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
For Emily Whenever I May Find Her
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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Pressed in organdy
Clothed in crinoline of smoky burgundy
Softer than the rain
I wandered empty streets
Down past the shop displays
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways
And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night
We walked on frosted fields
Of juniper and lamplight
I held your hand
And when I awoke and felt you warm and near
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears
Oh, I love you, girl
Oh, I love you
The lyrics to Paul Desmond's song For Emily Whenever I May Find Her describe a dream in which the singer is clothed in flowing, delicate fabric and walking alone through empty streets. The song has a dreamlike quality and uses vivid imagery to create a sense of wandering and searching. The singer hears cathedral bells and walks on until he is joined by Emily. The lyrics describe the joy of being together in a beautiful, frosted landscape and holding hands. When the singer wakes up from his dream, he is overcome with gratitude and love for Emily. The song is an expression of the desire to find and hold onto a deep connection with another person and the appreciation for the love that exists between them.
Line by Line Meaning
What a dream I had
I had an amazing dream
Pressed in organdy
Everything was pristine and perfect
Clothed in crinoline of smoky burgundy
I was surrounded by beauty and elegance
Softer than the rain
The atmosphere around me was gentle and tranquil
I wandered empty streets
Despite the beauty around me, I felt alone and lost
Down past the shop displays
I walked past stores and displays, but they all seemed meaningless
I heard cathedral bells
The sound of the bells reminded me of something greater than myself
Tripping down the alley ways
The bells echoed through the streets, creating a beautiful sound
As I walked on
Despite the loneliness, I continued walking and searching
And when you ran to me
When you came into my life unexpectedly
Your cheeks flushed with the night
The excitement of our meeting showed on your face
We walked on frosted fields
We continued our journey together through beautiful, serene surroundings
Of juniper and lamplight
We were surrounded by nature and the soft glow of streetlamps
I held your hand
I was comforted by the warmth and love we shared
And when I awoke and felt you warm and near
When I woke up from this dream, I felt your presence next to me
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears
I was filled with gratitude for having you in my life
Oh, I love you, girl
I am deeply in love with you
Oh, I love you
I am completely devoted to you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind