Paul Desmond and Talk:Geert-Jan Derikx: Difference between pages

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[[Image:Desmond brubeck 5a51762u.jpg|thumb|200px|Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck, October 8, 1954.]]

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'''Paul Desmond''' (San Francisco, November 25 , 1924 - New York City, May 30 , 1977) was a [[jazz]] saxophonist and [[composer]]. He came to prominence with [[the Dave Brubeck Quartet]], which lasted from [[1951]] until [[1967]]. Desmond penned the quartet's biggest hit, "[[Take Five]]", while playing on slot machines in Las Vegas. He later claimed that something about the rhythm of the coins dropping gave birth to "Take Five" which was first written mainly to showcase the drums, but later, Desmond's signature line was added. Desmond's sound was so important to pianist Brubeck that Desmond, when recording as a leader, was contractually prohibited from employing a piano{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

Desmond was born '''Paul Emil Breitenfeld''' but changed his name because he felt it wasn't suited to a musician, it sounded too English, and reportedly picked his new name out of a telephone book{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

Like many woodwind players of his time, Desmond started on the clarinet as a young man, later he switched to the alto saxophone, and while he mostly played alto, he did make a few recordings playing the tenor sax. Desmond first played on Selmer Balanced Action Alto Saxophone, later he switched to [[MARK VI]]. He owned a few horns, and in his will he left his favourite saxophone to one of Brubeck's son.Desmond used a #3 [[RICO]] reed and a [[MCGREGORY]] [[mouthpiece]] 4A 18M. He was quoted saying he wants his sound to resemble a dry martini. Desmond's sound was a clear, light, and floating sound, and his style was melodic. He loved gentle ballads and would often float off into horizontal until awakened by his bandmates. Much of the success of the classic quartet was due to the superposition of his airy style over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, [[polytonality|polytonal]] piano work. Desmond-Brubeck are famous for their lovely counterpoints.

Desmond was part of the cool jazz era and also collaborated with [[Gerry Mulligan]], [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]], [[Chet Baker]], [[Ed Bickert]] and others over the years. After the break-up of the Quartet in [[1967]], he retired for a while, then began to resurface in occasional reunions with Brubeck, Mulligan, and Hall, in a Christmas concert with the [[Modern Jazz Quartet]] in [[1971]], and in other collaborations. His gift for [[improvisation|improvised]] [[counterpoint]] is perhaps most notable on the two albums he recorded with Mulligan ("Mulligan-Desmond Quartet", [[Verve]], and "Two of a Mind", [[RCA Victor]]). His collaboration with guitarist Jim Hall are also extensive and can be found on a [[Warner Bros]] record and his boxed set of [[RCA Victor]] recordings, often with the support of [[Modern Jazz Quartet]] drummer [[ Connie Kay]. [[Desmond Blue]], also on [[RCA Victor]], is a session with strings, arranged by Bob Prince.

In addition to his playing, he was known for his wit, as reflected in the liner notes for his solo albums, and as recollected by others. He was rumored for several years to be writing an autobiography, but one never surfaced. He died in [[1977]], not of his heavy alcohol habit but of [[lung cancer]]. Desmond had been a heavy smoker. Always witty, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he expressed pleasure at the health of his liver. "Pristine, one of the great livers of our time. Awash in [[Scotch whisky|Dewar's]] and full of health." His last concert was with Brubeck in February 1977, in [[New York City]]. His fans didn't know that he was already dying. Desmond specified in his will that all proceeds from "Take Five" would go to the Red Cross following his death.

Desmond was like [[Chopin]], a romantic musician master of his instrument. He was also a true businessman. His personal life was not so blessed. Though there were many women who admired him, Desmond never really found happiness with a woman. He was an introverted player on stage. Although, many a time if his solo was caught short by the bassist or the drummer, there would be musical bickering on stage and it was Brubeck's responsibility then to calm the situation, by usually taking the solo himself. It should also be noted that after the great bebop player, [[Charlie Parker]],jazz musicians in general believe that the saxophonists thereafter descended from Parker, then came Desmond, who did his own thing, he created a new style of playing, often behind the beat, lay back, cool, dry, introspective.

:American military personnel of World War II|Desmond, Paul]]

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