About
Paul Desmond (born Paul Emil Breitenfeld; November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer and proponent of cool jazz. He was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet and composed the group's biggest hit, "Take Five". The song remains the best-selling jazz song of all time.
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In addition to his work with Brubeck, he led several groups and collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, and Ed Bickert. After years of chain smoking and poor health, Desmond succumbed to lung cancer in 1977 after a tour with Brubeck.
Member of
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The Paul Desmond Quartet eponymous
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Paul Desmond and Jim Hall Quartet eponymous
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Gerry Mulligan – Paul Desmond Quartet alto saxophone, eponymous
Discography
Albums
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First Place Again Apple Music
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Desmond Blue Apple Music
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Two of a Mind
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Take Ten Apple Music
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Bossa Antigua Apple Music
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Glad to Be Unhappy Apple Music
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Easy Living Apple Music
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Summertime Apple Music
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Bridge Over Troubled Water Apple Music
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From the Hot Afternoon Apple Music
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Skylark Apple Music
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Pure Desmond Apple Music
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1975: The Duets
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I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 40
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Easy Living Apple Music
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Stardust
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Late Lament Apple Music
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Re-Union
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Take Five
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The Ballad of Paul Desmond
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Desmond Blue / Take Ten
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Complete Jazz at Storyville
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Cool Imagination Apple Music
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Improvised Counterpoints
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Six Classic Albums
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Paul Desmond Plays Paul Desmond
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Nice People
Live
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The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings
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At Pennsylvania State University 1955
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Buried Treasures: Recorded Live in Mexico City
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Like Someone in Love Apple Music
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1963-02-22: Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY, USA
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In Concert
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Paul Desmond & The Modern Jazz Quartet
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Paul Desmond
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Jazz at the Blackhawk
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Jazz at Storyville
Compilations
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Take Five, Ten and Fifteen - The Best of Paul Desmond
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Milestones of a Jazz Legend
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The Complete Albums Collection 1953–1963
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The Complete Storyville Broadcasts
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Gone With The Wind
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The Complete RCA Albums Collection
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San Francisco – New York – Los Angeles 1948–1959
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The Complete 1972 Berlin Concert
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On The Radio: Live 1956-57
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Take Five: The Best of Cool Saxophone
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Alone Together Apple Music
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Cool Imagination Apple Music
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The Best of the Complete Paul Desmond RCA Victor Recordings featuring Jim Hall
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Falling In Love With Paul Desmond Apple Music
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Lemme Tell Ya 'Bout Desmond
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Greatest Hits
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Planet Jazz
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The Complete RCA Victor Recordings Apple Music
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Feeling Blue
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The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1961-65) Apple Music
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Le Jazz de A à Z Paul Desmond
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Polka Dots and Moonbeams
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Together. The Complete Studio Recordings
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The Paul Desmond Quintet/Quartet
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The Best Of Paul Desmond Apple Music
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Gerry Mulligan / Paul Desmond
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Sweet Paul – Vol. 1
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Chega de saudade
Links
Also known as
Desmond · Paul Emil Breitenfeld · ポール・デスモンド
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- d5bf3447-c526-4f7c-9931-4b7c80fe34de
- ISNI
- 0000000084142866
- IPI
- 00008050621
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 12 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.