Jazz saxophone legend Paul Desmond, 1976: CBC Archives | CBC

In this clip, famed saxophonist Paul Desmond talks about life after playing with the Dave Brubeck quartet. Desmond wrote the group's greatest his 'Take Five' and was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the U.S. West Coast jazz scene. Subscribe: bit.ly/CBCSubscribe
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Jazz saxophone legend Paul Desmond, 1976: CBC Archives | CBC
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[@517JET]

Paul Desmond was one of my greatest influences of all time. What an incredible saxophonist he was!

[@MikeGervasi]

My favorite sax player. He's instantly recognizable. His approach is more like a clarinetist in his tone and phrasing. Sad he would be gone a year after this.

[@robinearle7225]

He was an excellent clarinet player - an admirer of Artie Shaw.

[@ciferniku1736]

Actually he did play the clarinet before he played the saxophone

[@baconlatte]

i get flute vibes from his playing as well

[@bobbuilder4875]

So lovely to hear this interview. It almost makes me cry. He comes across as a shy, intelligent and very talented person and she resonates with him. She even admits that she knows little about jazz but somehow draws out of him his inner thoughts, feelings and hopes about his life and work. Utterly charming and a prime example of what an interview should be.

[@racourdav]

I feel the same way, I have never heard him speak! I discovered Dave Brubeck back in the 80's and immediately fell in LOVE with Paul's way of playing the sax. I bought a few of his solo albums and searched for any and all information on him after discovering he had passed in 1977...he's my favorite jazz saxophonist.

[@MBACCR]

One of the greatest jazz musicians, right there

[@Scrooks1]

He was one of my musical idols. Brilliantly lyrical alto player.

[@BillyBronco73]

Paul Desmond comes across as a sweet and gentle soul in this interview. His wit and humanity shine through.

[@jaywills5776]

... it's the quiet ones you have to watch

[@melchizedekmartinez6571]

The sweetest horn on earth. ever.

[@artofcool9971]

@@samotakolako7342 Like a dry martini...

[@1rocknroy]

Yeah, Johnny Hodges lol lol lol

[@michael3343]

My favorite Jazz artist in the world. Amazing music he made. He inspired me to get into the Alto saxophone.

[@Abraxas_90]

Michael Real what is the set up for play Desmond?

[@TG-wy7ck]

@@Abraxas_90 I use a Selmer concept mouthpiece along with a Selmer Axos horn. The concept, in my opinion at least, creates a sweet sound which definetely ressembles Desmond's amazing sound.

[@Franzie2105]

Same. I do love his job. He was incredibly good.

[@marioremington345]

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the login password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@mohamedanthony7491]

@Mario Remington instablaster :)

[@CristuelCasto]

Honestly, I don't get all the flak she (the interviewer) is getting. I really liked the short interview, and its style. She's pleasant, very honest about her not knowing a lot about jazz, and manages to ask all those questions in a delicate, unobtrusive way, without sounding too obnoxious; not a quality you'd see in many of today's reporters or interviewers. I only wish it was longer. There aren't many Paul Desmond interviews out there.

[@jocelynbrunelle9880]

I agree 100%

[@michaeldean9338]

I agree about the undo 'criticism'. Now, had she try to pretend, then they'd be complaining about that. Her honesty of NOT knowing about the subject makes for the possibility of a decent encounter.

[@getezra1]

Her name is Mary Lou Finlay and she kept Desmond calm through the whole interview as he was a shy person.

[@bananasalad6761]

@@getezra1 Thank you! I was looking for her name.

[@CarlMichaelAyotte]

I didn't mind that she knew nothing about jazz, but her main problem was that she didn't listen to answers that they gave her. She was just thinking about her next question. A lot of replies begged for follow up, but she didn't really seem to be in the moment.

[@FrankHeath]

I found this a delightful, refreshing interview. Thanks to the young Lady intervewer and Paul for what is the only inteview I've seen of him.

[@catandpiddle]

I disagree ... it's pretty clear to me paul desmond enjoyed this interview and her style. no question about that at all.

[@barbarazucker860]

I came into jazz later in life. It is mostly all I want to listen to. Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, and then Paul Desmond as a solo is my company. Pure poetry.

[@atombomb31458]

i recommend glenn gould!!

[@danielk9067]

Oscar peterson is one of my favorites too. Not to mention Brubeck and Desmond of course.

[@andreashoppe1969]

The way he talks sounds much like the way he plays the alto… simply amazing!

[@oliveratom10]

I guess the interviewer had heard that Paul Desmond was a truly legend and genious of jazz, but in the interview, she found out that Paul was such a humble and simple guy. To me this makes Paul even bigger... Wherever you are Paul: thank you so much.🎷

[@freddylebanon]

Paul was a ladies man and she is appreciated..I like her energy..the world is full of woe and this feels honest

[@Lifeofbass]

One of my all time jazz favorites...

[@MrJazzohjazz]

I did see the original Quartet in Westport, Ct later in 76 when the band did a few dates to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Paul willed all royalties from "Take Five" to the Red Cross.

[@jaywills5776]

What a sweetheart and a gentleman.

[@alainjames9556]

The interviewer is so nice. What a change from most of the interviewers I've seen.

[@truthdweller3454]

Yes! She's actually sincere and takes an interest in her subject.

[@Phalcone1125]

A fantastic interviewer: She doesn't listen to jazz, yet admits it in the calmest and best of ways early in the interview. Very classy, very honest. She certainly settled Paul down in a way few modern interviewers can.

[@MrJazzologist1]

Simply one of the all-time greats. Soulful, highly skilled and inrelligent music poured out of this man's sax. I loved his sound and technique.

[@sitarnut]

I still have my 1963 "Downbeat" Magazine wherein a reviewer writes that Desmond's solo on "Someday My Prime Will Come" was so cool it had icicles hanging off every note." I'm still playing Alto thanks to him.

[@jakeornot6306]

And the interviewer is wonderful. Her name should be notated.

[@frankscott1708]

Mary Lou Finlay, a Canadian icon.

[@truthdweller3454]

Yes. Well-spoken with a gentle manner.

[@andyweis5194]

In 1 year he would be gone. He must have known here that he had lung cancer. He was only 52. Such a beautiful body of work that he left us.

[@muziklvr7776]

Quite sad but at least he lived a packed full life didn't outlive his money. That's a big fear for most people.

[@sexylover780]

Love his playing, he is incredible on so many levels. I have been a jazz guitarist most of my life but of the people I admire from jazz as players most are sax players and Paul is brilliant. I have the Bickert/Desmond Lp that they speak of and it IS excellent.

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

I was lucky enough to score Paul Desmond's 'Summertime' on vinyl. Now my hunt is on for more. I know how hard they are to come by.

[@frankhesperado7239]

Paul Desmond didn't write a lot of the pieces during his tenure with Brubeck; he was sort of the George Harrison of the band that way. My favorite tune of his is not Take Five, but rather "Eleven Four" on the later "Countdown: Time in Outer Space" album. Someone (I wonder who it was?) once said Paul plays the alto sax "like a dry martini". A perfect description.

[@francislungofficial]

liquid, smooth, professional, eloquent, exquisite.

[@rickredmond9847]

Paul was introverted, very empathic and socially awkward.......often typical of many brilliant geniuses.

[@gringochucha]

To think that he died just a year later. Such a beautiful player. His lines are like flowers slowly blooming in the rain or ripples spreading on a pond. And his vibrato is wonderful. I try to channel his sound as much as possible in my guitar playing...

[@fredfloyd34]

What a genious...I can listen to his tunes and never tire of them ...Truely a fabulous musician.

[@jazztrek1]

This was just a year before he passed away from lung cancer. A true jazz "gentleman" and incredible talent.

[@jakeornot6306]

Anyone need to know the cause of death instead of enjoying this interview? I didn't think so.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

Desmond was hooked on tobacco and scotch, and also did cocaine. Sadly, it was no big surprise that he died in his early 50s.

[@taildragger53]

@@jakeornot6306 "'Enjoying the interview"' doesn't necessarily mean that one doesn't notice certain points that are indeed relevant to the background of the artists life and even demise. It isn't demeaning in any way , neither does it detract from his awesome talent. Get over it!

[@frankdenardo8684]

@TwilightBrass He was part of West Coast cool jazz. Started with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and went solo later on. He was 53 years old when he of lung cancer. He was cremated and ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean. I have Take Five by Dave Brubeck, and two solo ones. One is El Condor Pasa, which contains the songs of Simon & Garfunkel and Summertime. He is not with us anymore. The music lives on.

[@swingmanic]

I've returned to look at my comment of 3 years ago and I still feel the same way!..I did eventually get the book "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey and I've enjoyed every picture and every paragraph within it!...Paul Desmond was such a talented guy, as a musician, writer and cartoonist...Who knows what he might have gone on to achieve had he not been so addicted to cigarettes.

[@RottenApple737]

he was a cartoonist???

[@ryantotten5011]

I have the same book.....wonderful reading

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

Thank you for posting this Canadian Broadcasting Corp!

[@imbees2]

Jazz is the best music ever. It created all other forms of popular music.

[@abdsamad1959]

The ultimate shy guy

[@CoolAidChemist808]

+Dzul Samad still an amazing individual...

[@cinnaplid]

+Dzul Samad Apparently he was quite a ladies' man.

[@abdsamad1959]

+cinnaplid its the natural shyness in him that attract the ladies its an added plus I guess.

[@cinnaplid]

+Dzul Samad I like that quality in a guy, so I get it :-)

[@ninagill1407]

@@cinnaplid he liked his drugs as well, LSD and cocaine being his drugs of choice!

[@bluesattic5421]

Having listened to Brubeck since I was 10 year old (at the time 1962) ,, Back then .. It was all album pics or things in Downbeat Magazine to picture .. and a few pictures of what the musicians looked liked .. Desmond was a hero of mine .. (sax) ... I liked how the interviewer was clueless of whom she was in the presence of ... It only showed how the man was as human and down to earth in his response ... as he was during his personal quests to create his sounds on stage or studio ... Great find to have posted on you tube ... thanks ...

[@pmwizard48]

The time out album still sounds fresh and new today. It is a timeless album.

[@SeerTrulth]

We LOVE YOU PAUL. Period. And if any of you don't have "Pure Desmond", ha! Get it. Have a friend copy it for you.

[@mrridikilis]

along with "Kind of Blue," "Jazz at Oberlin" was one of the most seminal albums for me!

[@ronl7131]

Historic vid….lots of character at so many levels…magnificent bonus was Jazz legend conversation

[@2brnut2b]

Yes I would love to hear the group.

[@CBC]

I believe the interviewer is Mary Lou Findlay

[@TheGlass50]

CBC Very good.. Thanks.. Mary Lou Finlay.

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great Video! Thank you. I enjoy the video. Thank you

[@tromboneJTS]

He looks super-nervous in this video, to the point of distress. He played such sweet and tasteful solos. Magical.

[@atombomb31458]

he was very sick unfortunately

[@604460]

Forget all those kooky statements about fucking, this is one of very few Desmond interviews, and he is all there in this one: deferential, classy, articulate, gentle. If you want to hear Desmond at his best, you can listen to him with Brubeck, or, and I prefer this, listen to him in Toronto at Bourbon Street with Ed Bickert, Don Thompson, and Jerry Fuller. Surely one of the shining moments in the history of jazz.

[@123marsmarsmars]

The inteviewer is very good. Classy articulate, gentle as stated above. Refreshing with a pleaant sense of humor. And we don't know her name or the gentleman she is sharing with before the Desmond Interview. That's a loss.

[@gauchegaucho]

Interviewer: "you still wanna be a writer when you grow up...?"

[@TitusSax]

This is priceless. Thanks for posting this. But where is the rest of it when the Paul Desmond Quartet plays?

[@geraldleroy1980]

Mary Lou Finlay is a great interviewer and Paul Desmond is a great interviewee: funny, thoughtful, honest, self-effacing, not egotistical. The man is as great as his music.

[@coryholland1811]

Very well done interview; coaxing conversation from someone as nervous and self effacing as Desmond is no mean feat. Thanks for the clip.

[@RottenApple737]

Love him 😍

[@frankstacks4756]

He was not nervous he was dying and beathe poorly

[@muziklvr7776]

Probably both.

[@danielstainier793]

👍 Thank you so much

[@marksmith8184]

You can listen to Paul Desmond's solo in Take Five any number of times, but you can't find a discount. Play it again then.

[@marcusschneider4411]

Paul Desmond ... And 3 or 4 dry Martines ...to the Eternety ...Paradise ... !!!!

[@clamyou]

The fellow in the beginning is, obviously, Kramer

[@bennyjazzful]

A truly brilliant interview. Wonderful & so,so good.

[@RichardBill]

Mary Lou Finlay and Paul Soles

[@bennyjazzful]

What a wonderful interview! Well done.

[@emylrmm]

very good interviewer

[@brucekuehn4031]

Too bad his sense of humor doesn't come out. His writing is hilarious. It is a shame that book was never written - How Many in Your Quartet - supposedly asked by an airline stewardess.

[@geraldleroy1980]

I feel like his sense of humor does come out in this interview. It's subtle but it's there. Her: "You're nervous. You seem so relaxed when you play." Him: "It's a big fraud."

[@Jazzinthecountry]

Proud to be the 500th thumbs up!

[@touaregkc]

The two reporters...well not worth mentioning, but to hear Paul's voice is a pleasure. The interview itself is dilettant.

[@germanmastellone]

Mary Lou Findlay - 1976

[@christophercruz8359]

He lived to see early jazz fusion, and was even on the CTI label. Wonder what he thought of fusion.

[@smoothvelvetsinger]

Wonderful. But this is the only interview I can find on the net with Desmond. That's just sad. Does anyone know øf another? Audio or video interview? Not the one where he interviews Charlie Parker.

[@CynthieD]

I agree, and the only other interview w/ Paul that I've seen on YT is a short clip from The Jazz of Dave Brubeck, a '61 CBS special w/ Walter Cronkite. PD was so witty & observant, certainly wish there were more! Thank God, there's so much of his 🎶 on YT...🎷😊

[@brbritt1]

holy shit he had the perfect chops for AS...he could barely talk..

[@swingmanic]

I have to say that I love this girls style of interviewing Paul Desmond and I think he liked her too, simply because she was honest enough to admit to not knowing an awful lot about jazz music!...She kinda coaxes him in his openness to admitting to becoming burnt out and needing a break!..A lovely player and a seemingly nice guy!...Now I need to purchase a copy of "Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond" by Doug Ramsey.

[@nicolasfagel6077]

He had an enormous lower lip! Maybe could help the fact he had this dry martini sound.

[@Maralegar2009]

Audrey... didn´t knew.

[@michaelhoward7009]

Incredible that they spliced out the three tunes - with Ed Bickert no less.

[@January.]

FAIL: No one wants to be asked "Are you nervous?" or be told "You look nervous."

[@SeerTrulth]

Paul is obviously a 180 IQ intellectual.

[@michael3343]

How you know that?

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

By the way he plays!

[@Audiorevue]

I like the idea that what was hip is now not hep and that what was once hot is now cool

[@wmarkdyer]

Paul Soles was the voice of Spider Man in the classic 1960's tv show.

[@ghanasoul]

I’m starting to get into Paul’s music. I Ike his style of playing. He’s very unassuming. He looks more like an accountant. Ha.

[@hargisP2]

Take 5 Written by Paul Desmond

[@MrResearcher122]

Take 5 looking for it then realise this Austrian-Irish man was behind it. All in a lovely day's work.

[@romeobytes]

Is the co-host Paul Soles?

[@paulmartinez992]

Cool Baby.

[@fenderlead1]

the other guy is paul saul? (SP)

[@imbees2]

Who you talkin to. One of the greatest sax players of all time.

[@thefirstchampster]

So dry and self depreciating. He's great.

[@SuburbanDon]

He seems incredibly sensitive.

[@muziklvr7776]

Most jazz musicians are. That's where the beauty of music is drawn from. One of Frank Sinatras wives said he cried all of the time.

[@nicolasfagel6077]

What does Paul say at 4:09? English is not my first language.

[@tywop]

"That's a total, huge fraud. That's the honest truth." She said he looks calm when he's playing and he is saying that he's faking it--meaning he really isn't feeling calm.

[@sebastiaovalejo]

shes is very beautifl indeed, kind of easy to fall in love.

[@christiangoossen563]

Soooo , what is hér name?

[@saxefoner]

Irony: These two hoity-toity uptight CBC types were worse than Lawrence Welk. But priceless to see now. Thanks, CBC for this blast from the past.

[@michaelwilcox5168]

Hodges and Desmond. Now THERE’S an album.

[@jefolson6989]

Desmond looks like a pharmacist. Or an insurance salesman . If you saw him on the street, nothing indicates he is a famous musician.

[@andybaldman]

And there’s nothing wrong with that. His music did all the speaking. Unlike music today, which is all about image.

[@muziklvr7776]

That's just how men of that age group dressed back then. Now you've got men in their 50's and 60's dressing like 20 year olds. It's very odd and confusing. Also, it's always best to fit in, if not dress down a bit, when you have fame and money.

[@jefolson6989]

@@muziklvr7776 its the glasses. He looks like my dad and everyone dad in the 60s

[@drrock5356]

After practicing Take 5 about 100 times, my playing still sounds like garbage, compared to Paul's sweet articulation and tone. Great progress for me, a butt sneeze in Paul's life.

[@stangetz534]

will those collars ever come back in style?

[@ericdreizen1463]

Yes, Paul formed a small symphony - an accordion, a jews harp, & a violin. But when he got on the podium to conduct, he just friggin' keeled over, heh heh heh, AND IT WAS "BYE BYE, PAUL!!" UH HUH!!

[@MrSax1997s]

Frozen Earth, Tonight at 8:00. (Looks At Clock)9:05. "Poop..."

[@stangetz534]

Ed Bickert is not given enough credit here. For example if Paul produced the video all he would talk about is Ed in my opinoin.

[@ChrisWhite-ej9dk]

I wonder how many times God asked Paul to play when he got to Heaven

[@StixH]

What the hell is someone who knows nothing about jazz interviewing such a legend?? Criminal!

[@algail44]

Well she did say she knew nothing about Jazz. Don’t be so critical of two unhip beings doing an interview that wasn’t just aimed at you and me it was for everybody. Had the interview not taken place many of us would never have heard his great speaking voice ,so be at least be grateful for that . Get a life you moaners.

[@beeorganic]

Within a year of this taping Paul Desmond would be dead from lung cancer. You can see during this interview he seems rather winded at times.

[@imbees2]

You people?.