He radiated love onstage. I saw him in the early 80's in a small club in Portland,OR. The voice, the smile, the way he held up his horn after playing, and...the music. Transcendent beauty. If we'd had a son instead of a daughter in 1990, we were going to name him Dexter. You picked a genius and a beautiful soul.
Very Cool mainstream documentary from an influential who went thru what I went through and more. The man took his frustrations out on the saxophone and became a master......Dexter Gordon
I'm amazed at the musicians who don't know the verse to "More Than You Know." Even Coltrane messed up the melody on Cole Porter's "Everytime We Say Goodbye" (on "My Favorite Things" or "Giant Steps"). Dexter never made these mistakes. He knew the song lyrics (frequently recited them), and consequently did justice by the composer. He was also the music's most powerful improvisor, 1965-85. Every note a carefully aimed dagger. Pedersen gives credit where it's due (Lucky, Byas, Ben, Brew Moore).
I always dug the way he'd take the sax off and lay it in those big hands and hold it out to the crowd like an offering or a tribute to the horn. He seemed like a cool guy in the best sense of the word.
No one has played with the combination of imaginative inventiveness and assured conviction of LT. The '70s was so much fusion, electricity, and disco that paradoxically many of us had a chance to hear the titans lock horns--Dexter blowing with 3 comparable giants because they were neglected and "affordable." Dexter always took the prize, though Stitt was flawless, and Jaws could always turn on the heat. On recordings, the 2 who never ever wear out are Mobley and Harold Land.
@TrueFan1947--"Tanya" is a Donald Byrd composition Dexter does memorably on "One Flight Up." It moved Kurt Elling so much he got up night after night obsessively putting words to Long Tall's solo. The result is on Elling's 1997 album, "The Messenger" (still his best, imo).
I think that is so true what you say about the ballads because playing them so that you touch and relate to those that are listening requires more than technique. It requires a heart for the music, the other players and the listeners. I would like to add to your list of men in bebop as opposed to the boys the names McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter and Julien Adderley.
On the day we heard Dexter died...we found a puppy crying in the lane....we named him Dex and he was a great Dog....RIP both Dexter & Dex.
He radiated love onstage. I saw him in the early 80's in a small club in Portland,OR. The voice, the smile, the way he held up his horn after playing, and...the music. Transcendent beauty.
If we'd had a son instead of a daughter in 1990, we were going to name him Dexter.
You picked a genius and a beautiful soul.
Taft Chatham 🤘
Tastiest Sax player ever to me.. i wore out my cds listening to Dexter Gordon.. thanks for posting.
Very Cool mainstream documentary from an influential who went thru what I went through and more. The man took his frustrations out on the saxophone and became a master......Dexter Gordon
Society Red is from Dexter Gordon's album entitled 'Doin' Alright' (Blue Note, 1961)
He got a street named after him in the most wonderful town of all, Copenhagen, in a beutiful place!
I'm amazed at the musicians who don't know the verse to "More Than You Know." Even Coltrane messed up the melody on Cole Porter's "Everytime We Say Goodbye" (on "My Favorite Things" or "Giant Steps"). Dexter never made these mistakes. He knew the song lyrics (frequently recited them), and consequently did justice by the composer. He was also the music's most powerful improvisor, 1965-85. Every note a carefully aimed dagger. Pedersen gives credit where it's due (Lucky, Byas, Ben, Brew Moore).
He got a street named after him in the most wonderful town of all, Copenhagen, in a beautiful place!
More Than You Know
I always dug the way he'd take the sax off and lay it in those big hands and hold it out to the crowd like an offering or a tribute to the horn.
He seemed like a cool guy in the best sense of the word.
No one has played with the combination of imaginative inventiveness and assured conviction of LT. The '70s was so much fusion, electricity, and disco that paradoxically many of us had a chance to hear the titans lock horns--Dexter blowing with 3 comparable giants because they were neglected and "affordable." Dexter always took the prize, though Stitt was flawless, and Jaws could always turn on the heat. On recordings, the 2 who never ever wear out are Mobley and Harold Land.
Thank you for the post..... Dex for Prez !!!!
A giant as a man and as t.s. player!
Thanks
123must
dex man you are so unique.. I love you
@TrueFan1947--"Tanya" is a Donald Byrd composition Dexter does memorably on "One Flight Up." It moved Kurt Elling so much he got up night after night obsessively putting words to Long Tall's solo. The result is on Elling's 1997 album, "The Messenger" (still his best, imo).
I think that is so true what you say about the ballads because playing them so that you touch and relate to those that are listening requires more than technique. It requires a heart for the music, the other players and the listeners. I would like to add to your list of men in bebop as opposed to the boys the names McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter and Julien Adderley.
MY FAV SAX PLAYA OF ALL TIME !
@bkjbs762
This came out on VHS some 6 yrs ago...i have a copy.
umm, it is Don McGlynn, as listed right in the credits, at :59 seconds. There ya go.
Spice Mellow Class Gentleman words to describe the Tall Jazz Man Dexter Gordon
genius's should never die.
It was up on UA-cam a few months back.
Also play's it on the Round Midnight soundtrack.
lester had a lot of heart
nooooooo......where´s the rest of this great documentary....or at least......where can I find it?
o,yeahh!:-))
does anyone know if and where the complete video is available?
The other link is the one ,,this is hugely badly edited.
Upload here by his "official " website ,it's cold, unlike Dexter.
Prez at 3:06 !!!!!
Type in search: Jazz is my religion
Piet Kuiters Modern Jazzgroup. Amsterdam 1964. Very Cool.
Best regards Django.