Paul Desmond

alto saxophone · 1924–1977 · San Francisco

Alto saxophonist born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet from 1951 until the group disbanded in December 1967. He is the author of Take Five, recorded on July 1, 1959, for Time Out (Columbia).

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Styles

• Cool (Birth of the Cool)
• West Coast

Landmark tracks

• Late Lament (1961)
• Take Ten (1963)

Cited in 3 radio episodes

• Nov 25, 2025: Paul Desmond au Bourbon Street - 1975 (Jazzlive, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Oct 16, 2025: Take Five, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, histoire d’un tube, seconde partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Oct 15, 2025: Take Five, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, histoire d’un tube, première partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)

Sources

• EN : Paul Desmond
• EN : Take Five
• EN : Take Ten

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