Gordon, Dexter - The Complete Prestige Recordings


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Prestige
Catalog Number: PRCD-4442-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 766:33:00

The legend of Dexter Gordon is documented extensively throughout countless recordings over the years. The Complete Prestige Recordings is a mammoth 11 CD set in tribute to a jazz giant that left behind an ineradicable mark in the annals of modern jazz music. This cat was so influential and groundbreaking that icons such as Coltrane were fascinated with his style and grace on the saxophone.

Granted, 11 discs is a lot of music; yet a career that spanned over 40 years, and one as important as Gordon?s, deserves the attention. The 11 CDs are an amazing journey through essential studio, rare, and live tracks throughout Gordon?s incredible and colorful career. He went from the success of a nomination for an Academy Award to the defeat of spending time in jail (due to a drug addiction), and then turned it all around with successful comebacks until his health began to fail him in the 80s. He passed on in 1990. He most certainly lived life to its fullest and paid the price for letting the evils of stardom run his life early in his career.

I took my time listening to this set over the last two months. I soaked it all up like a bone-dry sponge. Gordon was an innovator and a true musical genius, laying a foundation that many musicians would build upon for many years to come. His influence is still a force today. If you listen carefully to his incredible virtuosity and the many examples of the complex melodies he created, the overwhelming force of his body of work will leave a lasting impression upon you. Besides the enormity of this collection, you will also have the opportunity to read about the man?s life in a marvelously detailed and illustrated booklet. It gives you sense of closure while making your way through this comprehensive set.

Words can hardly elucidate how important this boxed set is in reference to history. Musicians and listeners alike will be enjoying this music for generations to come.


Tracklisting:
Disc One: Move [Live] (9:47) / Home Run (5:07) / Dolo (6:16) / Lovely Lisa (7:23) / Affair In Havana (7:41) / Jodi (6:39) / Field Day (6:46) / Setting The Pace (19:07)

Disc Two: Dexter's Deck (22:47) / Montmartre (10:59) / Lady Bird (10:43) / Sticky Wicket (7:06) / Montmartre [alternate take/#] (10:46) / Lady Bird [alternate take/#] (12:31)

Disc Three: Sticky Wicket [Alternate Take] (9:42) / Those Were The Days (8:05) / Stanley The Steamer (8:04) / The Rainbow People (8:50) / Boston Bernie (7:39) / Meditation (Medita??o) (8:30) / Fried Bananas (6:08) / Dinner For One Please, James [#] (6:08) / Stanley The Steamer [Alternate Take/#] (7:16) / The Rainbow People [Alternate Take/#] (7:14)

Disc Four: Boston Bernie [alternate take/#] (8:32) / Fried Bananas [alternate take/#] (6:23) / Broadway [live] (17:25) / Boston Bernie [live] (17:50) / In a Sentimental Mood [live] (8:49) / Blues Up and Down [live] (19:52)

Disc Five: Rhythm-A-Ning [live] (24:12) / Misty [live] (10:11) / Love for Sale [live] (21:59) / Fried Bananas (8:14) / Sophisticated Lady (7:54)

Disc Six Rhythm-A-Ning (8:45) / Body and Soul (10:16) / Blue Monk (10:52) / The Panther (9:31) / The Panther (6:29) / Body and Soul (11:01) / Valse Robin (5:56) / Mrs. Miniver (7:35) / The Christmas Song (5:19)

Disc Seven: Blues Walk (7:22) / Valse Robin [alternate take/#] (5:53) / Mrs. Miniver [alternate take/#] (7:08) / Blues Walk [alternate take/#] (6:19) / Polka Dots and Moonbeams [live] (10:06) / Wee Dot [live] (17:15) / The Happy Blues [live] (5:31) / Lonesome Lover Blues [alternate take/live/#] (12:41)

Disc Eight: Medley: Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)/I Can't Get Started/My Funny Valentine (14:02) / The Chase [live] (10:29) / Lonesome Lover Blues [live] (13:29) / Evergreenish (6:04) / Rhythm-A-Ning (6:36) / For Sentimental Reasons (I Love You) (6:52) / If You Could See Me Now (5:22) / Star Eyes (6:51) / The Jumpin' Blues (5:46)

Disc Nine: Evergreenish [alternate take/#] (6:15) / Rhythm-A-Ning [alternate take/#] (5:59) / For Sentimental Reasons (I Love You) [alternate take/#] (4:50) / Star Eyes [alternate take/#] (6:15) / The Jumpin' Blues [alternate take] (5:45) / Milestones (9:06) / Scared to Be Alone (7:47) / The Group (6:29) / Days of Wine and Roses (8:45) / We See (11:26)

Disc Ten: Milestones [alternate take] (7:14) / Scared to Be Alone [alternate take/#] (7:11) / The Group [alternate take] (6:37) / Ca'purange (Jungle Soul) (9:53) / Tangerine (9:01) / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (5:56) / What It Was (8:14) / Airegin (5:08) / Oh! Karen O (12:12) / Airegin [alternate take] (5:32)

Disc Eleven: August Blues (9:54) / Gingerbread Boy (12:50) / Blues ? La Suisse (10:31) / Some Other Spring (6:07) / Secret Love (14:33) / Tivoli [#] (8:10) / 'Treux Bleu (17:08)

Musicians:
Dexter Gordon - tenor sax
Cannonball Adderley - alto sax
Nat Adderley - cornet
Gene Ammons - tenor sax
Martin Banks - trumpet
Richard Boone - trombone
Percy Brice - drums
Roy Brooks - drums
Jimmy Bunn - piano
Jaki Byard - piano
Wilbur Campbell - drums
Jodie Christian - piano
Kenny Clarke - drums
Stanley Clarke - bass
Dolo Coker - piano
Bob Cranshaw - bass, electric bass
Sonny Criss - alto sax
Alan Dawson - drums
Cleveland Eaton - bass
Booker Ervin - tenor sax
Tommy Flanagan - piano
Victor Gaskin - bass
Wardell Gray - tenor sax
Charles Green - bass
William K. 'Billy' Hadnott - bass
Barry Harris - piano
Hampton Hawes - piano and electric piano
Louis Hayes - drums
Albert 'Tootie' Heath - drums
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet, flugelhorn
Oliver Jackson - drums
Hank Jones - piano
Sam Jones - bass
Thad Jones - trumpet, flugelhorn
Wynton Kelly - piano
Junior Mance - piano
Larance Marable - drums
Steve McCall - drums
Kenneth Nash - conga
Vi Redd - vocals
Rufus Reid - bass
Larry Ridley - bass
Martin Rivera - bass
Clark Terry - trumpet
Chuck Thompson - drums
Bobby Timmons - piano
Cedar Walton - piano
Buster Williams - bass
Reggie Workman - bass
John Young - piano

Discography:
extensive, includes:
The Complete Prestige Recordings (2004)

Genre: Jazz-Trad. Jazz

Origin US

Added: February 19th 2005
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Hits: 2439
Language: english

  

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