![]() It was during that tour, incidentally, that Joe Morello went blind. In 1976 he played 25 shows in 25 nights with Brubeck, touring the United States in several cities by bus. Accompanying them were Brubeck's sons Chris Brubeck, Dan Brubeck and Darius Brubeck. During the 1970s Desmond rejoined with Dave Brubeck for several reunion tours including "Two Generations of Brubeck". ![]() The group played until 1967, when Brubeck switched focus from music to composition and broke the unit up. The success of the quartet led to a Time magazine piece on them in 1954, with the famous cover featuring Brubeck's face. The quartet became especially popular with college-age audiences, often performing in college settings like on their 1953 album Jazz At Oberlin at Oberlin College or on their recordings on the campuses of Ohio University and the University of Michigan, among others. That is how the Dave Brubeck Quartet had its start, a group that began in 1951 and ended in December of 1967. 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. Desmond once told Marian McPartland of National Public Radio's Piano Jazz that he was taken aback by the chord changes Brubeck introduced during that 1944 audition. After making the cut he-unlike Desmond-was sent to war in 1944. Brubeck was trying out for the 253rd Army band which Desmond belonged to. Apparently all the begging in the world would not convince Brubeck to hire him in his band, not until Desmond offered to babysit Brubeck's children.ĭesmond had first met Dave Brubeck in 1944 while still in the military. 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. ![]() Brubeck - married with three children now held a grudge from his earlier experience with Desmond - instructed his wife Iola not to let him step foot in his house. The story of their encounter is somewhat humorous. 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. Desmond soon hired Brubeck, but cut his pay in half and then replaced him altogether after taking him along to Graeagle at The Feather River Inn for gigs this was done so Desmond could gamble in nearby Reno. He also worked some with Brubeck at the Geary Cellar in San Francisco. In his freshman year he joined the United States Army and joined the band where he was stationed.įollowing the conclusion of World War II, Desmond started working in Palo Alto, California at the Bandbox. It was not until he became a freshman at San Francisco State College that he picked up the alto saxophone. He played clarinet at the age of twelve at San Francisco Polytechnic High. Desmond began playing violin at a young age, though his father forbade him to play it. During childhood he spent years living with relatives in New York due to problems at home. ![]() His father was an organist who played in movie theaters during silent films, and his mother was emotionally unstable during his upbringing. Paul Desmond was born Paul Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California in 1924. ![]() After years of chain smoking and general poor health, Desmond succumbed to lung cancer in 1977 following one last tour with Brubeck. In addition to his work with Dave Brubeck he led several of his own groups and did significant collaborations with artists such as Gerry Mulligan, Jim Hall and Chet Baker. Known to have possessed an idiosyncratic wit, he was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast's "cool jazz" scene. Paul Desmond (25 November 1924 - ), born Paul Emil Breitenfeld, was a jazz alto saxophonist and composer born in San Francisco, best known for the work he did in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning that group's greatest hit, "Take Five". ![]()
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