Wow ! I have been digging Jazz for a few decades now and I just heard one of the best solos in Jazz history. The beauty and surprises in his phrasing and the flow of his rhythms with his warm , impeccable tone are a gift to humanity. I had to hit rewind for this.
Dexter at the top of his form .. Total command of the instrument and the changes .. A rythmic and harmonic and melodic genius ... The kind of jazz player you could listen to all night and never get tired of ..
Yes he was at the top of his game. These were The Blue Note years. Those were his best recordings - EVER ! Plus, after a disasterous 1950s, Dex was getting his life back in order.
@@Lightningslick i find this comment interesting! I dont know if I’m in the minority here, but I freakin love his late 70s stuff!! I think his tone in the Swiss nights recordings is just so beautiful.
tenés que sonar como Isidro Santa Maria y nadie más, sino no tiene gracia que toques el saxo. Sonny Rollins sabía esto, por eso a pesar de que casi todos le decían lo bueno que era, él sabía que tenía que encontrarse a si mismo, por eso hizo varios retiros
What a wonderful story Dexter spins here; the way he develops his improvisation with such rich thematic logic and unstoppable drive. He is much missed and will be for many more years to come.
I am (or was) a tenor player and there are lots of players, past and present that I find compelling. That said, to me this IS what jazz tenor was and is meant to be. This isn't something that can be taught nor can be "analyzed" without also fundamentally cheapening it. I don't hear him trying to DO anything. The tremendous chops of Dexter and his rhythm section are forgotten and you are left with something that simply IS. Something that defies description.
In summer of 1975 I was lucky to catch Dexter, and Niels Pedersen playing double sets 1 night at Montmartre Jazzhaus in Copenhagen. The next day, I boarded a train to catch the last day at Montreux to catch 2 more greats, Bill Evans, and Mingus, but the highlight was when Gerry "Dream a Little Dream" Mulligan came on for the last hour to Jam with Mingus and his changes band! The summer of 1975 will be 1 of the highlights of my life!
Dexter's solo on this take is so chock-full of amazing melodic content, it's so much better than any other take (even of his) on Lady Bird. It's head and shoulders above the album version for example. Does anyone have any background info on this performance? Why is it so perfect? Was this rehearsed a lot, the end of a tour, or was it just an alignment of the stars ?
Isn't that "the European Rhythm Machine" that was Phil Wood's regularly working group for a number of years? If so, that would explain it. There's nothing like a regularly working rhythm section ( piano, bass, drums ) backing up a solid frontline player to make the music sound great.
anybody just starting jazz ( especially coming from another genre ) this footage of Dexter's lips is the most useful thing you'll find to improve your sound. Try to imitate Dexter's lips than try experimenting with rolling your lower lips a bit in/out, listen to the effect on the sound and develop your own embouchure for your playing style!
The meanest sound there ever was. Been listening to this for 8 years, never gets old. And just noticed he doesn't even have his fingers on the B and Eb!
I just have to say, sounds quality here is EXCELLENT! In fact, it's so good I suspected maybe it was a playback performance, but the drummer is 100% in sync, so it must be live. Good job, Denmark!
That sound is an unmistakable *Conn' sound. He is playing the Conn 10M Naked Lady. Like its alto counterpart, the 6M - it is a horn you can really cry and shout with. A fantastic horn, with a fantastic projection.
Mr Tadd Dameron - your former bandmate from NYC 47 seems to have absorbed the changes you wrote for this tune - it becomes in Dexter's solo an exultation - I'm trying to decide what (be-bop) solo I have ever heard that tops this - for brains, and for that wistful-then-brightening mood - and I already believe Dexter has cut the greatest ballads in hard bop. thank you kindly for the upload
@Real Royal Matrix You can tell what time his horn was creating by looking at specific feature on the horn such as key placement, tonehole type, mechanisms, support rod base shapes, and shape of certain keys unique to a certain era, so yes you can. I say proud as a broad term, I say I'm proud because there are many horns, and knowing the history of my horn, and the people who have played it before me. And not anybody can buy a horn, it took me years to save up for mine, and I have loved my horn ever since. Knowing the history of the things around me inspires me to follow the path set by those who have walked it before me, like Dex, who I'm sure wouldn't be picking fights with people on the internet with poor grammar for no reason, like you have here
Interesting they are playing Half Nelson changes. (Note on bar 7 of the progression, it does the chromatic 2-5 approach of B-7/E7 to Bb-7/Eb7 in measure 8, then resolving to Ab^7 on bar 9).
Oh Dexter, je me souviens de son passage au Pol's Jazz Club, on était arrivé à 2h du mat complètement bourré au Gordon's Gin (sa boisson préférée). J'ai jamais vu Pol aussi fâché, on s'est tous fait engueuler grave, par contre Dexter, souverain, n'a jamais aussi bien joué... Oh Dexter, I remember his visit to Pol's Jazz Club, we arrived at 2 am completely stuffed at Gordon's Gin (his favorite drink).I never saw Pol so angry, we all got yelled serious, on the other hand Dexter, sovereign, never played so well ...
there are two types of jazzmusicians those who search for the right notes all their life(and not often find them- the majority) and the few on top - Dexter, miles, parker, evans Olav bøe norway
@BIgRon2176 if i could vote your comment up a million times, i would. way to nail it man! much of the world wont EVER be ready for this, but as long as there are a few of us, you and i and others, Dex and the good music he makes lives on. i might play a trillion notes before im done on earth, and if just a few of em make as much impact on someone as this track made on me.... God willing... Play on Big Ron!
@clubedaserpente Fantastic mix, - and again the embouchure! Look how the brother has that thing clamped! Listen to the sound it makes - so piercing, and plaintive, and free of vibrato in inception - whatever shaping the man decides to add in the instant. Great great great. Best recording, in best year by the best man on the genre's best axe..in pop musics most intellectual style. Coltrane Sun Ra Ornette McLaughlin Sonny Greenwich, and here. Where things were left -and, start.
![Dexter Gordon - Body and Soul (Belgium, 1964) [2/2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zKPFIDoB7D0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Dexter Gordon - Body and Soul (Belgium, 1964) [2/2]](/img/tr.png)
![Dexter Gordon - Night in Tunisia (Holland, 1964) [1/3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/woVHjtWaVoY/mqdefault.jpg)
Jesus god christ that tone and phrasing
Incredible Work by Dexter Gordon!!!!
Absolutely magnificent!!!
This man has a straight forward sound on his sax. What you hear is what you get. Definitely one of my favorite tenor saxophonist
Dexter will always be a diety in the world of Jazz!!
For real!
My saxophone teacher showed me this video and I am learning how to play this song
Wow ! I have been digging Jazz for a few decades now and I just heard one of the best solos in Jazz history. The beauty and surprises in his phrasing and the flow of his rhythms with his warm , impeccable tone are a gift to humanity. I had to hit rewind for this.
Was just listening to Lucky Thompson on 'I Cover the Waterfront'. Make sure you listen. Some more world-class tenor.
Instant joy - AND captured in sound quality far better than most American, TV at the time.
Bless those Euro TV producers for getting it right.
That's definitely "Joy to the World" at 1:15.
I thought I was crazy
He did that a lot. He snuck in pieces of other songs.
I was about to say...
@@vladimirlopez7840 that's what pretty much all jazz players do, quoting is extremely common
Lol very true.
Dexter at the top of his form .. Total command of the instrument and the changes .. A rythmic and harmonic and melodic genius ... The kind of jazz player you could listen to all night and never get tired of ..
Yes he was at the top of his game. These were The Blue Note years. Those were his best recordings - EVER ! Plus, after a disasterous 1950s, Dex was getting his life back in order.
I’m 13 and I approve this message. Totally 💯 percent incredible
@@Lightningslick i find this comment interesting! I dont know if I’m in the minority here, but I freakin love his late 70s stuff!! I think his tone in the Swiss nights recordings is just so beautiful.
his tone is amazing! this is similar to what I want to sound like one day
His tone is really one of the most fantastic tones in jazz.
Diego Martins agreed
tenés que sonar como Isidro Santa Maria y nadie más, sino no tiene gracia que toques el saxo. Sonny Rollins sabía esto, por eso a pesar de que casi todos le decían lo bueno que era, él sabía que tenía que encontrarse a si mismo, por eso hizo varios retiros
pull that lip out!
Conn 10M
Claude Debussy on the Bass
No it's not you are off by like 70 years lol
+Swapster .com He died in 1918
+Manuel Fernandez Can't anyone take a joke?
with Barack Obama on Tenor Sax.
I thought it might've been a young Pete Barbutti, but you may be right too.
What a wonderful story Dexter spins here; the way he develops his improvisation with such rich thematic logic and unstoppable drive. He is much missed and will be for many more years to come.
My 3 year old nephew JV says "I Love this song!!"
nice
@Shailaun You love to hear that kind of stuff, especially from younger generations.
Go JV😊
Crazy that JV is 12 now. Do they still listen to jazz?
@@creepingequinox7359 He’s with his parents more these days, and actually 13 now. I’m sure if he heard it again today, he might enjoy it. 😊
That drummer looks like he's enjoying himself
koreanikeyc That's what jazz is, enjoy it
Man how could you not when you all sound that damn good?
I would too if i were playing with dexter gordon
BTW That drummer is Daniel Humair, first call for all the jazz giants playing in Europe....
@@IRACEMABABU ; I like him, thanks for the info.
Kinda' reminds me of a left hand set up John Poole.
Dexter Gordon was a classic jazz tenor player with a melodic mellow robust sound , that made you feel like dancing. Prof. JCB
I am (or was) a tenor player and there are lots of players, past and present that I find compelling. That said, to me this IS what jazz tenor was and is meant to be. This isn't something that can be taught nor can be "analyzed" without also fundamentally cheapening it. I don't hear him trying to DO anything. The tremendous chops of Dexter and his rhythm section are forgotten and you are left with something that simply IS. Something that defies description.
My kitchen window is open tonight. Welcome to the neighborhood!
I’m movin’ to your neighborhood!
@@jamesa.smith.7794 Thanks from Tulsa.
In summer of 1975 I was lucky to catch Dexter, and Niels Pedersen playing double sets 1 night at Montmartre Jazzhaus in Copenhagen. The next day, I boarded a train to catch the last day at Montreux to catch 2 more greats, Bill Evans, and Mingus, but the highlight was when Gerry "Dream a Little Dream" Mulligan came on for the last hour to Jam with Mingus and his changes band! The summer of 1975 will be 1 of the highlights of my life!
musigny55 that was a slice of paradise
Your name tells me you're a Burgundy lover. I've had the extremely memorable Le Musigny '59.
I always find myself rewatching this video, it just never gets old! I wonder what is going on in his head during the improv!
Brilliant tone. Brilliant licks..Brilliant Tenor player..sort of sums it up really.
A good year, a lovely tune, and masterful saxophone instrumentation......does it get any better?
Dexter Gordon, the greatest sax player of all times.
I was blessed to witness the jazz artistry of Brother Dexter Jordon in Philadelphia, PA--twice in the 1970’s--two of my best jazz show I ever.
Dexter's solo on this take is so chock-full of amazing melodic content, it's so much better than any other take (even of his) on Lady Bird. It's head and shoulders above the album version for example. Does anyone have any background info on this performance? Why is it so perfect? Was this rehearsed a lot, the end of a tour, or was it just an alignment of the stars ?
I think it has to do with the fact that Dexter was happy in Europe.
Isn't that "the European Rhythm Machine" that was Phil Wood's regularly working group for a number of years? If so, that would explain it. There's nothing like a regularly working rhythm section ( piano, bass, drums ) backing up a solid frontline player to make the music sound great.
anybody just starting jazz ( especially coming from another genre ) this footage of Dexter's lips is the most useful thing you'll find to improve your sound. Try to imitate Dexter's lips than try experimenting with rolling your lower lips a bit in/out, listen to the effect on the sound and develop your own embouchure for your playing style!
Best saxophone performance ever! Dexter was a genius!
Dexter! The sound! I love the listen to this man think. Genius of the highest order. What a gem.
The ultimate tenor sound- Otto Link "tonemaster" metal mouthpiece and Conn 10m sax plus Dexter Gordon, unbeatable!
Dexter is playing an original Dukoff ,not a LInk
Brad Sasher, what about the sax he played that day... could it be a SML?...
1:32 - 1:36 favorite part of his solo
great f# minor pentatonic resolving to Cmaj9 and it is between choruses - feels interesting
2:37 - 2:47 is mine
Mine is 0:57-1:05
My favorite part is 0:00 to 5:41
I’m going with 2:22 - 2:30 😊
Dexter is tonging 8th notes at this clip, which gives his solo such a great groove.
So great! Thanks for posting this. Tremendous!
The meanest sound there ever was. Been listening to this for 8 years, never gets old. And just noticed he doesn't even have his fingers on the B and Eb!
Gracias por compartir esta joya. Saludos desde Sud America. Thanks.
Absolute GIANT
There will never be another sound like Dexter!
I love that we can really see the technique that he used and how he used his ombrochure as well, absolutely fenominal
Fantastic document.
Who are the 19 who don't know jazz greatness?
26 :-(
16 yo 🙄 nobody my age digs into traditional jazz. Mostly fusion or miley cyrus
Get into a music school, you'll find people your age with similar tastes ! Jazz isn't dead ;)
BUMMER!
haha 😂👌 so true yet sad..
Like heaven to my ears. So freaking good
Dexter just smokes this! Starts humble, then slowly builds the energy....his sound is really rich and dark. awesome!
That was sweet! Very cool very nice sounding great playing. 👍
Such a classic solo! Phenomenal! Plenty of people play "good" solos. Dexter played magic!
Dexter was in a class of his own, Not only was he a fantastic tenorman but he wrote so many great funes.
One thing I want to point out too is the outstanding technique Dexter had. At 1:20, notice his fingers. They are barely coming off the keys
One of the best tenor sounds on the planet.... ever!!
Loved this! Thanks for posting it. Dexter was a master of his art.
Great fantastic 🌹❤
Dexter Gordon e Giotto da Bondone. Una sola meraviglia!!! La sintesi allo stato puro.
He is the class of the jazz tenor sax...Awesome!!
Dex kills it. He quotes Zing Went the Strings of My Heart at 2:40
Ey! Había prestado atención a esa parte en particular y me sonaba conocible pero no sabía porque. Gracias!
''something inside of me started a symphony''
And "Dinah" at 3:07
He uses Joy to the World at 1:15. At first he plays the melody exact but then moves it up an octave and changes it to fit the chords. Just genius!
Aaron Van Nynatten That l heard right away. 😛💝
straordinario. Dex's solo is perfect. the rhythm section is amazing, specially the drummer...piano solo is nice too...super tight band
Excellent
Ofc he quoted Joy to the World and Dinah ofc
David Schimmel Joy 1:16 , Dinah 3:08
That's Dexter for ya!!
2:40 “zing went the strings of my heart.” (maybe lol )
Unos de los mejores sonidos de saxo tenor de la historia, inconfundible Dexter gordon
privileged to hear him at the Montmartre Copenhagen
Masterpiece
I’m learning this song in 12 keys. I just opened Pandora’s box. So I’m super happy!
One of the best tenor-sax in jazz!
I like his sound
Dexter just before his Home Coming... Absolute Giant!
Dexter was the greatest!
oh man ! this guy here welcomes me every time i open safari :)
Still here ❤
I just have to say, sounds quality here is EXCELLENT! In fact, it's so good I suspected maybe it was a playback performance, but the drummer is 100% in sync, so it must be live. Good job, Denmark!
Boss moves this is awesome
I don't even know what to say but thank you. 🙏🏽
Perfect performance...real interplay
Long Live Dext!!!! Yuh gotta luv it!!
perfect
what a beautiful color
Si hacés las cosas bien en vida, en el cielo tocás así o al menos eternamente escuchas esta música.
That sound is an unmistakable *Conn' sound. He is playing the Conn 10M Naked Lady. Like its alto counterpart, the 6M - it is a horn you can really cry and shout with.
A fantastic horn, with a fantastic projection.
Imagine how he felt when it was stolen...
Mr Tadd Dameron - your former bandmate from NYC 47 seems to have absorbed the changes you wrote for this tune - it becomes in Dexter's solo an exultation - I'm trying to decide what (be-bop) solo I have ever heard that tops this - for brains, and for that wistful-then-brightening mood - and I already believe Dexter has cut the greatest ballads in hard bop. thank you kindly for the upload
Buenísimo 👏👏👏
When your friend sed jazz is boring and you know what to send him
Aye
He doesnt deservr it
When you don’t have friends who say jazz is boring... oh wait I just don’t have any friends at all
Some folks will just never be converted but one can hope.
Que classe 👏👏👏
one word: superb!
So cool the way he works in just a snippet of the original melody at 1.55. Someone said this is simple phrasing. It isn’t. Amazing player.
Meraviglioso
This video is beatiful 🙏🥰
Superb
Thank you posting this!
AN ICON !!!
I'm over here playing sax in middle school tryna play this song... got half of it down
Makes me proud to have a 10m that's the exact same model
@Real Royal Matrix You can tell what time his horn was creating by looking at specific feature on the horn such as key placement, tonehole type, mechanisms, support rod base shapes, and shape of certain keys unique to a certain era, so yes you can. I say proud as a broad term, I say I'm proud because there are many horns, and knowing the history of my horn, and the people who have played it before me. And not anybody can buy a horn, it took me years to save up for mine, and I have loved my horn ever since. Knowing the history of the things around me inspires me to follow the path set by those who have walked it before me, like Dex, who I'm sure wouldn't be picking fights with people on the internet with poor grammar for no reason, like you have here
Interesting they are playing Half Nelson changes. (Note on bar 7 of the progression, it does the chromatic 2-5 approach of B-7/E7 to Bb-7/Eb7 in measure 8, then resolving to Ab^7 on bar 9).
This screams a fancy night out.
Magnifico..!
awesome!
I couldn't make it at the time... but then again, I was only 3 years old and my parents didn't have a clue neither a car :-)
Great music!!!!!
Thanks for the upload
Oh Dexter, je me souviens de son passage au Pol's Jazz Club, on était arrivé à 2h du mat complètement bourré au Gordon's Gin (sa boisson préférée). J'ai jamais vu Pol aussi fâché, on s'est tous fait engueuler grave, par contre Dexter, souverain, n'a jamais aussi bien joué... Oh Dexter, I remember his visit to Pol's Jazz Club, we arrived at 2 am completely stuffed at Gordon's Gin (his favorite drink).I never saw Pol so angry, we all got yelled serious, on the other hand Dexter, sovereign, never played so well ...
there are two types of jazzmusicians those who search for the right notes all their life(and not often find them- the majority) and the few on top - Dexter, miles, parker, evans Olav bøe norway
Klasse
I like this song by him and I also like cheesecake
Dexter Gordon
Questa è una perla.
Sempre grande Dexter!
Ciao Matteo
Ciao Marco!
@BIgRon2176
if i could vote your comment up a million times, i would.
way to nail it man! much of the world wont EVER be ready for this, but as long as there are a few of us, you and i and others, Dex and the good music he makes lives on.
i might play a trillion notes before im done on earth, and if just a few of em make as much impact on someone as this track made on me.... God willing... Play on Big Ron!
"piano solo "
Cameraman : see that drummer very cool
@caiofernando
That effect is a great sax player working out on a tenor. It's not a box, it's done with the mouthpiece - Old School!
Big Ron
@clubedaserpente
Fantastic mix, - and again the embouchure! Look how the brother has that thing clamped! Listen to the sound it makes - so piercing, and plaintive, and free of vibrato in inception - whatever shaping the man decides to add in the instant.
Great great great. Best recording, in best year by the best man on the genre's best axe..in pop musics most intellectual style.
Coltrane Sun Ra Ornette McLaughlin Sonny Greenwich, and here.
Where things were left -and, start.
Who’s the drummer in this performance, dude went IN on his solos, tasteful af
Classic “Long Tall” treatment.