Dexter Gordon

Dexter Gordon (Los Angeles February 27th 1923 - Philadelphia April 25th 1990) is a Saxophoniste of American Jazz .

Biography

The saxophonist soprano, tenor and American type-setter Dexter Keith Gordon are born with Los Angeles, California, the February 27th 1923. Among the customers of his father, doctor, appear two great names of the jazz: Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.

At thirteen years, the Dexter young person learns the musical theory and the clarinet, before choosing the alto saxophone to fifteen and the tenor two years later, at the end of his schooling.

Its career starts with a local orchestra, Harlem Collegians then with Lionel Hampton at which it remains three years. Return to Los Angeles in 1943 with Lee Young and Jessie Price. After six months spent in the full orchestra of Armstrong in 1944, it is engaged by Billy Eckstine during one year and half. It is there that it records its first solo (Blowing The Blues Away). Again on the East coast, it takes part in a sextette at the sides of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. It forms its first quartet, circulates between Los Angeles and New York, but it is in California that its activity is most important, especially in small formation. In Los Angeles or New York, it records with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Charlie Parker, Howard McGhee, Red Norvo, J.J. Johnson, Leo Parker and Tadd Dameron, before joining Wardell Gray, in particular for hystericals and extremely popular duels of tenors.

From 1949, it records only seldom: with Dameron (1949), Helen Humes (1950), Gray (1952), Stan Levey and as a leader (1955) - its discography is lacunar insofar as he is imprisoned in Chino between 1953 and 1955 for business of drug.

In 1960, he writes the music of “The Connection”, part which he plays in September of the same year, before recording Off “The Resurgence Dexter Gordon”.

In 1962, it settles with the Denmark, recording much with musicians of passage or installed in Copenhagen like Kenny Drew, Horace Parlan or Montoliu Head. He works also much in the European capitals, occurs in various festivals (Malmö, Molde, San Remo, Berlin, Lugano) and in the clubs.

He finds New York a few months at the beginning of 1965, but turns over to Europe where, parallel to his career of musician, he gives some courses. He interprets the Danish version of “The Connection”. In 1976, new return to New York for an engagement at the Vanguard Village which will mark the rebirth of the bebop in the United States. From now on, its life is divided between its native land (where it records) and Europe (where it plays).

In 1986, it holds the main role of film of Bertrand Tavernier " Around minuit" , which is worth to him, in France, an unusual fame.

In 1987, it made a last and triumphal appearance there, overcoming an already perceptible physical exhaustion.

He dies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 26th, 1990.

Although its style evolved/moved with time, one immediately recognizes the powerful and cordial sonority of Gordon. That notes are attacked right or by in lower part, that phrased either flat or on the contrary filled of stressings and of effects (harmonic, sounds which “rolls”), the swing is constantly present. It should be noted that this Master of the ballade plays always slightly behind of time. Heir To ballast Young of which it with the nonchalance and of Hawkins of which he with virility he is regarded as the first bopper of the tenor and continued to be essential like one of the principal saxophonists postbop.

He will be besides one of rare whose John Coltrane recognized the influence - which was also exerted on Sony Rollins. Its taste of the note right, very full arpeggios and always built and easily identifiable sentences animates its improvisations, which it leads most of the time in crescendo.

Discography

Recordings:

Blowin' the blues away (with Billy Eckstine, 1944)
Blue' N boogy (with Dizzy Gillespie, 1945)
The Chase (1947 and 1952)
Soul Sister (1961)
Night in Tunisia (1963)
has Day in Copenhagen (1969)
Parisian Concert - Futura Ger 41 (1973)
Homecoming (1976)
American Classic (1982)
Ballads (1995)

Catalog of films

'Round midnight of Bertrand Tavernier (1986)

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