If Lester Young and J.S Bach had had a baby

[@SharpElevenMusic]

If I would ask you to absolutely do yourself a favor and check out ONE solo, this would be that one. This is a transcription on "Bru's Blues" where Paul Desmond takes a 16 chorus solo with the The Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1957, two years prior to their massive hit album "Time Out". It blows my mind how Paul Desmond can both sound so sweet and easy listening, whilst using on ocassion the wildest of super impositions and tensions, then to morph into classical always-developping motifs. It hard to describe. If there is one thing I should ever make a video about, it's this (complete) solo, although that would become a 2 hour documentary I'm afraid. My impression is that while the connection to jazz influences from Lester Young to Trumbauer are clear, he clearly tried to avoid bebop (he stated that with as many words in his memo's), and that instead of taking the bebop route which most people would take in the 50s, he opted for classical compostion techniques and learned to develop motifs rather then outlining the chords more arpeggio-wise than in bebop. The results are extraordinary and show imo a very innovative authentic style. There are way more examples of that, although that I feel this solo is a terrific example of what I'm trying to describe. Please feel free to discuss or add to these observations, I would love to hear your input on that. /Jorre

[@sega62s]

where did you read about his memos?

[@sitarnut]

Brother Eleven- Check out Paul's solo on the old "Crown" LP song entitled: "At the Perfume Counter."

[@SharpElevenMusic]

@@sega62s somehow completely missed your comment, but it's been publsihed in Doug Ramsey's Desmond biography book. Gorgeous read. Incredible to see Desmond from te inside, his thoughts and conversations with his father (also musician) are published here

[@sega62s]

@@SharpElevenMusic cool infos, thank-you 🍻

[@adamtaylor2142]

10/10, would watch the 2 hour documentary deep-dive into this solo.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

I'll better go to work then! Thanks for the input Adam 🙌

[@none5020]

Paul Desmond is my favorite saxophonist, and amongst the best of all time no doubt.

[@bobpremecz5429]

Love Desmond!!! And he makes those pure altissimo notes pop so crisply. "Paul Desmond" got rhythm - measure 129!!!

[@joelaffolter2392]

Desmond? One of the best melodists in the world of Jazz and music in general, this type had everything: Swing, ideas, taste and a breathtaking instrumental ease. In those duets with Mulligan, Getz, etc,, they have absolutely no chance! Three notes from Desmond means more than all their solos... Paul had reached an astronomical level of perfection, and exceptional. Very rare and to be praised. We miss him

[@hayesp0706]

there’s something about that lick at 00:17 i can’t get over

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Yes! Feel exactly the same here. It's so encredibily satisfying. Will take my time to do a complete solo analysis on this one, but I'm just pondering for weeks to single out just this line as well in a video.

[@frederikmarohn6358]

I love that line at 3:05. Bebop inspired but he did it in his own way.

[@cyschmidtslc]

Hey Jorre and Everybody. What a cool solo. Thanks for letting me part of the part of it. Now we have a lifetime of study ahead of us ha ha. Love & much respect. Cy in Salt Lake City Utah USA 🇺🇸 Belgium 🇧🇪

[@francescodipalma9785]

2 Hour Documentary please!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Haha Francesco 😁, I'll try to get to that!

[@Oenloveslife]

I had forgotten how unique Desmond is until seeing this transcription. These transcriptions are opening my brain up and giving me more insight across the board, so thank you! Desmond is so delicate and charming and thoughtful, but at the same time he's bluesy and nasty and preaching! Oddly, it reminds me of Milt Jackson in that way.

[@BeconHillJazz]

I love this comment. I’ve often had the same thought, but never found the words as eloquently as you. Good job!

[@algorrhythm]

Thank you so much for this video and the great description! Desmond's genius is unique and inimitable precisely because of the combination of complex talents: minimalism and at the same time the multitude and beauty of ideas, melodism and at the same time the presence of big steps, an amazing timbre that combines both softness and at the same time hidden powerful expression of sound. This is the unique magic of his music: an organic combination of ingenious almost incongruous.

[@ParkCircusPunks]

Now we want the 2 hour documentary!😉

[@Michaelw842]

Next time I see a god damn "jazz is just when you play the wrong notes on purpose" meme I'm going to point them to this

[@rillloudmother]

You can tell 'em it just sounds like wrong notes to them because they ear holes too small.

[@TiagoLageira]

Damn, still cant believe we missed out on a Paul Desmond - Michael Brecker collab record smh

[@kritchen1934]

We need this immediately

[@insaneevillogan]

I have never heard brecker even remotely sound this gentle or pleasant, is that the point? Like contrasting?

[@PaulTarussov]

Unbelievable artistry. Thank you for making this for us all! Absolutely remarkable.

[@ryanhelms9605]

One of my favorite Desmond solos!

[@Sue20022010]

Fabulous! Thanks

[@jmikeperkins]

Desmond is sadly under rated. He was an absolute genius and a totally unique player. His chops were as good as any player out there and he had endless ideas that combined multiple genres of music. He was also just incredibly melodic. He is my favorite alto sax player of all time.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Couldn't agree more Mike!

[@tonytonewharton]

Sublime! Thanks for turning me onto this super solo Jorre. And such a great description in your title! Looking forward to delving into this solo in the future. Thank you for all your wonderful transcriptions, cheers!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Glad you like it Tony! This solo is one that has always inspired me so much, and it showed a beautiful slightly different approach to improvisation. I find this one of my most satisfying transcriptions so far, both to transcribe it and play it. Have fun playing 🙌🎷

[@nyafyah]

Great Job

[@ernestsire4207]

At about the 2:50 mark half way through the second line. Neat.

[@patrickthames8853]

Great transcription! Sadly, many go to sleep on Desmond, but I know he is one of the greats! He is always lyrical, and his lines follow the rhythmic flow and proper counterpoint.

[@briangraham367]

This contraption is its own etude! Everything is there......

[@Adamswelltroddenpathways]

Genius

[@thoughtsforthebuilders]

killer

[@danielstainier793]

Great I love it

[@mpcguy]

A ride on the Dez train for sure. 😀

[@josesanchez-os7zr]

At that time, Paul Desmond was without a doubt the most original alto on the jazz scene.

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Please please do the 2 hour documentary, Make it 3 even! I hadn't known of this track before, if I had I would have had to rehab the already high opinion of Desmond I had had before I had heard this track;- ) I hear now why he had a reputation for the altissimo before it became more common in Jazz. He doesn't use it so much once they had (had) the hit record. Its as if he became less adventurous maybe because the stakes were higher. There's a comment by Brubeck that Desmond had an even higher upper range, but after explaining to someone how he did it, could not do it any more! You can hear from this recording how much study he (had) put in, how good his playing and intellectual chops were. And perhaps sadly, how constrained his playing became. He played clarinet in college bands and his alto concept is that of a clarinetist. Are there any recordings of him on clarinet?

[@SharpElevenMusic]

As far as the highly recommended biography book by Doug Ramsey noted, no clarinet recordings. But college bands in the early 40s weren't usually recorded like they are now I guess hehe :) and Desmond was far from being a star at that moment. I hear what you're saying that he became a bit less bold in his improv, although the shift is somewhat later to me, when he took that three year break in between 1967 (when the Brubeck Quartet stopped their 17 year run) and picked the sax back up in 1970 for concerts. If you listen to the album "Dave Brubeck Quartet at The Carnegie Hall" in1963, you'll hear a sublime Desmond go for those altissimo's on a very fast Take Five and Blue Rondo A La Turk for example. Also his melodies are pretty adventurous, on Take Five there, he couldn't have gone further from his studio famous solo there

[@robinearle7225]

@@SharpElevenMusic There was a CD issued of Paul Desmond on Clarinet _ i think it was called My Sweet Paul - just from memory. I think the CD has two or three clarinet tracks = most impressive. I have it in my collection.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Cool, very interesting! Just googled it, it seems out of print and only one 2nd hand with a high pricerange on amazon. I'll have to search a bit more, but thanks for the great lead Robin!

[@lyntedrockley7295]

@@robinearle7225 any chance of posting them?

[@robinearle7225]

@@lyntedrockley7295 That would be above my pay grade!😀

[@mjfk872]

Desmond flying without effort

[@OscarRurzagasti]

If Lester Young and J.S Bach had had a baby...it would have been a freak...I doubt it would at least walk...hahaha...I'm kidding...great job Bro!!

[@SharpElevenMusic]

The hardest thing would be to somehow reconcile that over the timeframe of a couple of centuries 😂 and thanks for the grammar heads up, I'm not a native speaker, so all help is appreciated for sure Max

[@jeffreyfelder7981]

Mr. SMOOTH

[@mattwinn5667]

Jorre didn’t they call this type of sound ‘third stream’ at one point. The MJQ used to do stuff like this, often very fugal. I’ve been listening to a lot of Jacques Louisier trio recently. Do you know him? He kills the Bach back catalogue. 2 Part Inventions, Goldberg, Italian concerto, the lot. Not a Belgian though.

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Hi Matt, I see why you'd say that, but I guess it doesn't fall really into the third stream movement as Gunther Schuller who came up with this term had few point on what is was not (as opposed to what it actually was). He said "It is not jazz in fugal form. It is not a fugue played by jazz players." So, probably not thrid stream, but Desmond was surely crossing bridges with classical music in such a tasteful way nevertheless

[@rillloudmother]

Title nails Paul Desmond in a nutshell.

[@audieconrad8995]

Soooo taste-eee...

[@none5020]

1:46 Licc

[@drewserafini1237]

Do you have a concert key version of this transcription?

[@cyberprimate]

Nice. What album is it from?

[@SharpElevenMusic]

Dave Brubeck Quartet, Jazz at College of the pacific

[@cyberprimate]

@@SharpElevenMusic I've got the LP from 1953-54, but there isn't that song on it.

[@LAMPENRAINER]

How could I see any resemblance to Bach here?

[@briangraham367]

Using the chromatic jumps and repeating lines that lead the listener. This creates tention and release due to the resolution. The 2-5-1 progression was supposedly originated by Bach. Did Bach discover B-Bop?

[@josesanchez-os7zr]

Stan Getz used to say, he was the jewish Lester Young and Paul Desmond was the christian Stanley Getz.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

He kind of struggles on that G3, tough note. G is a tough key.

[@Ana_crusis]

Had had. If they had had a baby.. It's the 3rd conditional sentence that Americans are destroying for no known reason. IF+PAST PERFECT+MODAL VERB (WOULD COULD, MIGHT ETC) HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE EX: _if I had seen her I would have told her_ It can, of course, like any sentence, be made negative _if I had known it was horrible I wouldn't have gone_ 😎

[@SharpElevenMusic]

The known reason might be that I'm not American 😅😛 but thanks for the heads up! Sounds logical

[@Ana_crusis]

@@SharpElevenMusic it's the internal 'logic' of the language which is arbitrary. 😊 I presumed you were American because it's an extremely common mistake made by Americans. What is your nationality? Just out of interest. Oh is it Belgian?

[@SirBenjiful]

@@SharpElevenMusic Ignore OP, they are a tiresome pedant and a snob. Syntax is always evolving, and as they said themself, most English speakers now use the same construction that you did. Some sad people get off on scolding others for inconsequential shit.

[@none5020]

Dude, go back to Reddit lmao. You're in the KZbin comments section, not in college for an English degree relating to grammar or grammatical history. Get over yourself.

[@Ana_crusis]

@@SirBenjiful the grammar (you mean grammar not syntax) of a language changes very slowly over time. This is not some minor change in word use, it's a huge chunk of the English Language. Most people pretty much everybody in the UK and in many other English speaking countries use it properly. Some people from other countries like these guys get hold of the wrong construction unfortunately from the overwhelming prevalence of illiterate Americans on the internet. . I never said at all that most people use it the way they did here. I said a lot of _Americans_ did. A very different thing altogether. You really must read more carefully. Also, as the guys who run this channel are more intelligent than you, you'll notice that they had no problem with my post, which, though about a grammar point, was clearly made in a light-hearted manner. I was not in a slightest bit aggressive or rude about it. Unlike you because you're a mealy brained whinging twat :)