Paul Desmond
Alto Sax Solo on
Pick Up Sticks

About

Paul Desmond's alto sax solo opens the improvised portion of this recording, followed by Dave Brubeck on piano. Spanning three choruses of the 8-Bar form at a moderate 136 BPM with a swing feel in B♭, the solo runs approximately 59 seconds. Paul Desmond's three-chorus alto saxophone solo at 136 BPM brings his characteristic melodic elegance to the unusual meter, his phrases gracefully navigating the six-beat pulse with the naturalness of a musician completely at home in unconventional rhythmic territory. Paul Desmond was 34 to 35 years old at the time of this 1959 recording.

Paul Desmond was 34 to 35 years old at the time.