Results for "Dexter Gordon"

Musician

Dexter Gordon

Born: February 27, 1923

Dexter Gordon is considered to be the first musician to translate the language of Bebop to the tenor saxophone. Dexter Keith Gordon was born on February 27, 1923 in Los Angeles, California. His father, Dr. Frank Gordon, was one of the first African American doctors in Los Angeles who arrived in 1918 after graduating from Howard Medical School in Washington, D.C. Among his patients were Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton. Dexter's mother, Gwendolyn Baker, was the daughter of Captain Edward Baker, one of the five African American Medal of Honor recipients in the Spanish-American War. He began his study of music with the clarinet at age 13, then switched to the alto saxophone at 15, and finally to the tenor saxophone at 17

Video

Lady Bird

Featuring the music of Dexter Gordon
Duration: 05:41
January 25, 2026

It’s rare for the New York Times to give space to a jazz icon, so when they printed "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Dexter Gordon" in January 2026 (with song links), it felt time to revisit this tenor sax legend. Dexter Gordon’s sound beautifully bridged the swing feel of straight-ahead jazz with dexterity of bop. As can be heard on "Lady Bird," the sax player uniquely balanced the elements of his sound. Often, he would play a hair behind the beat, with a syncopation that was closer to straight 8ths than a swung triplet feel and using a full breath supporting each note’s tone but never over-blowing. One of the finest moments in jazz film is Round Midnight (1986, Warner Bros.), in which Gordon acted and played songs live, while portraying a poor, drug-addicted musician who gave his soul to play jazz.

Album

Raw Blow Power

By Dexter Gordon

Label: FuzzTone Records
Released: 2025
Track listing: Blown to Hell; I Wanna Be Your Sax; No Fun (Bop Remix); 1969 (In 5/4); TV Eye (Tenor Stare); Down on the Street (Uptown Jam); Loose Lips, Tight Horn; Gimme Danger (Dexter’s Cut).

Album

More Than You Know (1981)

By Dexter Gordon

Label: GleAM Records
Released: 2025
Track listing: It’s You or No One (S. Cahn/J. Styne); Hi Fly (R. Weston; Back Stairs (D. Gordon); LTD & Intro (D. Gordon); More Than You Know (V.Youmans/B. Rose/E. Eliscu);

Album

More Than You Know (1981)

By Dexter Gordon

Label: GleAM Records
Released: 2025
Track listing: It's You or No One; Hi Fly; Back Stairs; LTD & Intro; More Than You Know.

Article: Jazz Fiction

Interruptions On A Christmas Eve

by Arthur R George
December 24, 2025

The small restaurant and occasional music bistro was closed for Christmas Eve. Its owner Ernie DiVitale had darkened the room. There was light enough, from the Christmas tree in the corner and spilling in from a lamp over the prep area in the kitchen, to relax with his wife Veronica at a back table over cappuccini ...

Article: Radio & Podcasts

Classic Jazz From Donald Byrd, Carmen McRae, and Others with New Music from Michael Dease, Andy James, and Others

by David W. Daniels
December 24, 2025

Classic jazz from Cal Tjader, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, and more. Recently released jazz from the Chad Taylor Quintet, Mike Clark, and others. Birthday recognition for Clark Terry, Eddie Palmieri, and more.Playlist Mark Sherman “Explorations" from Family First (City Hall) 00:00 Cal Tjader “Tanya" from Soul Sauce (Verve) 8:13 Horace Silver “Finger Poppin'" from ...

Article: Album Review

Ramona Horvath: Absinthe

by Artur Moral
December 22, 2025

How could one not connect with someone who, from her debut album as a leader, Lotus Blossom (Black & Blue, 2017), demonstrated such knowledge and admiration for Billy Strayhorn's timeless compositions? Or who, in the liner notes of her new project, counts among her supporters fellow pianists of the stature of Giovanni Mirabassi, Ignasi Terraza and ...

Article: Top Ten List

Best Jazz Christmas Songs Of All-Time

by Ken Hohman
December 20, 2025

While moldy Christmas songs and great jazz seem as compatible as egg nog and Tanqueray, there have been instances where the planets have aligned to create songs that display the best of both genres. Ten instances, to be exact, and you'll find them below. Do you agree? Then post your holiday toast to my list. Don't ...

Article: Multiple Reviews

A Savoy Revival: New OJCs from Hank Mobley & Yusef Lateef

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 9, 2025

Although the Concord Music Group acquired the legendary Savoy Records archives in 2017, the catalog has seen little reissue activity since. Founded in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, Savoy earned distinction for documenting rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz over several decades. The label captured many of bebop's pioneering voices--Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Clarke, and Dizzy ...