Paul Gonsalves

American jazz tenor saxophone player, born 12 July 1920 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, died 14 May 1974 in London, England (aged 53).
Joined Count Basie's band in 1946, briefly in Dizzy Gillespie's big band of 1949-1950 before joining Duke Ellington, replacing Ben Webster.
The long improvation on "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1956 marked his breakthrough and the beginning of a comeback for Ellington's orchestra. Gonsalves stayed with Ellington for the rest of his career, but also recorded prolifically as a soloist with other groups and as a leader.
Father of Brainstorm band member Renell Gonsalves.