Paul Desmond was an artist who stood alone on the alto saxophone. His
tone was light but full. His improvisations were complex but always
lyrical and direct. If Johnny Hodges was the seducer on alto, Desmond
was the cool intellect always willing to engage all of your senses.
From 1950 to 1967, he was the famous alter ego to Dave Brubeck's equally
challenging but always robust piano inventions. The unprecedented
success of the Brubeck quartet with 17 years of constant club dates,
concerts, and sound checks, accompanied by a succession of airports, cab
rides, hotels, and food-on-the run took its toll on the members of the
group.
