for all you Dexter Gordon nay-sayers -

[AllenLowe]

like me; this is truly great playing:

truly an endorsement for you kids to stay off drugs. Dexter was either not stoned or just right, this day,

[JSngry]

That's slick how he gets rid of the cigarette without being seen doing so. Looks like a quick drop and step, perfectly executed.

Also cool how the drummer picks up his opening bow & the knee-bow that follows.

At first I was wondering what kind of a world it was where you could jsut walk in for a gig and ahnd your effects to the bartender with a smile and then head towards the bandstand, what kind of star power is that? But then I heard the introduction to Night In Tunisia and it became obvious - real star power is earned, it's not enough to be naturally charismatic, you gotta work it if you want to earn it, and little things mean a lot, like not walking too fast, ever. Basic life lesson, really.

The one time I saw Dexter live, he was higher than two motherfuckers, and almost two hours late. But damned if he didn't work that charisma from the second he showed up, and damned if he didn't play his ass off, although not like he does here. That night, he was so far behind the beat that he could have bit it in the ass, but the ideas were fully formed. It was a trip, a good trip.

[Cyril]

This was recorded in a small Cafe in Amersfoort, the Netherlands.

Dexter was backed up by a Swiss trio with George Gruntz piano, Guy Pederson bass and drummer Daniel Humair.

[Hot Ptah]

I saw Dexter live several times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One time in particular he was so drunk that he could not speak to people at the bar between sets. But somehow he played wonderfully, and delivered several spoken song intros without slurring a word.

He was very good to great every time I saw him. Also, his backing trios, with Rufus Reid and Eddie Gladden, and either George Cables or Kirk Lightsey on piano, were very energetic and exciting. There was a go-for-broke, wild excitement when they played, which I have not witnessed much in recent years with live jazz performers.

[king ubu]

To nitpick a bit, Guy Pedersen is French.

[soulpope]

like me; this is truly great playing:

truly an endorsement for you kids to stay off drugs. Dexter was either not stoned or just right, this day,

Nice - and right, sometimes you would wonder how Dexter Gordon could walk on/off stage at all ......

Edited March 31, 2014 by soulpope

[Hardbopjazz]

Who doesn't love Dexter. At times he's is slight behind on the beat. I don't know if this was a deliberate or something else.

[Chuck Nessa]

Dexter was always behind the beat. It was one of the devices he used. No biggie.

[David Ayers]

I like the way the piano is recorded. So used to terrible piano sound on historical jazz recordings.

The entrance is staged of course. The walk to the entrance is shot separately and spliced in. The cigarette stunt is prepared too - he isn't smoking when he goes in. Tried to work out how many cameras they used but couldn't. Good and respectful job though. And the behind the beat playing is all real. Sometimes just too mannered for my liking. Who are the rest of the band?

Thanks to Allen for posting.

Edited to add: answered my own question on this. Hadn't got past third track where it changes to another concert. Seems to be an entirely legal upload of this dvd http://jazzicons.com/ji2_gordon.html

Re. Allen's comment on drugs - he doesn't look that intact to me, but who can tell.

Edited April 4, 2014 by David Ayers

[AllenLowe]

I actually think Dexter was high 24/7; it just seems not to slow him down here.

[Peter Friedman]

I saw Dexter live 3 time. Once in Detroit, and two separate times in Toronto. He played wonderfully the first 2 times when he did not seem high. The last time in Toronto he was seriously stoned, and his playing was not good. The rhythm section on that last gig had Kirk Lightsey, Rufus Reid, and Eddie Gladden. They were great and saved the evening from being a disaster.