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Dexter Gordon: Recordings
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On this performance, Dexter plays “Second Balcony Jump”, which he had recorded in 1962 on the Blue Note album Go! The Billy Eckstine and Gerry Valentine composition certainly reminded him of those days that he considered his best, when he was playing in a band with Sarah Vaughan, Fats Navarro, Gene Ammons, Leo Parker and Art Blakey. He never tired of talking about the great Eckstine Band and all that he had learned from its musicians. He is ... heard on the beautiful ballad, “You’ve Changed”, which he had recorded in 1961 on the Blue Note album, Doin’ Allright. He was certainly thinking about Billie Holiday when he played this tune. On both compositions, Dexter is able to stretch out and give plenty of solo space to his stellar sidemen.
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Jazz wasn't big enough to contain Gordon. In 1960 he wrote themusic to the play "The Connection". In 1986 he took on the critically acclaimed lead role in "Round Midnight", for which he received an Academy Award nomination. But he was his best when he worked close to an audience, like inthis live performance where he prompts the crowds adulation for his horn as much as for himself! This was his standard quartet from the late seventies and the set list is typical for that timeperiod. This is truly a great live moment in the history of Jazz!
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During the late 1970's, Dexter was probably at the top of his skills. After that began a slow decline. This is an excellent selection of live performances from three different gigs at the same club in San Francisco. He was one of the few musicians, both past and present, who could maintain a listener's attention and interest while stetching out for 15-20 minutes. Like Sonny Rollins, one of his secrets was to never stray too far from the core melody. In addition, he almost always had a very good rhythm section, such as on this album.
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Dexter Gordon plays one of the greatest songs ever!! On the album "One Flight Up" the cut is Tanya. One of the most flawless pieces of sax you'll ever hear.Do yourself a favor and get the album or listen to the cut!!!
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Granted 11 discs is a lot of music, yet a career that spanned over 40 years, and one as important as Gordon's, deserves the attention. The 11 CDs are an amazing journey through essential studio, rare, and live tracks throughout Gordon's incredible and colorful career. He went from the success of a nomination for an Academy Award to the defeat of spending time in jail (due to a drug addiction), and then turned it all around with successful comebacks until his health began to fail him in the 80s. He passed on in 1990. He most certainly lived life to its fullest and paid the price for letting the evils of stardom run his life early in his career.
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From 1953-54 Gordon was an inmate of Chino as a result of his heroin addiction. Gitler states that Gray was ... addicted at this time. There are those who dispute this, but it does appear possible that Gray had fallen under the influence of narcotics. Gray still recorded occasionally and was playing with Benny Carter’s band in Las Vegas when he died under mysterious circumstances in 1955. Gordon had gotten out of Chino and went see Gray in L.A., only to discover that he had left for Vegas with Carter. Three days later he heard of Gray’s death.
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