Paul Desmond

While Charlie Parker’s mark could be found on virtually every post-1950 jazz alto saxophonist, Paul Desmond built on the influence of fellow king-of-Cool Lee Konitz to become a school unto himself. Like Konitz’s, Desmond’s style is deceptively light and airy, more akin to the sheer tone of Lester Young than the fires of Parker. Desmond’s approach was less cerebral than that of Konitz however, and so more appealing to a wider audiences. Desmond was best known for his decades-long (1951-1967) association with Dave Brubeck, but he also had a thriving solo career during and after Brubeck. (Brubeck and Desmond reunited shortly before the latter’s death.)