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
Squeeze Me
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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Want you to know it really is pleasin'
Want you to know I ain't for no teasin'
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I'm in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Missing you since you went away
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I'm in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
The lyrics to Paul Desmond's song "Squeeze Me" are a plea for affection. The singer is expressing his desire for physical and emotional intimacy with his partner. He wants his partner to know that he enjoys being held and squeezed, but he doesn't want to be teased. He is sensitive to his partner's actions and words, and he doesn't want to be led on or misled. The singer is also missing his partner and singing the blues, waiting for them to return. He wants to know if his partner feels the same way and if they love him back. The lyrics express a vulnerable and romantic sentiment, with a hint of playfulness and sensuality.
In the song, Desmond's smooth saxophone playing adds to the mood of the lyrics. The melody is slow and romantic, punctuated by Desmond's masterful improvisational interludes. The song was first recorded in 1959 by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, but Desmond released his own version on his 1967 album "Summertime". The song has since become a jazz standard, with covers by performers such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington.
Line by Line Meaning
Want you to know I go for your squeezin'
I want you to know that I really enjoy it when you embrace me tightly.
Want you to know it really is pleasin'
I want you to know that the act of embracing me tightly is something that really brings me joy.
Want you to know I ain't for no teasin'
I want you to know that I am not interested in playful teasing, but am looking for a sincere physical connection.
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Please treat me with kindness and tenderness at the end of a day.
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Just hold me tightly, but don't play games with my emotions.
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
When you hold me tightly, I become very emotional and nostalgic.
Missing you since you went away
I have been feeling a strong sense of loss since you departed.
Singing the blues away each day
I have been struggling to deal with my sadness, but have been attempting to lift my spirits through music.
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I am taking inventory of all the things that have gone right and eagerly awaiting your return.
I'm in the mood to let you know
I am feeling particularly expressive and want to share my thoughts with you.
I never knew I loved you so
I had not previously realized how deep my affection for you truly runs.
Please say you love me too
I am hoping that you share my romantic feelings and will express them in return.
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
When I have strong romantic feelings like this, it feels like I am in a state of complete euphoria.
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
Hold me tightly, but please don't toy with my emotions or lead me on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind