Paul Gonsalves


Paul Gonsalves was an American jazz tenor saxophonist best known for his association with Duke Ellington. At the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, Gonsalves played a 27-chorus solo in the middle of Ellington's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue", a performance credited with revitalizing Ellington's waning career in the 1950s.

Biography

Gonsalves was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States, to Portuguese Cape Verdean parents. His first instrument was the guitar, and as a child he was regularly asked to play Cape Verdean folk songs for his family. He grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and played as a member of the Sabby Lewis Orchestra. His first professional engagement in Boston was with the same group on tenor saxophone, in which he played before and after his military service during World War II. He also played with fellow Cape Verdean Americans in Phil Edmund's band in the 1940s. Before joining Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1950, Gonsalves also played in big bands led by Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.
At the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, Gonsalves played a solo in Ellington's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" that went through 27 choruses; the publicity from this performance is credited with reviving Ellington's career. The performance is captured on the album Ellington at Newport. Gonsalves was a featured soloist in numerous Ellingtonian settings. He received the nickname "The Strolling Violins" from Ellington for playing solos while walking through the crowd.
Gonsalves died in London, England, ten days before Duke Ellington's death, after a lifetime of addiction to alcohol and narcotics. Mercer Ellington refused to tell Duke of the passing of Gonsalves, fearing the shock might further accelerate his father's decline. Ellington and Gonsalves, along with trombonist Tyree Glenn, lay side by side in the same New York funeral home for a period of time.
Gonsalves is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Cookin' Diminuendo, Crescendo and Blues Ellingtonia Moods and Blues Gettin' Together! Tenor Stuff – with Harold AshbyTell It the Way It Is! Cleopatra Feelin' Jazzy Salt and Pepper – with Sonny StittRare Paul Gonsalves Sextet in Europe Boom-Jackie-Boom-Chick Just Friends – with Tubby HayesChange of Setting – with Tubby HayesJazz Till Midnight Love Calls – with Eddie Lockjaw DavisEncuentro With the Swingers and the Four Bones Humming Bird Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin' Paul Gonsalves and His All Stars Paul Gonsalves Meets Earl Hines Mexican Bandit Meets Pittsburgh Pirate Paul Gonsalves Paul Quinichette
  • ''Sitting In''

As sideman

With Duke Ellington
With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
With Johnny Hodges
With John Lewis
With Billy Taylor
With Clark Terry
With Jimmy Woode
;With Joya Sherrill