LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dexter Gordon: Lester Young
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In any case, Gordon is in excellent form on this date, and it is one well worth hearing for those who find that Gordon is their cup of tea. Kenny Drew, a disciple of Bud Powell (with whom Gordon ... recorded) gives a great performance on this album, and is the main diversion from Gordon’s own playing, since Vinnegar and Marable are mainly employed as timekeepers and do little soloing. Gordon’s performance on the blues numbers, “Daddy Plays the Horn” and “Number Four” is ebullient and swinging. He tackles Bird’s “Confirmation,” and brings back echoes of his tenor battles with Wardell Gray, swinging in the Pres-influenced manner favored by Gray and Gordon in his young years. Drew again distinguishes himself with a blues and gospel influenced solo that presages hard bop while still offering a Powell-esque edge. On the ballads, “Darn that Dream” and “Autumn in New York,” Gordon is already demonstrating a very mature, melodic approach to ballads.
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On the performances on this DVD, Dexter at age 40 was at the peak of his powers. His tone resonates with power and beauty, his chops enable him to execute whatever occurs to him and his ideas flow seamlessly. Lester Young once told him that it was essential to know the lyrics to a song to play it properly. Based on his ballad performances here, especially on “You’ve Changed,” it’s a lesson learned well.
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"Round Midnight" (1986) - directed by Bertrand Tavernier, starring Dexter Gordon. The film is not only about Dexter, but things from his life is mixed with fiction and things from the lives of Ben Webster and Lester Young. It is a very moving picture, for which Dexter was nomitated for an academy award. Note that the music in the film was not overdubbed (for the most part).
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