Paul Gonsalves

Paul Gonsalves (1920-1974) was an American tenor saxophonist from Brockton, Massachusetts, born to Portuguese Cape Verdean parents. He spent most of his career as a key soloist in Duke Ellington's orchestra, and his marathon 27-chorus solo at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival became one of the most celebrated moments in jazz history. Beyond that high-energy reputation, he was at heart a balladeer, and much of his recorded work outside Ellington leans toward intimate, lyrical playing.