ENDEIT
Paul Desmond
Photo: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Alto saxophonists · 1924–1977

Paul Desmond

American jazz musician (1924-1977)

Born
25 November 1924
San Francisco
Died
30 May 1977
New York City
Country
United States
Record labels
Columbia Records, RCA Records, CTI Records, Horizon Records
Discography
26 albums

Biography

Paul Desmond was a jazz musician who played alto saxophone. Paul Desmond was born on 25 November 1924 in San Francisco and died on 30 May 1977 in New York City. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: Columbia Records, RCA Records, CTI Records and Horizon Records. The discography here lists 26 albums, from “First Place Again” (1960) to “Nice People” (2021).

Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer and proponent of cool jazz. He was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composed the group's biggest hit, "Take Five". The song remains the best-selling jazz song of all time. In addition to his work with Brubeck, he led several groups and collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Ed Bickert. After years of chain smoking and poor health, Desmond succumbed to lung cancer in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

First Place Again 1960 · Warner Bros. Records Desmond Blue 1962 · RCA Victor Two of a Mind 1962 · RCA Victor Take Ten 1963 · RCA Victor Bossa Antigua 1965 · RCA Victor Glad to Be Unhappy 1965 · RCA Victor Easy Living 1966 · RCA Victor Bridge Over Troubled Water 1969 · A&M Records From the Hot Afternoon 1969 · A&M Records Summertime 1969 · A&M Records Skylark 1973 Pure Desmond 1975 · CTI Paul Desmond 1978 · Live · Artists House Paul Desmond & The Modern Jazz Quartet 1981 · Live · Finesse Records Easy Living 1986 · RCA Camden Like Someone in Love 1992 · Live · Telarc Late Lament 1993 · Jazz Heritage Re-Union 1994 · Jazz Heritage The Ballad of Paul Desmond 1996 · RCA Victor Desmond Blue / Take Ten 2000 Complete Jazz at Storyville 2002 · Definitive Records Cool Imagination 2002 · Bluebird
Improvised Counterpoints 2009
Six Classic Albums 2015 · Real Gone Jazz
Paul Desmond Plays Paul Desmond 2020
Nice People 2021

Also plays on

Albums where Paul Desmond is credited as a sideman

1952 The Dave Brubeck Quartet — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1953 Jazz at Storyville — Brubeck, Desmond alto saxophone
1955 Brubeck Time — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1956 Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai At Newport — Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson & Dave Brubeck saxophone
1956 Jazz at the Blackhawk — Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Paul Desmond alto saxophone
1957 Jazz Impressions of the U.S.A. — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1957 Dave Digs Disney — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1958 Jazz Impressions of Eurasia — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1959 Time Out — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1959 Gone With the Wind — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1960 Tonight Only! — The Dave Brubeck Quartet feat. Carmen McRae alto saxophone
1960 Southern Scene — The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Trio, and Duo alto saxophone
1960 Bernstein Plays Brubeck Plays Bernstein — The Dave Brubeck Quartet, New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein alto saxophone
1961 Take Five at Basin Street East — Carmen McRae with Dave Brubeck alto saxophone
1962 Bossa Nova U.S.A. — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1962 Countdown: Time in Outer Space — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1963 Brandenburg Gate: Revisited — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1964 Jazz Impressions of Japan — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1964 Time Changes — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1964 Jazz Impressions of New York — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1965 Angel Eyes — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1965 Anything Goes — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1966 Time In — Dave Brubeck alto saxophone
1966 My Favorite Things — The Dave Brubeck Quartet alto saxophone
1971 Summit Sessions — Dave Brubeck alto saxophone
1973 We're All Together Again for the First Time — Dave Brubeck alto saxophone
1974 She Was Too Good To Me — Chet Baker alto saxophone
1975 Concierto — Jim Hall alto saxophone
1976 1975: The Duets — Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond alto saxophone
1977 You Can’t Go Home Again — Chet Baker alto saxophone

Standards written by Paul Desmond

TitleKeyFormGroove
Take Five E♭ minor ABA · 24 Medium-up swing
Bossa Antigua A♭ major ABCA · 32 Bossa nova
Wendy E♭ major · 32 Slow swing

Analysed solos by Paul Desmond

Historic 78 rpm records

  • HOW LONG, BABY, HOW LONG THE JACK SHEEDY SEXTET · Jack Minger · Paul Desmond · Jack Sheedy ·… archive.org ↗
  • HOW LONG, BABY, HOW LONG THE JACK SHEEDY SEXTET · Jack Minger · Paul Desmond · Jack Sheedy ·… archive.org ↗
  • Down In Honkytonk Town The Jack Sheedy Sextet · Jack Minger · Paul Desmond · Jack Sheedy ·… · 1950 archive.org ↗
  • The Man I Love The Jack Sheedy Sextet · Jack Minger · Paul Desmond · Jack Sheedy ·… · 1950 archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Paul Desmond play?

Paul Desmond is known for playing alto saxophone.

When and where was Paul Desmond born?

Paul Desmond was born 25 November 1924 in San Francisco.

What are Paul Desmond's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include First Place Again (1960), Desmond Blue (1962), Two of a Mind (1962), Take Ten (1963) and Bossa Antigua (1965).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.