Dexter Gordon - Copenhagen Coda (Storyville, 1983)

[EKE BBB]

 

Dexter Gordon Copenhagen Coda Dexter Gordon /saxophone Kirk Lightsey /piano David Eubanks /bass Eddie Gladden /drums

Jazz giant and tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordonbids Copenhagen farewell on his new album Copenhagen Coda – Live at Montmartre 1983. This album marks DG’s final farewell to friends and fans in the Danish capital, with which he had had a twenty year love affair. He is quoted as having said:   “I don’t think they [his fellow American musicians living in Europe] got the love I got in Copenhagen” The concert was part of a TV production by the national Danish Broadcasting Corporation, who have documented this golden era in Danish jazz history. On this recording, DG is accompanied by the accomplished and versatile pianist Kirk Lightsey, wonderful bass player David Eubanks and the master drummer Eddie Gladden. DG proves that he hasn’t lost a step, as he projects enormous authority on stage, being a fountain of sound and ideas, melodically as well as rhythmically. He generates a stunning energy, taking off on a flight that is able to captivate the audience with his tenacious be-bop, somewhere between Lester Young and Coltrane, with a bold, dry sound.

DG arrived in Copenhagen in 1962, where he settled and became a regular on the jazz scene, most often at the legendary Jazzhus Montmartre. During the years 1964 to 1967, he played Montmartre 6 nights a week during the summer months. One of those evenings, where DG was accompanied by Tete Montoliu, NHØP and Alex Riel, was recorded and subsequently released as the album Montmartre 1964 on Storyville Records. His year-long stint in Copenhagen helped remold and vitalize DG after his lean years. In return, he also helped Montmartre build and maintain its reputation as one of Europe’s premier jazz venues in the 1960’s, attracting many American jazz players, including Ben Webster, Bud Powell, Kenny Drewand many, many more. All of them contributing substantially to the vitality of the Danish jazz scene, but more than anyone, DG is the musician synonymous with folk’s perception of Montmartre. Copenhagen Coda is a celebration of and a tribute to Dexter Gordon’s legacy in Copenhagen. The audience in the Danish capital loved the sophisticated giant “Copenhagen Slim” immensely, and their love was reciprocated - Copenhagen Coda is a testament to this intense year-long love affair!

[Gheorghe]

I think I saw some video material of Dex at Copenhaga in 1983 and it sounds much better than the Village Vanguard from Dexters 60th Birthday Party, and much much better than the really weak performance I saw in Viena also early in 1983. 

[Dan Gould]

This one looks like a possibility for me - I can't recall if 'Hanky Panky' has appeared on any other live album and I always dug that one, from Clubhouse.  OTOH Amazon seems to only show it on their French site?

Edit to add: Amazon.com only has it for streaming right now.

Edited April 7, 2023 by Dan Gould

[tranemonk]

https://storyvillerecords.bandcamp.com/album/copenhagen-coda

[Gheorghe]

I still couldn´t find it on Amazon.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

Very nice live Dexter!

Edited April 15, 2023 by Stompin at the Savoy

[Gheorghe]

I finally ordered it from Discogs. I´m curious how it might sound since I had seen Dexter in early 1983 and it was not a good night. It was difficult to look at and listen to Dexter on that occasion. 
I later purchased on from Vanguard also from 1983 that is a bit better than my own experience , so it remains to be seen if this one is a better night. 

[felser]

Did he really have good nights as late as 1983?  Honest question.  I've never heard any 80's work by him that even approached his 60's/70's prime.

[mhatta]

I believe this is a video from the same period as "Copenhagen Coda", but I had never seen it. The performance is not so bad, but he looks distressed and in bad shape.

 

[Gheorghe]

1 hour ago, mhatta said:

I believe this is a video from the same period as "Copenhagen Coda", but I had never seen it. The performance is not so bad, but he looks distressed and in bad shape.

 

Yes, I also saw that video and had thought it is the same material as the Copenhagen Coda . 

Well, I can compare directly. Compared to what I heard and saw in the same weeks this is very good and I think plays much better and looks better.

When I saw that embarrassing performance from the same period, Dexter was shabbily dressed, no suit, no ties, and an extremly short performance, and it was a big venue, it was the Viennese Concerthaus, the audience really remained embarrassed and disappointed.