Paul Desmond

Paul Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld on November 25, 1924, in San Francisco. His father, Emil Aron Breitenfeld, was a pianist, organist, and composer who accompanied silent films. His mother, Shirley King, was a Catholic of Irish descent. Desmond’s childhood was difficult. His mother struggled with emotional instability, and his parents’ marriage was troubled. He spent time living with relatives in New York during these years. At age 12, Desmond began playing clarinet at San Francisco Polytechnic High School, influenced by Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Around 1943, while attending San Francisco State College as an English major, he switched to the alto saxophone. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, Desmond was stationed in San Francisco playing in the Army band, where he met pianist Dave Brubeck. After his discharge three years later, Desmond legally changed his surname from Breitenfeld to Desmond in 1946, reportedly inspired by Glenn Miller vocalist Johnny Desmond.

Desmond reunited with Brubeck in 1951 to co-found the Dave Brubeck Quartet as the group’s alto saxophonist and primary composer. The quartet achieved widespread popularity touring American colleges and releasing albums including Jazz at Oberlin (1953) and Jazz Goes to College (1954). Their greatest success came in 1959 with Time Out, which featured Desmond’s composition “Take Five.” The piece was written in the unusual 5/4 time signature and became the best-selling jazz single of all time, reaching the Billboard Hot 100. Desmond remained with the quartet until its 1967 disbandment. During this period, the group recorded numerous albums on Columbia Records and established Desmond as a leading figure in West Coast cool jazz.

Desmond’s distinctive sound was light, airy, and melodic, often described as “like a dry martini.” This refined tone set him apart from more forceful bebop saxophonists and reflected his influences, particularly Lee Konitz. He demonstrated exceptional ability in the altissimo register and possessed a gift for improvised counterpoint and logical, lyrical improvisation. Beyond Brubeck, Desmond established a celebrated partnership with guitarist Jim Hall, recording albums for Warner Bros. and RCA Victor between 1959 and 1963. He also collaborated extensively with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan on Blues in Time (1957) and Two of a Mind (1962). After 1967, Desmond performed with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Chet Baker, and Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert, with his final recorded appearance alongside Baker in May 1977.

Desmond died on May 30, 1977, at age 52 in New York City from lung cancer caused by decades of heavy smoking. Despite his addictions to cigarettes and Scotch whisky, he retained his characteristic wit throughout his illness. He found amusement that his liver remained healthy while lung cancer claimed his life. Desmond left his prized Selmer Super Balanced Action alto saxophone to Michael Brubeck, Dave’s son. His will specified that all royalties from “Take Five” be donated to the American Red Cross. Desmond’s legacy rests on his pioneering role in cool jazz, his compositional innovations such as writing “Take Five” in 5/4 time, and his influence on generations of jazz musicians through his melodic approach and refined tone.