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Desmond Speaks

November 1, 2005 By Doug Ramsey

Rifftides reader Doug Freeman reports from Los Angeles that he has finished reading Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond.

Perhaps more than any biography I’ve read, yours leaves me wanting to know this man, to hang with him as you were fortunate enough to do.

Mr. Freeman has a question.

The regret I’m most left with after finishing your wonderful book, though, is not to be able to hear his speaking voice. I’m wondering if any of the on-air interviews you cited are hearable anywhere. Or any other evidence of his vocal pattern. We know his musical rhythm so well, and thanks to your book I have a decent sense of his life rhythm, but given his gift for the English language, it sure would be nice to know his speaking rhythm.

We’re in luck. On his web site, the San Francisco saxophonist Mel Martin has a Real Audio clip of Paul’s interview with Charlie Parker on disc jockey John McClellan’s program in Boston in 1954. To listen to it, go here A transcription of the interview is on page 162 of Take Five.

11/1/05 1:06 AM | filed under: main |

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