Sunday Night Smooth Groovin’ at the 2021 Birthday of Cool Jazz Cat Paul Desmond
by Robert Wilkinson
Thursday would have been the 97th birthday of Mister Cool Jazz Sax, Paul Desmond.
Paul Desmond (November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was a jazz saxophonist and composer, and according to wiki, “He was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast “cool jazz” scene, and the possessor of a legendary and idiosyncratic wit.”
More from Wikipedia: “Following the conclusion of World War II, Desmond started working ... with Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. Desmond soon hired Brubeck, but cut his pay in half and then replaced him altogether after taking him along to Graegle at The Feather River Inn for gigs; this was done so Desmond could gamble in nearby Reno. In 1950 Desmond left for New York City playing alto and clarinet for Jack Fina, but returned to California after hearing Brubeck's trio on the radio.”
The story of their encounter is somewhat humorous. Brubeck — married with three children and holding a grudge from his earlier experience with Desmond — instructed his wife Iola not to let him set foot in his house. But Desmond came to his home in San Francisco one day while Dave was out back hanging diapers on a laundry line, and Iola let him in and took him to Brubeck. Apparently all the begging in the world would not convince Brubeck to hire him, at least not until Desmond offered to babysit Brubeck's children.”
“... After convincing Brubeck to hire him following his stint with Jack Fina, the two had a contract drafted (of which Brubeck was the sole signatory); the language forbade Brubeck from ever firing him, ensured Brubeck's status as group leader, and gave Desmond twenty percent of all profits generated from the quartet. That is how the Dave Brubeck Quartet had its start, a group that began in 1951 and ended in December 1967.”
He also worked with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, and died young at 52 of lung cancer. That’s what cigarettes will do to you. I turned on to the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the early 60s, and was totally hooked! At this point, I’ll just let his music speak for itself. Enjoy the Master at his craft!
First, we start with some great live performances!
From 1961 on the Jazz Casual tv show, at 50 minute set of The original Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring Paul on alto sax, accompanied by syndicated jazz columnist Ralph J. Gleason, doing their greatest hit, “Take Five”
(The Dave Brubeck Quartet is made up of Dave Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on sax, Joe Morello on drums, and Gene Wright on bass).
From 1959 at the University of Rome, the Quartet in a live performance of “These Foolish Things”
In a strangely psychedelic video in 1962 from The Lively Ones showing the quartet superimposed flying above an LA freeway, here’s they are performing the pioneering 9/8 time signature shifts of “Blue Rondo A la Turk”
From Belgium in 1964, a great live performance of the classic “St. Louis Blues” From the same gig, “Koto Song” and the signature “Take Five”
Here’s that entire 32 min. show! Dave Brubeck Quartet Live in Belgium 1964
I found it again! For your enjoyment, a 32 minute clip of DBQ on BBC television in 1964 giving us Dave Brubeck Quartet at Jazz 625
From that BBC show, “Dialogues for Jazz Combo & Orchestra, 2nd Movement” and “The Wright Groove.” Here’s the closer! ”Take Five”
Last year I had a complete 33 minute clip from 1966’s Jazz Gehört und Gesehen in Germany featuring the Quartet doing “Take the A Train,” “Forty Days,” “I’m in A Dancing Mood,” “Koto Song,” and “Take Five,” but this year it’s disappeared. However, I found all 5 songs on single clips, so I put them in order for your entertainment!
“Take the A Train.”“Forty Days.”“I’m in A Dancing Mood.”“Koto Song.”“Take Five.”I assembled some studio versions of maximum cool!
Here’s Paul fronting Bob James (el-p); Gene Bertoncini (g); Ron Carter (b); Jack DeJohnette(d) on “Skylark”
From Newport 1971, the Dave Brubeck Trio with Paul and Gerry Mulligan guesting in a great live 10 minute video of “All the Things You Are”
From Berlin in 1972, the Dave Brubeck Trio with Paul and Gerry Mulligan guesting in a great live 1 hour 17 minute show! Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, and Gerry Mulligan in Berlin
Here’s another treat! I don’t know when this video was recorded, but Chet Baker is VERY young! Here’s Chet Baker (trumpet), Paul Desmond (alto sax), bob James (Keyboards), Ron Carter (contrabass), and Steve Gadd (drums) delivering a very cool version of “Autumn Leaves”
From the very first Monterey Jazz Festival in October 1958, the DBQ giving us “For All We Know.”
Last year I had the entire 1958 remastered studio album Dave Brubeck Quartet Newport 1958 but it’s disappeared except for a few individual clips. So instead, I found you this hour and 38 show! Dave Brubeck Quartet Complete 1958 Berlin Concert
From 1959, the studio version by Paul with Jim Hall (g), Percy Heath (b), and Connie Kay (ds) of “Time After Time”
And from 1962, the studio version by Paul with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet of “All the Things You Are”
For the closer of today’s birthday tribute, here are 5 from the great 1964 Dave Brubeck Quartet album Jazz Impressions of Japan:
For the encore, I found all the tracks from the 1963 album The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall. This concert has been called the best performance of the band’s career, so enjoy! And yes, they’re in order of the set list.
An incredibly up tempo version of this song which closed the set, "Take Five"
Our finale is said to be an “original video” of a fantastic performance by the Quartet of "Take Five"
RIP Paul, and thanks for giving our world a more beautiful selection of sounds than existed before you. You made our world a better place for living your life and sharing your tremendous talent. Aum and blessings, sax Master.
© Copyright 2021 Robert Wilkinson
from Aquarius Papers - Global Astrology https://ift.tt/31aUaF9
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment