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
Jeepers Creepers
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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When the weatherman says it's raining
You'll never hear me complaining
I'm certain the sun will shine
I don't care how the weather vane points
When the weather vane points to gloomy
It's gotta be sunny to me
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers?
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those eyes?
Gosh all, git up, how'd they get so lit up?
Gosh all, git up, how'd they get that size?
Golly gee, when you turn those heaters on
Woe is me, got to put my cheaters on
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers?
Oh, those weepers, how they hypnotize!
Where'd ya get those eyes?
I don't care what the weatherman says
I am not concerned with the predictions of the weatherman
When the weatherman says it's raining
Even if the weatherman declares it is raining
You'll never hear me complaining
You will never hear me express discontent
I'm certain the sun will shine
I am positive that the sun will emerge
I don't care how the weather vane points
I am not interested in the direction the weather vane indicates
When the weather vane points to gloomy
Even if the weather vane points towards dreariness
It's gotta be sunny to me
It must appear sunny from my perspective
When your eyes look into mine
When I gaze into your eyes
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers?
Oh my goodness, where did you acquire those eyes?
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those eyes?
Oh my goodness, where did you obtain those eyes?
Gosh all, git up, how'd they get so lit up?
My goodness, how did they become so bright?
Gosh all, git up, how'd they get that size?
Goodness gracious, how did they become that large?
Golly gee, when you turn those heaters on
Goodness gracious, when you enkindle those warm feelings
Woe is me, got to put my cheaters on
Alas, I must wear my eyeglasses
Jeepers creepers, where'd ya get those peepers?
Oh my goodness, where did you acquire those eyes?
Oh, those weepers, how they hypnotize!
Oh, those tearful eyes, how they captivate with their charm!
Where'd ya get those eyes?
Where did you get those eyes?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind