Dexter Gordon Documentary - "More Than You Know"

[CharliNakedLadyB]

My main man Dex !

[Tzazilas]

dex man you are so unique.. I love you

[RevWrona]

I tried to find Jazz in Exile, has anyone ever seen it and how was it?

[jazzuffe]

He got a street named after him in the most wonderful town of all, Copenhagen, in a beautiful place!

[jazzuffe]

He got a street named after him in the most wonderful town of all, Copenhagen, in a beutiful place!

[aaronamccoy]

lester had a lot of heart

[caponsacchi]

No one has played with the combination of imaginative inventiveness and assured conviction of LT. The '70s was so much fusion, electricity, and disco that paradoxically many of us had a chance to hear the titans lock horns--Dexter blowing with 3 comparable giants because they were neglected and "affordable." Dexter always took the prize, though Stitt was flawless, and Jaws could always turn on the heat. On recordings, the 2 who never ever wear out are Mobley and Harold Land.

[caponsacchi]

I'm amazed at the musicians who don't know the verse to "More Than You Know." Even Coltrane messed up the melody on Cole Porter's "Everytime We Say Goodbye" (on "My Favorite Things" or "Giant Steps"). Dexter never made these mistakes. He knew the song lyrics (frequently recited them), and consequently did justice by the composer. He was also the music's most powerful improvisor, 1965-85. Every note a carefully aimed dagger.  Pedersen gives credit where it's due (Lucky, Byas, Ben, Brew Moore).

[perchst]

nooooooo......where´s the rest of this great documentary....or at least......where can I find it?

[pyannaguy]

I always dug the way he'd take the sax off and lay it in those big hands and hold it out to the crowd like an offering or a tribute to the horn.

He seemed like a cool guy in the best sense of the word.

[kurinakornel1]

o,yeahh!:-))

[xtomokixx]

whats the song in the beginning

before blues walk

[DexterGordonWebsite]

More Than You Know

[xtomokixx]

thank you so much

[pulse2093]

Who directed this movie? It was so cool!  Does anyone know? My co-workers and I have a bet about who the Director was. I want to watch it again on 9 7 M o V i e s. Co M, but if anyone knows, tell me.

[KcutlerYT]

umm, it is Don McGlynn, as listed right in the credits, at :59 seconds. There ya go.

[daouya1302]

magnifique epoustouflant j adore!!!quel charme

[123must]

A giant as a man and as t.s. player!

Thanks

123must

[bkjbs762]

does anyone know if and where the complete video is available?

[taildragger53]

@bkjbs762

This came out on VHS some 6 yrs ago...i have a copy.

[cobra12657]

Can one of you wonderful people post "The end of a love affair". One of Dexter's finest improvisations.

[Pikmar27]

ya- i love that song too.

[thinkingevil]

Prez at 3:06 !!!!!

[BIOA108]

Does anyone know who was playing piano on the end of this video? It's the tall clean head guy with a close trimmed beard. Thanks. The chemistry is magic.

BIOA108

[TrueFan1947]

Dexter did a piece entitled "Society Red". It's one of the purest, soaringest (is that a word?), most inspirational, most connected, most "controlled energy" pieces of heart-grabbing tenor expressiveness jazz I have ever listened to. I cannot find it in youtube. It's on the album: The Best of Dexter Gordon. The #2 cut on the album. The # 8 cut is a beautiful piece entitled Tanya. Can anyone help?

[DexterGordonWebsite]

Society Red is from Dexter Gordon's album entitled 'Doin' Alright' (Blue Note, 1961)

[balamoreaux]

Also play's it on the Round Midnight soundtrack.

[caponsacchi]

@TrueFan1947--"Tanya" is a Donald Byrd composition Dexter does memorably on "One Flight Up." It moved Kurt Elling so much he got up night after night obsessively putting words to Long Tall's solo. The result is on Elling's 1997 album, "The Messenger" (still his best, imo).

[Acrisor17]

I envy all you people who saw Dexter perform live!! I bet he was even better on stage!!! I am 17 years old and he is my favourite performer !!! his music will live on forever...

[taftchatham]

He radiated love onstage. I saw him in the early 80's in a small club in Portland,OR. The voice, the smile, the way he held up his horn after playing, and...the music. Transcendent beauty.

If we'd had a son instead of a daughter in 1990, we were going to name him Dexter.

You picked a genius and a beautiful soul.

[minor7b5b9]

Dexter has always been one of my favorites. His sound is unmistakeable. I love his ballads, & in bebop it's the ballads that separate the men from the boys. Miles had that gift as well, & so did Coltrane. For those making the transition into bebop, I think you learn more from hearing one of these guys doing a ballad than in the speedy tempos.Getz

& Desmond had that gift as well. Kenny Burrel had it on guitar.

[chapmancalvin]

I think that is so true what you say about the ballads because playing them so that you touch and relate to those that are listening requires more than technique. It requires a heart for the music, the other players and the listeners. I would like to add to your list of men in bebop as opposed to the boys the names McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter and Julien Adderley.

[NewHarpGuy]

What I loved about Dexter, was hit big , FAT tone.

His solo on Society Red (from his Doing Alright LP) is one of the best ever, on the tenor sax!

[skweenison1]

I love that solo so much!!! i play it multiple times a day!!

[synthjazz]

I just worship LTD (Dex) - the ultimate in tenor players - he followed the great founders of bebop, but made his own unique sound - no one can even come close!! What a goal to aspire to!!

[taildragger51]

synthjazz; I couldn't agree with you more. Hopefully you got a chance to see Dexter play live.(?) I saw him at Ronnie Scott's Club around 1977. I went back several times in one week because i was so impressed with his sophisticated personality. His stage presence was BIG and so was his sound.

[synthjazz]

Hi TD51!!

NO!!....I never got to see LTD play live at Ronnies - even though I was in London during that period - I did get to see Ron himself play though - and he was a cool dude - pity he had to bow out the way he did. Another sad loss for the Jazz world!!

[taildragger51]

synthjazz; I was so knocked out by LTD that i saw him three nights in a row. He was drinking straight gin/vodka from huge tumblers! He could hardly stand but he played superbly. I recall he did a version of "Autumn Leaves" that lasted half an hour (it was in October) Ronnie Scott was a superb sax player but difficult guy to get on with. I recall the night he rowed with Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy came onstage and messed around on congas..never played a note on the horn!

[synthjazz]

Dude, that's SO long ago for me-30 yrs now - kicking myself for not paying attention back then - I was a college kid! Swear I saw Diz on some occasion, and also Dave Holland - but Dex is the man! First album I heard him on was the Bluenote double album - on Hanky Panky!!

I really get dissed in swing band because I put my SR mpc on, and lay it back like Dex - comments from the bandleader..Jeez Tenor 1 - quit draggin' your behind!!! (LOL!! - the rhythm section don't 'get it'!!)

[taildragger51]

synthjazz; Yes, infact over 30 yrs ago. I was in my early 20's and had borrowed an LP copy of "GO!". When i got to the slow ballad "Where Are You?" i thought i'd died and gone to Heaven. Had to play it over & over. I'd never heard anyone play a tenor like that and the added reverb on the Blue Note vinyl copy just made it all the more magical. Just by chance DG was playing at Ronnie's a few weeks later. You're right though on all accounts! "Hanky Panky" was great.

[taildragger51]

synthjazz: Dexter Gordon was the meaning of "COOL". That famous poster of him at 'The Roost' sums it all up.

[kevinherbert]

That Dutch guy????..Nils was playing with Count Basie when he was 18 years old..he's a virtuoso!!!!!!!!!!

[taildragger51]

kevinherbert; Neils Henning-Orsted Pedersen was Danish. (excuse me for trying to sound smug) He was a gem of a guy and probably one of the greatest bassists in history.

[pietkuiters]

Type in search: Jazz is my religion

Piet Kuiters Modern Jazzgroup. Amsterdam 1964. Very Cool.

Best regards Django.

[dixjazz]

Thanks for posting this....priceless footage of the masters.

[PedroMendesVideos]

Great video!

Check also PedroMendesVideos, thousands of jazz/brazilian and other related styles rare videos, thx

[dreadtodred]

rip long tall dex

[GumUnderBootCamp]

what I like about Dexter Gordon is that there is no trying to follow his train of thought. Wherever his thoughts go...it's always a suprize. You can't predict it.

[hitman1875]

he always quotes 3 blind mice and popeye the sailor man ,love him jazz has never been the same since these guys died

[hitman1875]

i love dexters version of skylark ,

[gregwaits]

NHOP is Danish. I enjoyed hearing what he had to say. He was THE bass player in the 60s in Scandanavia, and he played with everyone. ("that dutch guy" lol)

[taildragger51]

gregwaits; Such a shame NHOP is also not with us anymore. I always like listening to what Neils had to say. He is equally a legend today.

[baloniousdunc]

That dutch guy is one of the greatest bass players in the world and certainly qualified to talk about anything jazz related. Althought I must admit I would rather listen to Dexter as well -no slight to Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen.

[LazySaxman]

Very good. I would have rather heard some more Dex than listen to that dutch guy at the end. The song at the end called "King Neptune" is titled "Kong Neptune" On the album I have. Odd.