Take Five – homage to the cool genius of Paul Desmond

 

Paying tribute to the life and music of Paul Desmond, the saxophonist who created one of the greatest jazz hits with his composition 'Take Five'. Join Pure Desmond for an evening paying homage to the significant works and timeless classics of the golden era of Cool Jazz.

"Smooth, flowing lines, a gentle vibrato, sparkling overtones: it's almost as if Desmond has risen again." – Rondo

"Here the musicians enter new stylistic territory – and that makes them real heirs of the jazz innovator Paul Desmond" – Göttinger Tageblatt
Paul Desmond, the saxophonist who created one of the greatest world hits of jazz with his composition 'Take Five' would have been 100 years old in 2024. The jazz-group Pure Desmond takes this anniversary as an occasion to pay tribute to the life and music of this interesting and stylish man. This entertaining show tells the story of a sound conquering the world. The program is a tribute to significant works and timeless classics of the golden era of Cool Jazz. The focus is always on the music and aesthetics of Paul Desmond, who was a bon vivant and womanizer, tasty, elegant, modest, and known for his witty and subtle humor. His answer to the question how he developed his sound was: "I think I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to sound like a dry martini".

"Together, with exciting interactions, they create music that concentrates on the essentials, which, despite its cool mood, is of the highest intensity and dynamic and radiates far more than pure aesthetics. The timeless elegance of Paul Desmond's cool jazz experiences a new musical dimension with this brilliant quartet." – Jazzpodium

Lineup

Lorenz Hargassner – Alto saxophone

Johann Weiss – Guitar

Christian Flohr – Double-bass

Sebastian Deufel – Drums