What a fantastic quality video showing a live performance of Dexter Gordon and Tadd Dameron’s tune ‘Ladybird’. Maybe it’s because I’m a pianist, but I do love the piano solo in this too. Dexter’s hot as usual. 

One more classic Blue Note - ‘Dexter Calling’ and the tune ‘Clear the Dex’. Brilliant take, I particularly enjoy Kenny Drew’s swinging piano solo! 

More wonderful music from Dexter Gordon. 

I don’t own any of Gordon’s Steeplechase albums, but there’s plenty of excerpts floating around online to get a feel for them. This dark ballad ‘Born to be Blue’ shows no dip in the tone and quality of Dexter’s playing. 

It’s taken from the album ‘Lullaby for a Monster’ that sees DG teamed up with just a bassist and drummer. Niels Pederson, the bassist, really knows how to get the most out of his instrument, while Alex Riel’s drums evoke a great, hushed feel. This is end of the night music, when no-one else is left but the three musicians on stage. 

Great music and really interesting to hear. 

After those fried bananas that Dexter Gordon served up, a little slice of cheesecake would be just right! However, given that it’s probably Gordon’s most famous track I’ve decided something else off the classic ‘Go’ album should be heard. 

Dig Billy Higgins’ drumming on this Latin reading off Cole Porter’s Love for Sale! Dexter’s tone is full bodied and he turns out one of the best readings of this tune. 

Classic 1962 Blue Note. 

The tallest man in Jazz (maybe!) would have been celebrating his 89th birthday today, had he still been alive. Dexter Gordon’s life would make an engaging book (like so many jazz musicians; indeed the protagonist in John Clellon Holmes novel ‘The Horn’ bears some similarities to our man Dexter) with Gordon first learning his craft on the bebop scene. The 50s saw Gordon embroiled in drugs, but he came out of it with some of his best work to date -the Blue Note albums. 

Dexter Gordon’s famous move to Europe in 1962 meant that the American crowd lost touch with his music. He stilll put out records however - the Steeplechase years are among his best. Odd trips back to the US kept his name going, and a permanent move back in 1976 was met with a new record contract with Columbia. Throughout his records, Gordon stuck to the good, swinging bop that served him so well - rarely did he go down the fusion route. 

So a few little bits of Dexter for you this evening - first up, Fried Bananas, live from Montmartre. No personell/dates listed here - any thoughts?  

When deciding which Blue Note tracks to use for my Billy Higgins bit I was  rather overwhelmed by the number of albums he played on - I figured go for one VERY well known and one less so…. here’s the all-time favourite Cheesecake by Dexter Gordon from ‘Go’, a timeless classic!