Dexter Gordon
Biography
Dexter Gordon had such a colorful and eventful life (with three separate comebacks) that his story would make a great Hollywood movie. The top tenor saxophonist to emerge during the bop era and possessor of his own distinctive sound, Gordon sometimes was long-winded and quoted excessively from other songs, but he created a large body of superior work and could battle nearly anyone successfully at a jam session. His first important gig was with Lionel Hampton (1940-1943) although, due to Illinois Jacquet also being in the sax section, Gordon did not get any solos. In 1943, he did get to stretch out on a recording session with Nat King Cole. Short stints with Lee Young, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong's big band preceded his move to New York in December 1944 and becoming part of Billy Eckstine's Orchestra, trading off with Gene Ammons on Eckstine's recording of "Blowin' the Blues Away." Gordon recorded with Dizzy Gillespie ("Blue 'N' Boogie") and as a leader for Savoy before returning to Los Angeles in the summer of 1946. He was a major part of the Central Avenue scene, trading off with Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards in many legendary tenor battles; studio recordings of "The Chase" and "The Duel" helped to document the atmosphere of the period.. Dexter Gordon had such a colorful and eventful life (with three separate comebacks) that his story would make a great Hollywood movie. The top tenor saxophonist to emerge during the bop era and possessor of his own distinctive sound, Gordon sometimes was long-winded and quoted excessively from other songs, but he created a large body of superior work and could battle nearly anyone successfully at a jam session. His first important gig was with Lionel Hampton (1940-1943) although, due to Illinois Jacquet also being in the sax section, Gordon did not get any solos. In 1943, he did get to stretch out on a recording session with Nat King Cole. Short stints with Lee Young, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong's big band preceded his move to New York in December 1944 and becoming part of Billy Eckstine's Orchestra, trading off with Gene Ammons on Eckstine's recording of "Blowin' the Blues Away." Gordon recorded with Dizzy Gillespie ("Blue 'N' Boogie") and as a leader for Savoy before returning to Los Angeles in the summer of 1946. He was a major part of the Central Avenue scene, trading off with Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards in many legendary tenor battles; studio recordings of "The Chase" and "The Duel" helped to document the atmosphere of the period.
Top Albums |
1. Masters of t..
| 2. Tangerine
| 3. 'Round Midni..
| 4. Biting the A..
| 5. Body and Sou..
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6. Go! (The Rud..
| 7. Sophisticate..
| 8. Homecoming -..
| 9. The Apartmen..
| 10. Swiss Nights..
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11. Manhattan Sy..
| 12. More Power! ..
| 13. The Classic ..
| 14. Our Man In P..
| 15. Stable Mable
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16. Our Man In A..
| 17. The Jumpin' ..
| 18. Bouncin' Wit..
| 19. Ballads
| 20. The Tower of..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Cheese Cake | Go! (The Rudy Van Gelder Ed.. | 6:33 | $1.29 | |
2. | Watermelon Man | Jukebox Favourites - Best o.. | 7:08 | $0.99 | |
3. | Lullaby of Birdland | Jazz | 4:16 | $0.99 | |
4. | Confirmation | Jazz Effect - Dexter Gordon | 7:51 | $0.99 | |
5. | Darn That Dream | Jazz Effect - Dexter Gordon | 4:24 | $0.99 | |
6. | Autumn in New York | Jazz Effect - Dexter Gordon | 6:31 | $0.99 | |
7. | Jodi | Jazz Effect - Dexter Gordon | 6:39 | $0.99 | |
8. | Field Day | Jazz Effect - Dexter Gordon | 6:44 | $0.99 | |
9. | Le Coiffeur | Blue Note Blend 1 (Remaster.. | 7:00 | $1.29 | |
10. | Devilette (Remastered) | High Fidelity Jazz: Jazz St.. | 7:02 | $0.99 | |
11. | You Stepped out of a Dream | Stairway to the Stars | 6:34 | $0.99 | |
12. | Night in Tunisia | Stairway to the Stars | 8:15 | $0.99 | |
13. | Scrapple from the Apple | Stairway to the Stars | 7:22 | $0.99 | |
14. | Willow Weep for Me | Stairway to the Stars | 8:47 | $0.99 | |
15. | Stairway to the Stars | Stairway to the Stars | 6:57 | $0.99 | |
16. | Landslide | Dexter Calling (The Rudy Va.. | 5:15 | $1.29 | |
17. | Smile | Dexter Calling (The Rudy Va.. | 3:23 | $1.29 | |
18. | Ernie's Tune | Dexter Calling (The Rudy Va.. | 4:16 | $1.29 | |
19. | Clear the Dex | Dexter Calling (The Rudy Va.. | 4:54 | $1.29 | |
20. | End of a Love Affair | Dexter Calling (The Rudy Va.. | 6:53 | $1.29 | |
21. | Everybody's Somebody's Fool | Gettin' Around (The Rud.. | 6:45 | $1.29 | |
22. | Shiny Stockings | Gettin' Around (The Rud.. | 6:18 | $1.29 | |
23. | Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs.. | Gettin' Around (The Rud.. | 5:15 | $1.29 | |
24. | (It Will Have to Do) Until the Real .. | Swingin' Affair | 6:50 | $1.29 | |
25. | You Stepped Out of a Dream | Swingin' Affair | 6:34 | $1.29 | |
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