A Ship Without a Sail

Paul Desmond

Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was a jazz alto saxophonist and composer born in San Francisco, best known for the work he did in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning that group's greatest hit, "Take Five". He was not only one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast's "cool jazz" scene, but also the possessor of a legendary and idiosyncratic wit. more »