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Wave Hound Hawaii, Golf, Volleyball, Surf Shop : James Lucas : Sideman
Welcome to the Sideman Gallery of the James-Lucas.com. Portrait of Dexter Gordon from Artist James Lucas' Original Jazz Paintings series. Tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon certainly had one of the most unusual careers in jazz going from pioneer bopper, to legend-status expatriate and returning hero, and finally winding up an international film star.
Gordon was born in Los Angeles, California in 1923. He played with Lionel Hampton ('40-'43) and recorded with Nat "King" Cole ('43) before becoming a member of Billy Eckstine's forward-looking band. After that exposure he recorded with Dizzy Gillespie and made a series of landmark "tenor battle" sides with fellow West Coast (by way of Oklahoma) saxist Wardell Gray. A drug problem in the '50s led to some jail time (sharp-eyed viewers can spot him in the prison jazz band in the '55 movie Unchained) but in '61 he began an impressive return to recording with Doin' Alright on Blue Note, the first of a half-dozen classics for the label. Gordon next did what many jazz musicians felt compelled to do, moved to Europe. There he was treated as a serious artist and, just as important, got more gigs. He became something of a respected but passé figure in America during his sojourn ('62-'76) but made a strong comeback on the Columbia label, beginning with Homecoming ('76).
In his later years Gordon's playing, always commanding if somewhat laconic, maintained its authority as its reflective aspects deepened. He starred in the French film Round Midnight ('86), receiving much praise for essentially playing himself, a shambling wreck who attained a state of grace when he picked up his horn. He died in Philadelphia on March 25, 1990.
Dex leading a quintet with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Has that ol' tight Blue Note feel even though it was originally issued on Prestige.
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