Why Paul Desmond died so young?
Ch@rlie
I'm curious as to why Paul Desmond died so young. Anyone know of his
cause of death? Please reply by email as well as this usergroup.
Thanks,
William
fi...@ris.net
Richard Kenyada
Paul Desmond died of lung cancer in 1977.
If you want to hear his last recording, check out his work on a Chet
Baker CD, entitled "You Can't Go Home Again". Paul sat in on the
title tune.
From the liner notes of that CD:
"Less than four months after recording You Can't Go Home Again,
Desmond was dead of lung cancer. Baker and Desmond had recorded
together twice before, and for more than 20 years had admired each
other's work. During the height of Dave Brubeck's Quartet's
popularity, in the middle and late 1950's, Desmond quoted frequently
from Baker's recorded solos. Here, though he had rarely played in
previous months, his tone was as magical as ever, and his long-lined
lyricism was intact. But he had the stamina to record just this one
song, and left the session to go home and rest. The end was nearer
than he or any one of us could know."
Kenyada (under the headphones)
blo...@hkucc.hku.hk
Without wishing to be pedantic, I believe that Desmond's last recording was his
solo on Art Gunfunkel's track "Mr. Shuck and Jive" from Watermark.
Geoff Blowers
Hong Kong
Richard Kenyada
On 2 Feb 97 21:44:51 +0800, blo...@hkucc.hku.hk wrote:
>om (Richard Kenyada) writes:
>> On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 01:22:34 -0700, "Ch@rlie" <fi...@ris.net> wrote:
>> Paul Desmond died of lung cancer in 1977.
>>
>> If you want to hear his last recording, check out his work on a Chet
>> Baker CD, entitled "You Can't Go Home Again". Paul sat in on the
>> title tune.
>Without wishing to be pedantic, I believe that Desmond's last recording was his
>solo on Art Gunfunkel's track "Mr. Shuck and Jive" from Watermark.
>
>Geoff Blowers
>Hong Kong
>
That's possible, I'm simply relating the info printed on the Baker CD.
Their recording was done in May 1977. If you can place Garfunkel's
recording after that, we've solved the mystery. Thanks.
Kenyada
Jay Livingston
blo...@hkucc.hku.hk wrote:
>
> om (Richard Kenyada) writes:
> > On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 01:22:34 -0700, "Ch@rlie" <fi...@ris.net> wrote:
> >
> >>cause of death? Please reply by email as well as this usergroup.
> >>
Someone posted liner notes saying that Desmond died of lung cancer. In case
nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
Jay Livingston
CLAY MOORE
Jay Livingston wrote:
>
> Someone posted liner notes saying that Desmond died of lung cancer. In case
> nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
> A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
> sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
> Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
> for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
Most of the time I'm a live and let live kind of guy, but speaking as a
pro musician with asthma I think tobacco SUCKS! We are one of the only
guild of professionals who don't have a smoke-free work place guaranteed
by law, unless of course we want to buy a club and make our own rules.
Of course Desmond (and many others) created his own demise but I think
part of the problem is that musician's work isn't considered serious by
anyone except the musicians, and hence our concerns about health and
working conditions aren't taken seriously. That's my rant for the day.
Clay
Dick Smith
In message <32F615...@ix.netcom.com> CLAY MOORE wrote:
] Most of the time I'm a live and let live kind of guy, but speaking as a
] pro musician with asthma I think tobacco SUCKS! We are one of the only
] guild of professionals who don't have a smoke-free work place guaranteed
] by law, unless of course we want to buy a club and make our own rules.
] Of course Desmond (and many others) created his own demise but I think
] part of the problem is that musician's work isn't considered serious by
] anyone except the musicians, and hence our concerns about health and
] working conditions aren't taken seriously. That's my rant for the day.
]
] Clay
I couldn't have put it better myself. Well done.
Dick
--
=============================================================================
Dick Smith Acorn Risc PC di...@risctex.demon.co.uk
=============================================================================
Wade Johnson
Gregory Monahan wrote:
>
> CLAY MOORE (cmo...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
> : Jay Livingston wrote:
>
> : >
> : > Someone posted liner notes saying that Desmond died of lung cancer. In case
> : > nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
> : > A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
> : > sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
> : > Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
> : > for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
>
> : pro musician with asthma I think tobacco SUCKS! We are one of the only
> : guild of professionals who don't have a smoke-free work place guaranteed
> : by law, unless of course we want to buy a club and make our own rules.
> : Of course Desmond (and many others) created his own demise but I think
> : part of the problem is that musician's work isn't considered serious by
> : anyone except the musicians, and hence our concerns about health and
> : working conditions aren't taken seriously. That's my rant for the day.
>
> : Clay
>
> like to HEAR the music in a smoke-free environment!
>
> Greg
Unfortunately I have stopped going to clubs and listening to
live music, primarily because of the smoke. I no longer
support the local jazz society fund raiser with my presence. I
can't stand the blue haze that I have to breath. I'm not
telling anyone they can't smoke, I'm telling everyone I'm not a
part of the crowd any longer when they ask for money.
Wade
David Gascon
Gregory Monahan wrote:
>
> CLAY MOORE (cmo...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
> : Jay Livingston wrote:
>
> : >
> : > Someone posted liner notes saying that Desmond died of lung cancer. In case
> : > nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
> : > A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
> : > sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
> : > Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
> : > for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
>
> : Most of the time I'm a live and let live kind of guy, but speaking as a
> : pro musician with asthma I think tobacco SUCKS! We are one of the only
> : guild of professionals who don't have a smoke-free work place guaranteed
> : by law, unless of course we want to buy a club and make our own rules.
> : Of course Desmond (and many others) created his own demise but I think
> : part of the problem is that musician's work isn't considered serious by
> : anyone except the musicians, and hence our concerns about health and
> : working conditions aren't taken seriously. That's my rant for the day.
>
> : Clay
>
> Here, here. While we're ranting, I'll rant about those of us who would
> like to HEAR the music in a smoke-free environment!
>
> Greg
Take a trip to Boston -- we are blessed (truly) with 2 of 'em (Scullers
& the Regattabar), both of which get top musicians!
David Gascon
Jay Livingston wrote:
>
> blo...@hkucc.hku.hk wrote:
> >
> > om (Richard Kenyada) writes:
> > > On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 01:22:34 -0700, "Ch@rlie" <fi...@ris.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >>I'm curious as to why Paul Desmond died so young. Anyone know of his
> > >>cause of death? Please reply by email as well as this usergroup.
> > >>
>
> nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
> A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
> sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
> Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
> for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
>
Nat "King" Cole comes to mind, but I'm sure there must be many others...
Gregory Monahan
: >
: > Someone posted liner notes saying that Desmond died of lung cancer. In case
: > nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
: > A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
: > sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
: > Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
: > for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
: Most of the time I'm a live and let live kind of guy, but speaking as a
2 jazz pagans
On a related rant, my pet peeve with the Monterey Jazz Festival--other
than their newly-instituted draconian rules on videotaping--is the fact
that cigar smoking is allowed in the outdoor venues. (Fortunately,
there's no smoking at all indoors.) There's one guy I've seen at the
Garden Stage the past few years, and he invariably stinks the place up.
It's amazing that something that small can produce a smell so pervasive
and so unpleasant...outdoors!
- JRB
Mel
In article <32F601...@saturn.montclair.edu>, Jay Livingston <livin...@saturn.montclair.edu> says:
>
>blo...@hkucc.hku.hk wrote:
>>
>> om (Richard Kenyada) writes:
>> > On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 01:22:34 -0700, "Ch@rlie" <fi...@ris.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >>I'm curious as to why Paul Desmond died so young. Anyone know of his
>> >>cause of death? Please reply by email as well as this usergroup.
>> >>
>
>nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty obvious. Desmond smoked.
> A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of those sax players you
>sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers while they played.
>Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against the tobacco companies
>for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
>
Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the booklet notes it says
that Paul didn't smoke. He always assumed that he would die of cirrohsis of the liver because
he did like his Scotch! So he thought it was pretty amusing that he contracted lung cancer.
Mel Garcia
CLAY MOORE
Mel Garcia wrote:
> Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the booklet notes it says
> that Paul didn't smoke. He always assumed that he would die of cirrohsis of the liver because
> he did like his Scotch! So he thought it was pretty amusing that he contracted lung cancer.
>
> Mel Garcia
I can only assume the people who wrote the liner notes are mistaken,
because it seems pretty common knowledge that he did smoke. I doubt he
was amused.
Clay
Ralph Jungheim
>
> Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the booklet notes it says
> that Paul didn't smoke. He always assumed that he would die of cirrohsis of the liver because
> he did like his Scotch! So he thought it was pretty amusing that he contracted lung cancer.
>
> Mel Garcia
Sure he did, Mel. Wouldn't you?>
2 jazz pagans
>Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the
>booklet notes it says that Paul didn't smoke.
If you look at the cover of the live quartet album on A&M Horizon
(SP-850), you'll see something that looks suspicously like a cigarette
between his fingers.
- JRB
Thomas Richards
On 4 Feb 1997 Mel@.MISSING-HOST-NAME. wrote:
> Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the booklet notes it says
> that Paul didn't smoke. He always assumed that he would die of cirrohsis of the liver because
> he did like his Scotch! So he thought it was pretty amusing that he contracted lung cancer.
I just have one Desmond album ("Paul Desmond Quartet Live"), and on the
front cover he is holding a ciggie that has been smoked right down to his
fingers, and he is still lovingly clutching that thing like it contains
some life-giving elixir. Oh, he smoked, alright. Ironically, in this
picture he is drinking a cup of coffee....
T.C.Richards - <aa...@fan.nb.ca> -or- <tom...@afm.org> "Yo Cats"
I like mixed metaphors - they are the icing on the camel's back.
m...@mail.dec.com
On Mon, 03 Feb 1997 23:01:46 -0500, David Gascon
>Take a trip to Boston -- we are blessed (truly) with 2 of 'em (Scullers
>& the Regattabar), both of which get top musicians!
Don't know about the other New York clubs, but I was recently at the
Village Vanguard, which is now smoke-free.
Thomas Linderoos
Gregory Monahan (gmon...@emily.eosc.osshe.edu) writes:
> Here, here. While we're ranting, I'll rant about those of us who would
> like to HEAR the music in a smoke-free environment!
>
> Greg
I had to stop going to my favourite jazz club in the fall because the
door to the patio was closed, and the smoke inside was just too hard to
take. Jazz has had an association with smokey bars since the early days
of jazz, but this is one tradition I would like to see end. Starting in
March, the City of Toronto by-laws are supposed to ban smoking completely
from all bars and restaurants. If this happens, I will be going out a lot
more.
By the way, I will be in NYC in the near future, and would like to visit
the Blue Note, and Village Vanguard. How are those clubs smoke-wise? I
would be willing to put up with some smoke if it is not too bad. Are
there any smoke-free jazz clubs in the Big Apple?
--
Thomas Linderoos
Paul Caulfield
In article <32f4b8d5...@news.atl.mindspring.com>,
ken...@atl.mindspring.com says...
>
>On 2 Feb 97 21:44:51 +0800, blo...@hkucc.hku.hk wrote:
>
>>om (Richard Kenyada) writes:
>>> On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 01:22:34 -0700, "Ch@rlie" <fi...@ris.net> wrote:
>
>>>
>>> If you want to hear his last recording, check out his work on a Chet
>>> Baker CD, entitled "You Can't Go Home Again". Paul sat in on the
>>> title tune.
>
>>Without wishing to be pedantic, I believe that Desmond's last recording
was his
>>solo on Art Gunfunkel's track "Mr. Shuck and Jive" from Watermark.
>>
>>Geoff Blowers
>>Hong Kong
>>
>That's possible, I'm simply relating the info printed on the Baker CD.
>Their recording was done in May 1977. If you can place Garfunkel's
>recording after that, we've solved the mystery. Thanks.
>
>Kenyada
The title track to "You Can't Go Home Again" is generally believed to
have been recorded in February, 1977. For years it was thought to be
Desmond's only contribution to that session. There is however another
Chet Baker CD called "The Best Thing For You" (A&M CD 0832) which
includes two tracks with Desmond on them, recorded at the same time as
"You Can't Go Home Again". These tracks were not released until 1989.
Doug Ramsey wrote the liner notes and mentions that they were Desmond's
last recordings.
However, the only listing I have seen for "Mr. Shuck and Jive" from Art
Garfunkel's "Watermark" album lists it as having been recorded in March,
1977. I've never actually seen or heard this recording, so if anyone can
shed light on its recording date, I'd be interested in hearing from them.
His last concert date was with the Two Generations of Brubeck at Avery
Hall in early February, 1977. He played in the last half of the concert.
And yes Desmond definitely died of lung cancer, and he was a heavy
smoker. There are lots of photos around showing him smoking, as well as
the cover shot others have mentioned on the "Paul Desmond Quartet Live"
album, the photo that the "Village Voice" ran with Nat Hentoff's
tribute/obit (Aug 22/77) showed a smiling Desmond with a cigarette
hanging from his lips. Hentoff wrote that Desmond smoked "three packs a
day".
In early 1976, he went to see his doctor because of swollen feet, and
instead they found a spot on his lung. He found it ironic that his liver
was fine and was quoted as saying, "Pristine, perfect. One of the great
livers of our time. Awash in Dewars and full of health." He died May 30,
1977.
Cheers
Paul Caulfield
mi...@interlog.com
| Check out "Pure Desmond" -- The Paul Desmond Web Site
| http://www.interlog.com/~mirus/desmond/desmond1.html
CLAY MOORE
Thomas Linderoos wrote:
> I had to stop going to my favourite jazz club in the fall because the
> door to the patio was closed, and the smoke inside was just too hard to
> take. Jazz has had an association with smokey bars since the early days
> of jazz, but this is one tradition I would like to see end. Starting in
> March, the City of Toronto by-laws are supposed to ban smoking completely
> from all bars and restaurants. If this happens, I will be going out a lot
> more.
Here in Austin a city ordinance was passed to ban smoking from all
public places. Bars and some restaurants were given a period to phase it
out. That was about four years ago, and smoking is still going on as
usual.
Clay
Gary Milliken
There was a rather haunting story (I think I saw it here in RMB a few
years ago) about the late Sarah Vaughan. She was appearing in a jazz
club that was attempting a no-smoking policy, but during a break Sarah
was sitting at the bar smoking a cigarette. Someone delicately told
her of the policy, and she gave back an incredulous look, saying
"No smoking? in a jazz club?!", then turned away and continued her
smoke.
Sarah was one of the worst examples for aspiring singers, in that she
could completely ignore all the disciplines other singers consider
necessary -- for example, besides smoking heavily, she thought nothing
of eating a huge meal just before going onstage. Any time I saw her
(on film or tape), she was sweating like crazy, so maybe profuse
perspiration was her body's way of cleansing itself (as was the case
with Hunter Thompson).
She also died MUCH too early, like Paul Desmond, Wes Montgomery, etc.
and cigarettes were a likely reason in all cases.
GM
Bob Wilson
Gary Milliken (mill...@scofield.corp.sun.com) wrote:
: There was a rather haunting story (I think I saw it here in RMB a few
Interesting that Paul Desmond's "other half", Dave Brubeck dislikes
smoky jazz clubs so much that a criterion for his appearance at the Blue
Note a couple of years ago was that there was to be no smoking that
evening.
Bob.
Kevin Bresnahan
Wade Johnson <TXT...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article
<32F67F...@worldnet.att.net>...
> Gregory Monahan wrote:
> >
> > CLAY MOORE (cmo...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
> > : Jay Livingston wrote:
> >
> > : >
cancer. In case
> > : > nobody else mentioned it, the cause of that cancer was pretty
obvious. Desmond smoked.
> > : > A lot. Unfiltered Chesterfields, I think. I recall him as one of
those sax players you
> > : > sometimes used to see holding a cigarette between their fingers
while they played.
> > : > Maybe RMB should join one of those class-action law suits against
the tobacco companies
> > : > for depriving us of so beautiful a voice.
> >
a
> > : pro musician with asthma I think tobacco SUCKS! We are one of the
only
> > : guild of professionals who don't have a smoke-free work place
guaranteed
> > : by law, unless of course we want to buy a club and make our own
rules.
> > : Of course Desmond (and many others) created his own demise but I
think
> > : part of the problem is that musician's work isn't considered serious
by
> > : anyone except the musicians, and hence our concerns about health and
> > : working conditions aren't taken seriously. That's my rant for the
day.
> >
> > : Clay
> >
> > like to HEAR the music in a smoke-free environment!
> >
> > Greg
>
> live music, primarily because of the smoke. I no longer
> support the local jazz society fund raiser with my presence. I
> can't stand the blue haze that I have to breath. I'm not
> telling anyone they can't smoke, I'm telling everyone I'm not a
> part of the crowd any longer when they ask for money.
>
> Wade
>
C'mon to Boston. The best Jazz club for big name acts
is the Regattabar and they have been smoke-free for
at least a year. Wally's still sucks though, and that's
where I like to go see the young "up-and-coming" guys.
Kevin
Ton Maas
In article <5da796$8...@news.interlog.com>,
mi...@interlog.com (Paul Caulfield) wrote:
>However, the only listing I have seen for "Mr. Shuck and Jive" from Art
>Garfunkel's "Watermark" album lists it as having been recorded in March,
>1977. I've never actually seen or heard this recording, so if anyone can
>shed light on its recording date, I'd be interested in hearing from them.
The booklet says: "This recording was produced from December 7, 1976
through December 23, 1977."
Ton Maas
tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
In article <32F6FC...@ix.netcom.com> cmo...@ix.netcom.com writes:
>Mel Garcia wrote:
>
>> Actually I have a Mosaic set of Paul Desmond with Jim Hall and in the booklet notes it says
>> that Paul didn't smoke. He always assumed that he would die of cirrohsis of the liver because
>> he did like his Scotch! So he thought it was pretty amusing that he contracted lung cancer.
>
>because it seems pretty common knowledge that he did smoke. I doubt he
>was amused.
I have two different albums with two different pictures of paul holding
a burning cigarette in his hand.
jmcn...@onramp.net
In article <5ddoj7$j...@viking.mpr.ca> bwilson@newshost (Bob Wilson)
writes:
+Interesting that Paul Desmond's "other half", Dave Brubeck dislikes
+smoky jazz clubs so much that a criterion for his appearance at the Blue
+Note a couple of years ago was that there was to be no smoking that
+evening.
I was fortunate enough to catch Dave Brubeck on the tennis court at
Newport last year (no, I didn't stay for Mel Torme), and the festival
folks were taking care to get him out of the chilly, humid night air ASAP.
The issue is a general health one.
Jason
--
Jason McNamara
ja...@brubeck.bifrostworks.com
skip elliott bowman
Bob Wilson <bwilson@newshost> wrote:
: Gary Milliken (mill...@scofield.corp.sun.com) wrote:
: : There was a rather haunting story (I think I saw it here in RMB a few
: : years ago) about the late Sarah Vaughan. She was appearing in a jazz
: : club that was attempting a no-smoking policy, but during a break Sarah
: : was sitting at the bar smoking a cigarette. Someone delicately told
: : her of the policy, and she gave back an incredulous look, saying
: : "No smoking? in a jazz club?!", then turned away and continued her
: : smoke.
I've seen more than a coupla clubs suspend their nozmo king policy for Mal
Waldron. In fact, one time the clubowner himself took the stage and
announced that although his place had a strict ns practice, he was
suspending it for that night only, and it would apply to Mal only. No one
complained, or requested a refund! BTW the band was Mal, Billy Higgins,
David Friesen (1st time I ever heard a stick bass--enormous sound), Eddie
Henderson, and Charlie Rouse.
: Interesting that Paul Desmond's "other half", Dave Brubeck dislikes
: smoky jazz clubs so much that a criterion for his appearance at the Blue
: Note a couple of years ago was that there was to be no smoking that
: evening.
There are a few places in PDX that are smoke free. Even the smokers
are grateful--they just step outside for their puffs. I'm amazed, however,
at the clods who enter a tiny, crowded club and fire up a stogie. Do they
have a clue at all? Every break I gotta go outside in the rain just to be
able to draw a free breath.
One place in Astoria had Kevin Mahogany perform a 3 nighter. I'd just
gotten married a month before, and the wife was a big KM fan, so it was a
treat for both of us (my dear friend Kelli Roberti was on bass, so it was
a double treat). Anyway, the dining room, where the stage was located was
supposed to be smoke free (as per state law) with the bar area set aside
for smokers. During the break, a group of about 8 people walked over
from the bar and announced loudly they were "integrating' the no smoking
section. They all lit up and what little good air was left became toxic.
I mentioned this to the manager, who just gave me a passport picture look
and said "Those people are paying customers too, and I can't tell them
what to do." Kev was a total gentleman abot it and chose to ignore it.
My wife and I had to leave it got so bad. I expect that sort of thing in
big cities but not in charming little coastal towns.
OK. Rant off. Sigh.
Back to the woodshed.
Skip [8^l#
Slidegrafx
>I can only assume the people who wrote the liner notes are mistaken,
>because it seems pretty common knowledge that he did smoke. I doubt he
>was amused.
>I have two different albums with two different pictures of paul holding
a burning cigarette in his hand.
At intermission at a Brubeck Quartet Concert in 1962 in Santa Monica,
Calif. Desmond asked me for a light for his cigarette.
tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
In article <19970221181...@ladder02.news.aol.com> slide...@aol.com (Slidegrafx) writes:
>
>At intermission at a Brubeck Quartet Concert in 1962 in Santa Monica,
>Calif. Desmond asked me for a light for his cigarette.
Paul was a relative of mine. He and I lived together in a
tobacco plantation. He was white. His teeth were brown.
He used to slander Ellis Marsalis horribly out of jealousy.
We would get into long debates about whether or not there
was anything new in formalism, or if they were just faking it.