Paul Desmond

[kevgermany]

Hard to think of him without getting locked into Take Five, but try this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkcRo7oUIro&feature=related

 

[trimmy]

Cool playing

 

[gypsy]

Excellent stuff, however, I think that this one is better where Desmond was in great form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJPDzfXHi48

 

[kevgermany]

rats, doesn't play in germany...

 

[Chris]

Desmond in latin mood takes some beating www.youtube.com/watch?v=wziWAz3JX48
This thread could fast become a tribute to Paul Desmond:welldone

Chris

 

[gypsy]

That wouldn't be a bad idea at all. I have been a huge fan of his, ever since I saw him at a packed Free Trade Hall in the early 1960s.

 

[Hamish]

One of the most beautiful sax sounds ever. I would not be listening to Coltrane or Rollins or Coleman or Shorter if it weren't for Desmond's honeyed tone.

 

[baritonesax]

And I may never have started playing the sax at all unless I had found Brubeck's "Jazz goes to College" LP amongst my dad's Beethoven quartets when I was twelve, laid it on the turntable and been completely bowled over by Desmond's solo on "Le Souk".

 

[Hamish]

My dad had a set of records "Gerry Mulligan meets the Sax Giants" - Verve repackaging of Mulligan playing with Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges and Paul Desmond - wonderful. Then Brubeck/Desmond playing Koto Song. I'm sure I read somewhere that Desmond said he wanted to sound like a dry martini.

 

[Chris]

If this is a dry martini then I'm going to get drunk( the more the merrier )

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkcRo7oUIro

Enjoy

Chris

 

[Young Col]

Love that Like Someone in Love youtube, Gypsy. I sometimes find Paul Desmond a bit clinical, but that has loads of passion and emotion. A great solo. I would almost kill for that tone!
Baritonesax, your father had terrific taste - the Beethoven quartets (sublime) and Paul Desmond! I would like to be remembered that way but my sons aren't quite tuned in like that (their tastes aren't naff, just different to mine!).
YC

 

[O.C.V.]

That wouldn't be a bad idea at all. I have been a huge fan of his, ever since I saw him at a packed Free Trade Hall in the early 1960s.

Hey,Gypsy. I was there also. Great concert. I rarely missed a jazz concert at the FTH in the 60's I still have the programme, it cost me all of two shillings!
Regards
O.C.V.

 

[gypsy]

Good grief O.C.V. you must be nearly as old as me. They had some good concerts at the FTH in the '60s. I remember seeing, among others, Jimmy Smith, Count Basie and Ted Heath.

Good days.

Albert

 

[Gandalfe]

"I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age." ~ Paul Desmond

Paul was such a humorous fellow in addition to being one of my fav musicians. I luv'd this biography, "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey.

More Desmond humor...

 

[Bari251]

How about the 1950's at the FTH? I've still got two ticket stubs for Jan 31st 1959, when the George Lewis band played there (six shillings and six pence each). Also the Louis Armstrong concert at the Kings Hall Belle Bue on March 9th (ten and sixpence).
I quickly moved on to Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond concerts, and saw PDs last appearance in the UK - very sad, since he really did use the piano to prop himself up.
See the Doug Ramsey blog
http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides/
and his biography of Paul D.
Malcolm

 

[Sunray]

Try these sites mate ...

"I would also like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age." ~ Paul Desmond

Paul was such a humorous fellow in addition to being one of my fav musicians. I luv'd this biography, "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey.

More Desmond humor...

Here are two good links for you mate ...

1] Pure Desmond website ... Loads of info and interesting stuff ... [Link Here]

2] NPR website with a [Link Here] to download 58 minutes programme [mp3].


Click on FREE DOWNLOAD. [Just below his photo] ...

Program is largely based on the book "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey.

Enjoy ...

 

[sonicapogee]

Great Performance.

Hard to think of him without getting locked into Take Five, but try this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkcRo7oUIro&feature=related

 

[tiritiuk]

One of the greats among the greatests. Along with Johnny Hodges, they are my players.
There is an album with Gerry Mulligan, Two of a Mind....simply superb. And Glad to be Unhappy with Jim Hall is one of those companions in "not the best" moments.

 

[AndyB]

Hi Kev, I have 'Glad to Be Unhappy: Torch Songs "Sung" by Sax' by Desmond and jazz guitar great Jim Hall on vinyl LP (1965). It is more beautiful than my words can describe. I have been told that he did at least one blues recording. Do you know what that might be?

Glad to be Unhappy

 

[kevgermany]

No idea. Sorry. Must try and find out.