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I am on a Dexter Gordon kick right now. What a player.
It almost sounds like he has less technique than his tenor sax peers Coltrane, Rollins, Getz. Then you listen for a minute and realize that he's got his own unique thing going on, with all the technique he needs.
An entertainer as well - it helped that he was six feet six! He would often recite the first verse of a tune, in his smooth DJ voice, before starting to play it. A brilliant piece of schtick, which I may start using myself.
Also a vocalist on occasion. I gotta re-watch the 1986 movie he starred in, "Round Midnight".
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08-13-2025 01:48 PM
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Dexter Gordon is the sax player I listen to the most.
Here he is with Philip Catherine in a unique quartet for Gordon (thus the title):
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he's pictured in the dictionary under jazz musician, definitely my favorite tenor player.
I rewatched Round Midnight for about the 20th time recently, brilliant flick he was nominated for an Academy Award iirc
sad to say I saw him in the hospital a couple days before he passed.
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Dexter Gordon rules.
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Curious about the location of that hospital. I know Gordon went to Europe to avoid USA racism, but near the end of his life, did he return to stay in the USA or did he pass in the EU?
Originally Posted by wintermoon
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I remember when Steeple Chase added him to their roster. Gordon made so many great albums for that label. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Jefferson hospital in Philly Originally Posted by jameslovestal
They brought him down from a big hospital in NY as a last ditch effort to save his life but he was in very bad shape when I saw him and only made it a few more days.
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I used to listen to Dexter a lot, I could pick up bebop phrases more easily from him because he didn’t usually play as fast as Bird, Stitt etc. So I learned a lot of ideas from him. Also a great ballad player.
I was lucky to see him twice in 1981/2 when he was still in pretty good shape, he had a massive sound on the tenor.
Here’s some classic footage of him playing in Copenhagen in 1971:
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Some photos I took of Dexter at a jazz festival in 1981.
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So, was the jacket navy or beige?
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My favorite tenor and alto
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Haha that photo was taken at the same jazz festival (Knebworth 1981) by my friend Brian O’Connor, I know it well. As you can see, he had a backstage pass (I didn’t!).
Funny thing is that we didn’t know each other then, we only met up later.
Here’s my photo of Art Pepper at the same event.
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One of my first loves when I started listening to jazz, and I still love his playing. The relaxed phrsingm the way he will lay back on on the beat, regardless of tempo he never seem in a hurry to get the phrase out. And that fantastic sound that he got. He can sometimes sound un-chopsy - the other day I put on A Swingin Affair after Sonny Side Up, and yeah compared to Stitt, he's sless flashy. But the notes fall in the right place at the right time and always swinging
In my mind he's something of a bridge between the swing Lester Young style and the post Parker school.
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Dexter made an album called Gotham City which features George Benson on two tracks, here’s one of them (Hi-Fly):
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Definitly one of my biggest heroes. Didn’t see him live but had the chance to play with Italian cats who played with him. He was an immense player and a true gentleman. I’ve written and dedicated a tune to him: blues for Dexter.
I remember when the movie Round Midnight came out. Probably one of the very best films about jazz and jazz musicians.
Thanks for sharing these nice videos.
Cheers.
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They used to call him Long Tall Dexter! Originally Posted by TF
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intriguing pic of Dex and Art..both served time in San Quentin...the prison had its own jazz band,,,, any more info appreciated...
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Actually I don’t think Dexter was in San Quentin, it was some other place in California (just looked it up, it was Chino). It wasn’t as bad as San Quentin, as I recall.
(I was never there, I just remember reading about it!)
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There’s a good story in Art Pepper’s biography about the San Quentin prison band. He said the governor and the guards liked the jazz band because whenever they gave a concert, there was hardly any trouble in the prison for a couple of days afterwards. Apparently the music had a calming effect on the inmates.
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Dex liked to introduce NHOP as "Niels Henning Orsted Peeeeeeeeeeeterson!"
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Dexter was far and away my absolute favorite sax player. I nearly own every LP he’s released, many of which are only 4 songs and recorded in Europe. I don’t believe I have more than 4 Coltrane recordings. Yes, he was known for laying the foundation for a tune by expressing the lyrics, especially on ballads. He also was known for quoting other tunes in the midst of a solo. Dexter seemed like the guy who you’d most want to have a beer with, and I don’t drink beer. He just oozed kool.
I’ve also viewed Round Midnight countless times, but namely for the number of great musicians who played band members. Bobby Hutcherson was always cooking up some delicious food. Guitarist John McLaughlin never sounded better, imo. Herbie wrote some terrific music, and I especially dug Chan’s Song performed at the end of the film. Freddie Hubbard, my man, my mentor. Cecil Walton, another brilliant keyboard player. And the great Billy Higgins! Who am I missing, this film had it all.
What song was played twice in the film?
From 1948:
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I agree w/ all of this. Trane was great but I only have 2 lps under his name, Blue Train, a monster record w/ my main man Lee Morgan, and Ballads. Really dig his lps w/ Miles though. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
But as I said earlier in the thread Dex is hands down my fave tenor.
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from a saxophonist:
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