Dexter Gordon
Tenor Sax
April 25, 1990 (Age 67) died
February 27, 1923 Birthday
Los Angeles, CA, U.S. Birthplace
dextergordon.com Website
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About
Dexter Gordon was one of the top tenor saxophonists of the bebop era. He was known for his large sound, use of varied musical quotes and his genial stage presence. Throughout the 1940s Gordon played with major bebop figures including Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. During the 1950s he was sidelined by drugs and jail time but by the 60s he recovered and recorded a series of acclaimed albums for Blue Note. He moved to Europe in 1962 where he would live and work for 14 years before a celebrated return to the US in 1976. In 1986 Gordon starred in the movie "Round Midnight" earning a Best Actor Oscar nomination. His health declined throughout the 1980s and he died in 1990 at the age of 67.
Trivia
Dexter Gordon was 6 feet 6 inches tall, earning him the moniker "Sophisticated Giant." The US Government honored him with a Congressional Commendation, a Dexter Gordon Day in Washington DC, and a National Endowment for the Arts award for Lifetime Achievement. Dexter Gordon was godfather to Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
Early Life
Dexter Gordon was born in Los Angeles in 1923. His father was one of the first prominent African American doctors and counted Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton among his patients. Gordon began playing the clarinet at age 13 and switched to the saxophone at 15. While in school he played with local Los Angeles musicians including Buddy Collette and then joined Lionel Hampton's band in 1940. Gordon left Hampton's band in 1943 and worked with musicians including Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong, before moving to New York in 1944.
Dexter Gordon Solos
1969
Tenor Sax solo - Lady Bird - 1969
4/4 swing in C major at 162 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Meditation - 1969
4/4 bossa nova in C major at 146 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Fried Bananas - 1969
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 179 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Boston Bernie - 1969
4/4 swing in A♭ major at 181 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Sticky Wicket - 1969
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 144 BPM
1967
Tenor Sax solo - Devilette - 1967
4/4 latin in G minor at 128 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - For All We Know - 1967
4/4 ballad in A♭ major at 58 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Doxy - 1967
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 142 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Sonnymoon For Two - 1967
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 233 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Misty - 1967
4/4 ballad in A♭ major at 53 BPM
1963
Tenor Sax solo - Scrapple From The Apple - 1963
4/4 swing in F major at 232 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Willow Weep For Me - 1963
4/4 swing in G major at 83 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Broadway - 1963
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 212 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Stairway To The Stars - 1963
4/4 ballad in C major at 62 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - A Night In Tunisia - 1963
4/4 swing in D minor at 184 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Love Is Here to Stay - 1963
4/4 swing in F major at 164 BPM
1962
Tenor Sax solo - Cheese Cake - 1962
4/4 swing in C minor at 219 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Cheese Cake - 1962
4/4 swing in C minor at 225 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry - 1962
4/4 ballad in E♭ major at 60 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Second Balcony Jump - 1962
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 180 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Second Balcony Jump - 1962
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 193 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Love For Sale - 1962
4/4 swing in F minor at 215 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Love For Sale - 1962
4/4 swing in F minor at 220 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Where Are You? - 1962
4/4 ballad in B♭ major at 68 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Three O'Clock in the Morning - 1962
4/4 swing in F major at 145 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Watermelon Man - 1962
4/4 straight in F major at 129 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Three Bags Full - 1962
3/4 waltz in D minor at 167 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Empty Pockets - 1962
4/4 swing in F major at 133 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - The Maze - 1962
4/4 swing in E minor at 178 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Driftin' - 1962
4/4 swing in E♭ major at 119 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Watermelon Man - 1962
4/4 straight in F major at 128 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Three Bags Full - 1962
3/4 waltz in D minor at 165 BPM
Tenor Sax solo - Empty Pockets - 1962
4/4 swing in F major at 127 BPM