Dexter Gordon's Ballads (1946-'52)

Dexter Gordon in the late 1940s and early '50s was best known for jumpers such as The Chase, The Hunt and Dexter's Deck. But among his many high-energy 78s are a handful of ballads that show off his yearning, romantic tone.

Here are five Dexter Gordon ballads and a bonus track:

Here's Gordon in New York playing I Can't Escape From You in January 1946, with Bud Powell (p), Curly Russell (b) and Max Roach (d)...



Here's Gordon in Hollywood playing It's the Talk of the Town in June 1947, with Jimmy Bunn (p), Red Callender (b) and Chuck Thompson (d)...



Here's Gordon in Hollywood playing Ghost of a Chance in December 1947, with Jimmy Rowles (p), Red Callender (b) and Roy Porter (d)...



Here's Gordon in New York playing the mid-tempo ballad Dexter's Mood in December 1947, with Tadd Dameron (p), Nelson Boyd (b) and Art Mardigan (d)...



And here's Gordon in Hollywood playing My Kinda Love in June 1952, with Gerry Wiggins (org), Red Callender (b) and Chuck Thompson (d)...



Bonus: Here's Gordon in New York playing Tadd Dameron's So Easy in December 1947, with Leo Parker (bar), Tadd Dameron (p), Curly Russell (b) and Art Blakey (d). The credit on the Savoy 78 is an error...



And here's Artie Shaw's cover of So Easy in December 1949 for a Thesaurus Transcription session. The arrangement was by Tadd Dameron. Talk about bands: Don Fagerquist, Don Paladino, Dale Pierce and Victor Ford (tp); Ange Callea, Porky Cohen, Sonny Russo and Fred Zito (tb); Artie Shaw (cl); Herbie Steward and Frank Socolow (as); Al Cohn and Zoot Sims (ts); Danny Bank (bar); Gil Barrios (p); Jimmy Raney (g); Dick Nivison (b) and Irv Kluger (d)...