Desmond was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was a U.S jazz saxophonist.
Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California on 25th November 1924. He came to prominence with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which lasted from 1951 until 1967. Desmond wrote their biggest hit, "Take Five".
Desmond's alto saxophone tone and technique owed nothing to the great alto player of the time, Charlie Parker; instead his was a clear, light, floating sound and highly melodic playing style. Much of the success of the classic Brubeck quartet was due to the superposition of his fragile, airy sound over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, polytonal piano work.
Desmond died on 30th May 1977.
Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Desmond was influenced by Lester Young, but took it further, into melodic and harmonic worlds never before traveled by reedmen -- especially in the upper registers. Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his infamous composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Jazz at Oberlin and Take Five were considered essential purchases by college students of the era, but Jazz Impressions of Japan was its most innovative recording. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. Desmond's recordings for RCA have gotten box-set treatment and Mosaic issued one of the complete sessions with Hall. There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
Everything I Love
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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When in my sleep you appear, the skies of deep blue appear
Each time our lips touch again, I long for you, oh, so much again
You are my favorite star, my haven in Heaven above
You are everything I love
The lyrics of Paul Desmond's song "Everything I Love" express a deeply emotional and romantic feeling towards the person the singer loves. The opening words, "You are to me everything, my life to be everything," establishes the significant role the person plays in the singer's life. The imagery of the deep blue skies appearing in the singer's sleep when the person appears reinforces a sense of tranquility and happiness that the person brings to the singer's life. Furthermore, the repeated phrase "I long for you, oh, so much again" highlights the intensity of the singer's love for this person.
The lyrics also reveal the extent of the singer's admiration for the person they love. When the singer declares "You are my favorite star, my haven in Heaven above," they are acknowledging the exceptional qualities of the person in their life. The use of religious imagery in "my haven in Heaven above" also underscores the value that the singer places on this person. Finally, the phrase "You are everything I love" eloquently expresses the depth of the singer's affection for the person who inspires such feelings.
Overall, Paul Desmond's "Everything I Love" is a poignant and heartfelt declaration of love towards someone very special.
Line by Line Meaning
You are to me everything, my life to be everything
You are my whole entire world; everything I am and everything I aspire to be.
When in my sleep you appear, the skies of deep blue appear
Your presence in my mind, even in my subconscious, brings light and color to my world.
Each time our lips touch again, I long for you, oh, so much again
When we kiss, my desire and affection for you intensifies, and my longing to be with you grows stronger.
You are my favorite star, my haven in Heaven above
You are the brightest, most precious thing in my life, providing me with comfort and security much like a heavenly sanctuary would.
You are everything I love
Simply put, you embody all of the things that I cherish and adore in this world.
Writer(s): COLE PORTER
Contributed by Jacob A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.