Dexter, like so many before him, found acceptance in Europe for simply being himself, namely an outstanding creative musician; furthermore, he didn't experience racial discrimination as he had done in America, a country that provided a training ground for so many phenomenal musicians, but proved an anathema in terms of trying to live and make a living playing music.
It wasn't mentioned here, but in 1955 Dexter acted while in prison in a movie called "Unchained", and after his release in in 1960 a play called "The Connection" on Broadway.
One of the greats , his arraignment of tunes like body and soul round midnight or his compositions like cheese cake are second to none ! Great interview, thanks !
All due respect to his wife, I think he was a gone man and I would have loved to have met him. And maybe gone out with him for dinners and shows. From what I have heard he might have been the type of man I like to have fun with! I think he was so sexy and handsome! Just my type as far as looks! I think he must have been quite intelligent and interesting to talk with! I would have loved listening to his story's of the places he had been and people he knew! I can only imagine that dates with him had to be quite fun and ultra romantic!
DEXTER GORDON AND A SWINGIN' AFFAIR . I was told as a child Blacks had no worth, Not a nickel’s worth of dimes. I believed that myth ‘Til Dex rode in With his ax In double time. . His horn was soarin’, The changes flyin’, His rhythm right on time; My heart Beat with the pleasure Of new-found pride, Knowing, His blood Flowed through mine. . Dex Took the chords The keyboard played, And danced around each note; Then shuffled ’em Like a deck of cards, And didn’t miss a stroke. . B minor 7 with flatted 5th, a half diminished chord, He substituted a lick in D, Then really began to soar. . He tipped his hat To Charlie Parker, and quoted Trane with Miles, Then paid his homage to Thelonious Monk, In Charlie Rouse’s style. . He took a Scrapple From The Apple, Then went to Billie’s Bounce, The rhythm section, now on fire, But he didn’t budge an ounce. . He just dug right in to shuffle again, This time A Royal Flush, Then lingered a bit Behind the beat, Still smokin’ But in no rush. . Then he doubled the time just like this rhyme, in fluid 16th notes, tellin’ Charlie and Lester, “your baby boy, Dexter’s, on top of the bebop you wrote.” . Wailin’ like a banshee, this prince of saxophone, His ballads dripped of honey, His Arpeggios were strong. . Callin’ on his idles, Ghost of Pres’ within in the isles, smiling at his protege, At the peak of this new style. . His tenor Drenched of Blackness, And all the things we are- Of pain, and pleasure, And creative greatness Until his final bar. . Eric L. Wattree . DEXTER GORDON AND A SWINGIN’ AFFAIR wattree.blogspot.com/2019/08/beneath-spineric-l_16.html
The swing era was mostly for reading charts..no much improvisation mostly white musicians getting the best gigs ( tv, recording industry).... And jazz mostly( improvised )music...focusing on ...a new style of music
Great interview! I love hearing and learning about one of the all-time greatest saxophonists - the great Dexter Gordon. He was the best!
@Layne Adriel Thank you for the info!
I fell in love with Jazz and the saxophone through Dexter Gordon. My hero
Dexter Gordon, the definition of a jazz musician,,, a story teller
Dexter, like so many before him, found acceptance in Europe for simply being himself, namely an outstanding creative musician; furthermore, he didn't experience racial discrimination as he had done in America, a country that provided a training ground for so many phenomenal musicians, but proved an anathema in terms of trying to live and make a living playing music.
100%
It wasn't mentioned here, but in 1955 Dexter acted while in prison in a movie called "Unchained", and after his release in in 1960 a play called "The Connection" on Broadway.
Interesting information. Thank You
Amazing interview, thank you so much!
Los Angeles own Dexter Gordon.
Outstanding jazz musician outstanding performance in Round midnight.outstanding wife.
One of the greats , his arraignment of tunes like body and soul round midnight or his compositions like cheese cake are second to none !
Great interview, thanks !
I MUST HAVE THAT BOOK!!
Such a great interview, what a nice guy dex! And this good lady! Such a modern thinking. Georgeus people
i realize I'm kind of off topic but do anyone know of a good website to stream new series online?
@Andres King i would suggest Flixzone. You can find it on google =)
@Marco Alvaro Yea, have been watching on Flixzone for since march myself :D
@Marco Alvaro thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) Appreciate it !!
@Andres King Happy to help :)
i discovered dexter gordon in a cuny school during covid.....
All due respect to his wife, I think he was a gone man and I would have loved to have met him. And maybe gone out with him for dinners and shows. From what I have heard he might have been the type of man I like to have fun with! I think he was so sexy and handsome! Just my type as far as looks! I think he must have been quite intelligent and interesting to talk with! I would have loved listening to his story's of the places he had been and people he knew! I can only imagine that dates with him had to be quite fun and ultra romantic!
DEXTER GORDON AND A SWINGIN' AFFAIR
.
I
was told as a child
Blacks had no worth,
Not a nickel’s worth of dimes.
I believed that myth
‘Til Dex rode in
With his ax
In double time.
.
His
horn was soarin’,
The changes flyin’,
His rhythm right on time;
My heart
Beat with the pleasure
Of new-found pride,
Knowing,
His blood
Flowed through mine.
.
Dex
Took the chords
The keyboard played,
And danced around each note;
Then shuffled ’em
Like a deck of cards,
And didn’t miss a stroke.
.
B minor 7 with flatted 5th,
a half diminished chord,
He substituted a lick in D,
Then really began to soar.
.
He tipped his hat
To Charlie Parker,
and quoted
Trane with Miles,
Then paid his homage to
Thelonious Monk,
In Charlie Rouse’s style.
.
He took
a Scrapple From The Apple,
Then went to Billie’s Bounce,
The rhythm section, now on fire,
But he didn’t budge an ounce.
.
He just
dug right in
to shuffle again,
This time
A Royal Flush,
Then lingered a bit
Behind the beat,
Still smokin’
But in no rush.
.
Then he
doubled the time
just like this rhyme,
in fluid 16th notes,
tellin’
Charlie and Lester,
“your baby boy, Dexter’s,
on top of the
bebop you wrote.”
.
Wailin’
like a banshee,
this prince of saxophone,
His ballads dripped of honey,
His Arpeggios were strong.
.
Callin’ on his idles,
Ghost of Pres’
within in the isles,
smiling at his protege,
At the peak of this new style.
.
His tenor
Drenched of Blackness,
And all the things we are-
Of pain, and pleasure,
And creative greatness
Until his final bar.
.
Eric L. Wattree
.
DEXTER GORDON AND A SWINGIN’ AFFAIR
wattree.blogspot.com/2019/08/beneath-spineric-l_16.html
Bravo
Woody Shaw?
Yeah, Maxine was married to Woody Shaw before Dexter.
@@Jorvaskrr scheme....theme for maxine
Yah Roseood Onaje Alan Gumbx.
The swing era was mostly for reading charts..no much improvisation mostly white musicians getting the best gigs ( tv, recording industry)....
And jazz mostly( improvised )music...focusing on ...a new style of music
Terrible interviewer.