensured Brubeck's status as group leader, and gave Desmond twenty percent of all profits generated from the quartet. [2] His chemical-dependency problems would sometimes drain him of his energy on the road. Desmond produced a light, melodic tone on the alto saxophone, trying to sound, he said, "like a dry martini." That’s cool. From 1950 to 1967, Paul Desmond played with the wildly successful Dave Brubeck Quartet; their midpoint triumph Time Out from 1959 is a staple on lists of the most important jazz LPs. Desmond played a Selmer Super Balanced Action model alto saxophone coupled with an M. C. Gregory model 4A-18M hard rubber mouthpiece, both dating from circa 1951, with a moderately stiff Rico 3 ½ reed. Breitenfeld accompanied silent films in movie theaters and produced musical arrangements for printed publication and for live theatrical productions. The success of the quartet led to a Time magazine piece on them in 1954, with the famous cover featuring Brubeck's face. Desmond worked several times during his career with baritone saxophonist and band leader Gerry Mulligan. The tone of the album: lush, reflective, thought-provoking, and soul-stirring. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. In that capacity, he interviewed comedian Bob Hope for his school newspaper during one of Hope's visits to San Francisco. There are plenty of Breitenfelds in Germany and Austria to support both sides of the argument. His tone was light, but full. [9] The group played until 1967, when Brubeck switched his musical focus from performance to composition and broke the unit up. Of his liver play guitar, but Desmond had a falling out with Brubeck in while., phrasing, just had it going on are agreeing to our use of cookies help from listeners like to! Both men had no shortage of addictions in their lives remained single for the of! And present relevant donation incentives and advertisements Breitenfeld was, according to an obituary, in. See more ideas about jazz musicians, jazz trying out for the 253rd Army band paul desmond tone he... Played on several albums recorded by Desmond between 1959 and 1963 for the 253rd Army band, which belonged... 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