biography
| name: |
Desmond, Paul
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originally Paul Breitenfeld
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1924–77)
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| biography:
| Jazz alto saxophonist, born in San Francisco, California, USA. As soon as he joined Dave Brubeck's quartet in 1951, that band became one of the greatest international successes in jazz history. Two styles have seldom been so diametrically opposed and yet so complementary. Brubeck, the sober, dedicated organizer, played rollicking, noisy piano, and Desmond, the carefree, free-living bachelor, superimposed spindly, delicate melodies. Renowned for his wit, he published one humorous piece, ‘How Many of You Are There in the Quartet?’ (Punch, 1973), and no more. His tune ‘Take Five’ (recorded with Brubeck in 1959) is one of the great popular and critical successes of modern jazz. He left Brubeck in 1967, with occasional reunions, and kept as busy as he wished as a freelancer. |
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