• Name: Dexter Gordon
• Birthday: 02/27/1923
• Birth Place: Los Angeles, CA
• Died: 04/25/1990
• Decades Active: 1940,1950,1960,1970,1980
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Bop, Hard Bop
• Moods: Elegant, Refined/Mannered, Sophisticated, Playful, Smooth, Springlike, Stylish, Intimate, Laid-Back/Mellow, Literate, Lively, Poignant, Carefree, Cheerful, Freewheeling, Organic, Passionate, Soothing, Complex, Earthy, Energetic, Exuberant, Romantic

Title	Release
Duels	09/25/2006
Music for Lovers	01/24/2006
Dexter Digs In: The Young Dexter Gordon W	06/07/2005
Jazz Moods: 'Round Midnight	04/19/2005
Complete Kenny Drew and Carl Perkins Sessions	02/08/2005
Blue Note Years, Vol. 17	04/27/2004
1947-1952 WA	06/24/2003
The Essential	06/03/2003
The Classic Blue Note Recordings	04/22/2003
Our Man in Amsterdam	04/15/2003
Cute	02/25/2003
Happy Birthday	02/04/2003
Timeless Dexter Gordon	01/14/2003
Dextrose	11/29/2002
XXL	09/17/2002
Lullaby of Birdland	02/25/2002
The Rainbow People	2002
Settin' the Pace [Proper]	05/08/2001
Jazz Collection	03/27/2001
Blowing the Blues Away	2001
Bop	2001
Dexter's Mood	2001
The Chase	2001
Jazz Masters	04/04/2000
Les Incontournables	01/04/2000
1943-1947 WA	11/09/1999
With Wardell Gray WA	07/27/1999
1946-47, Vol. 3	03/10/1999
Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes	1999
Settin' the Pace [Savoy]	10/06/1998
Quartet: 1955-1967	09/15/1998
There Will Never Be Another You	08/31/1998
Jazz Profile	03/24/1998
1944-1946, Vol. 2	01/28/1998
Saxophone Moods	01/14/1998
Bebop Masters WA	12/24/1997
Tenor Titans	09/23/1997
1943-1946	04/22/1997
1941-1944, Vol. 1: Young De	03/11/1997
Come Rain or Shine	06/18/1996
Swedish Nights	01/23/1996
There Will Never	01/01/1996
Gordon Cantata	12/19/1995
Hot and Cool	12/19/1995
Those Were the Days	12/14/1995
Jazz WA	12/12/1995
Volume 2	12/01/1995
Dexterity	10/1995
Dexter Gordon & Joe Newman	08/29/1995
The Complete Dial Sessions	05/25/1995
Way Past Midnight	04/16/1995
Round Midnight	07/01/1985
The Other Side of Round Midnight WA	07/01/1985
American Classic	03/08/1982
Gotham City WA	08/11/1980
Great Encounters	09/23/1978
Manhattan Symphonie	1978
Sophisticated Giant	06/21/1977
Midnight Dream	1977
Biting the Apple	11/09/1976
Featuring Joe Newman WA	11/1976
Lullaby for a Monster	06/15/1976
Strings and Things	05/17/1976
True Blue	1976
Bouncin' with Dex	09/14/1975
Something Different	09/13/1975
Swiss Nights, Vol. 3 WA	08/23/1975
Stable Mable	03/10/1975
More than You Know	02/21/1975
The Apartment	09/08/1974
Revelation	1974
Generation	07/22/1972
Ca'Purange	06/28/1972
Tangerine	1972
The Shadow of Your Smile	04/21/1971
Jumpin' Blues	08/27/1970
The Panther!	07/07/1970
Blue Dex: Dexter Gordon Plays the Blues	04/02/1969
More Power!	04/02/1969
The Art of the Ballad	04/02/1969
The Tower of Power	04/02/1969
Day in Copenhagen	03/10/1969
Take the "A" Train	07/21/1967
Body and Soul WA	07/20/1967
Both Sides of Midnight WA	07/20/1967
Gettin' Around WA	05/28/1965
Clubhouse WA	05/27/1965
One Flight Up WA	06/02/1964
Our Man in Paris	05/23/1963
Cry Me a River	11/28/1962
A Swingin' Affair	08/29/1962
Go! WA	08/27/1962
Dexter Gordon	06/02/1961
Dexter Calling...	05/09/1961
Ballads	05/06/1961
Doin' Allright	05/06/1961
The Best of Dexter Gordon: The Blue Note Years	05/06/1961
The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon WA	10/13/1960
Dexter Blows Hot and Cool	11/11/1955
Daddy Plays the Horn	09/1955
Dexter Gordon Plays: The Bethlehem Years	09/1955
Dexter Rides Again	10/30/1945
Lionel Hampton Presents Dexter Gordon
Quartet

Dexter Gordon had such a colorful and eventful life (with three separate comebacks) that his story would make a great Hollywood movie. The top tenor saxophonist to emerge during the bop era and possessor of his own distinctive sound, Gordon sometimes was long-winded and quoted excessively from other songs, but he created a large body of superior work and could battle nearly anyone successfully at a jam session. His first important gig was with Lionel Hampton (1940-1943) although, due to Illinois Jacquet also being in the sax section, Gordon did not get any solos. In 1943, he did get to stretch out on a recording session with Nat "King" Cole. Short stints with Lee Young, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong's big band preceded his move to New York in December 1944 and becoming part of Billy Eckstine's Orchestra, trading off with Gene Ammons on Eckstine's recording of "Blowin' the Blues Away." Gordon recorded with Dizzy Gillespie ("Blue 'N' Boogie") and as a leader for Savoy before returning to Los Angeles in the summer of 1946. He was a major part of the Central Avenue scene, trading off with Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards in many legendary tenor battles; studio recordings of "The Chase" and "The Duel" helped to document the atmosphere of the period.

After 1952, drug problems resulted in some jail time and periods of inactivity during the 1950s (although Gordon did record two albums in 1955). By 1960, he was recovered and soon he was recording a consistently rewarding series of dates for Blue Note. Just when he was regaining his former popularity, in 1962 Gordon moved to Europe where he would stay until 1976. While on the continent, he was in peak form and Gordon's many SteepleChase recordings rank with the finest work of his career. Gordon did return to the U.S. on an occasional basis, recording in 1965, 1969-1970, and 1972, but he was to an extent forgotten in his native land. It was therefore a major surprise that his return in 1976 was treated as a major media event. A great deal of interest was suddenly shown in the living legend with long lines of people waiting at clubs in order to see him. Gordon was signed to Columbia and remained a popular figure until his gradually worsening health made him semi-active by the early '80s. His third comeback occurred when he was picked to star in the motion picture 'Round Midnight and, even if his playing by then was past its prime, Gordon's acting was quite realistic and touching. He was nominated for an Academy Award, four years before his death after a very full life. Most of Dexter Gordon's recordings for Savoy, Dial, Bethlehem, Dootone, Jazzland, Blue Note, SteepleChase, Black Lion, Prestige, Columbia, Who's Who, Chiaroscuro, and Elektra Musician are currently available. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide