Paul Desmond
Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. 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. Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his well-known composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. 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. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. Desmond's recordings for RCA have gotten box-set treatment and Mosaic issued one of the complete sessions with Hall. There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
-
Glad To Be Unhappy
Jazz - Erschienen bei RCA Victor am 10.05.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pure Desmond (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Masterworks Jazz am 01.01.1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
First Place Again
Jazz - Erschienen bei Rhino - Warner Records am 21.10.2013
Qobuz’ Schallplattensammlung16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Newport 1958: Brubeck plays Ellington
The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Paul Desmond
Jazz - Erschienen bei Gambit Records am 07.07.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Together: The Complete Studio Recordings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Epic am 01.01.1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Two Of A Mind
Jazz - Erschienen bei RCA Victor - Legacy am 01.01.1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Desmond Blue
Jazz - Erschienen bei RCA Victor - Legacy am 28.10.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Skylark
Jazz - Erschienen bei Epic - Associated - Legacy am 01.01.1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cool Imagination
Jazz - Erschienen bei RCA Bluebird am 21.10.2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Paul Desmond
Jazz - Erschienen bei Contemporary Jazz Masters am 22.05.1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Take Ten (Original Album Plus Bonus Tracks)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Classics am 01.01.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Easy Living
Jazz - Erschienen bei Stereo Magic Records am 08.10.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paul Desmond - First Place Again (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Avid Entertainment am 04.08.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Paul Desmond & Jim Hall Quartet: First Place Again + Desmond Blue (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei The Jazz Corner am 03.02.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Desmond Blue (Bonus Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei RCA Victor am 28.10.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo