Paul Gonsalves
Paul Gonsalves
Brockton, U.S.A, 1920 – London, United Kingdom 1974
Instrumentalist (saxophone)
Paul Gonsalves is one of the biggest examples of a Cape Verdean descendant who developed a musical career in the host country – in his case, a brilliant career – that remains little known in Cape Verde.
Son of Cape Verdeans, born in Brockton, he was the saxophone player for the band Duke Ellington for 25 years, but before he was a part of other big jazz bands, like Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. Around 50 albums from several artists count with his participation.
In 1956, a six-minute solo on tenor sax played with Ellington (the theme Diminuendo and crescendo in blue) led the expert criticism to consider it one of the biggest moments in the history of jazz. A music critic described the moment as lightning struck the room where the concert was taking place. Watch the video below.
The contact between the two musicians took place during Gonsalves’ youth, who initially played the guitar, like his dad, who taught it to all three children.
It was after his older brother introduced him to jazz that he gained real interest in music, becoming a big fan of the saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.
While he worked in small nightclubs, mostly as a guitarist, he also studied saxophone and very young his technique was good enough to be invited to join the best black orchestra in Boston, led by Sabby Lewis. When he starts becoming famous, in a trip to Boston Duke Ellington wanted to meet him but, at that time, Gonsalves was in India to serve the army (during the World War II). When he returned, he rejoined the band Sabby and in 1946 is invited by Count Basie to play in his band, staying there for four years.
In 1949, he joins the Dizzy Gilliespie’s band and when they break up, he gets in touch with Duke Ellington and after several tests hires him. Paul becomes one of the main saxophonists of the band, recording several albums with Ellington during the 25 years they were together.
After a certain time, he faced problems due to alcohol and drug dependency that did not go unnoticed by the jazz critics, but Ellington kept him in the band despite his ups and downs. They both died a few days apart in 1974.
Paul’s death in London somehow went unnoticed among the Cape Verdean community. A few months later, a few concerts in Fox Point honored his memory. A website dedicated to him was created by Sussex University in England, with abundant biographical information and discography, but is no longer online. More recently, a website created to preserve his memory gathered data from his life and history: http://www.paulogonsalves.com/
Discography
In the Cape Verdean context:
Paul Gonsalves & Phill Barboza Latin Orchestra, LP, [?]. With participation of Vickie Vierra.
General:
As lead/co-lead
- Cookin’, LP, Argo, 1957.
- Diminuendo, Crescendo and Blues, LP, RCA Victor, 1958.
- Ellingtonia Moods and Blues, LP, RCA Victor, 1960.
- Gettin’ Together!, LP, Jazzland, 1961.
- Tenor Stuff, LP, Columbia, 1961 (com Harold Ashby).
- Tell It the Way It Is!, LP, Impulse, 1963.
- Cleopatra – Feelin’ Jazzy, LP, Impulse, 1963.
- Salt and Pepper, LP, Impulse, 1963 (with Sonny Stitt).
- Rare Paul Gonsalves Sextet in Europe, LP, Jazz Connoisseur, 1963.
- Boom-Jackie-Boom-Chick, LP, Vocalion, 1964.
- Just Friends, LP, Columbia EMI, 1964 (with Tubby Hayes).
- Change of Setting, LP, World Record Club, 1965 (with Tubby Hayes).
- Jazz Till Midnight, LP, Storyville, 1967.
- Love Calls, LP RCA, 1967 (with Eddie Lockjaw Davis).
- Encuentro, LP, Fresh Sound, 1968.
- With the Swingers and the Four Bones, LP, Riviera, 1969.
- Humming Bird, LP, Deram, 1970.
- Just a-Sittin’ and a-Rockin’, LP, Black Lion, 1970.
- Paul Gonsalves and His All Stars, LP, Riviera, 1970.
- Paul Gonsalves Meets Earl Hines, LP, Black Lion, 1970.
- Mexican Bandit Meets Pittsburgh Pirate, LP, Fantasy, 1973.
- Paul Gonsalves Paul Quinichette, LP, [?], 1974.
- Sitting In (Paul Gonsalves and Clyde Fats Wright), CD, Silk City, 2014.
As coadjutant:
With Duke Ellington
- Ellington at Newport, LP, Columbia, 1956.
- All Star Road Band, LP, Doctor Jazz, 1957 [1983].
- All Star Road Band Volume 2, LP, Doctor Jazz, 1964 [1985].
- Hot Summer Dance, LP, Red Baron, 1960 [1991].
With Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis
- Love Calls, LP, RCA Victor, 1968.
With Johnny Hodges
- Ellingtonia ’56, LP, Norgran, 1956.
- The Big Sound, LP, Verve, 1957.
- Triple Play, RCA Victor, 1967.
With John Lewis
- The Wonderful World of Jazz, LP, Atlantic, 1960.
With Billy Taylor
- Taylor Made Jazz, LP, Argo, 1959.
With Clark Terry
- Duke with a Difference, LP, Riverside, 1957.
- Diminuendo, Crescendo And Blues, LP, RCA Victor, 1958.
With Jimmy Woode
- The Colorful Strings of Jimmy Woode , LP, Argo, 1957.
With Joya Sherrill
- Joya Sherrill Sings Duke, LP, 20th Century Fox, 1965.
See details and pictures here.