Paul Gonsalves: Biography

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• Buddy Tate
• Lester Young
• Coleman Hawkins
• Budd Johnson
• Chu Berry
• Stan Getz
• Booker Ervin

• Don Byas
• Ben Webster

• Tony Coe
• David Murray

• E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
• Sonny Stitt
• Johnny Green
• Harold Arlen
• Johnny Hodges
• Duke Ellington
• Billy Strayhorn

• Ray Nance
• Clark Terry
• Jimmy Hamilton
• Cat Anderson
• Russell Procope
• Sam Woodyard
• Harry Carney

Born:

Jul 12, 1920 in Boston, MA

Died:

May 14, 1974 in London, England

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music, Swing

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

The greatest moment of Paul Gonsalves' musical career occurred at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival when, to bridge the gap between "Diminuendo in Blue" and "Crescendo in Blue," Duke Ellington urged him to take a long solo, egging him on through 27 exciting choruses that almost caused a riot. That wellpublicized episode resulted in Ellington having a major "comeback," and Gonsalves forever earning Ellington's gratitude.

Gonsalves had already earned a strong reputation during his stints with Count Basie (19461949) and the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra (19491950). Joining Ellington in 1950, Gonsalves' warm breathy tone and harmonically advanced solos were a constant fixture for 24 years (except for a brief time in 1953 when he was with Tommy Dorsey) and he was wellfeatured up until his death, just ten days before Ellington passed on. In addition to his countless number of recorded performances with Ellington, Gonsalves led dates of his own on an occasional basis, including for Argo, Jazzland, Impulse (highlighted by a combative meeting with Sonny Stitt), Storyville, Black Lion, and Fantasy.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide