However, rather than go for the legendary Blue Note albums which, in truth, I've almost worn out - let's face it, they are the modern jazz equivalent of the Armstrong Hot Fives, the 1940 Ellingtons or the Beethoven Symphonies - so, I went back to his earlier Savoy recordings.
And I wasn't let down. Back then (1945-47) he was setting the pace. Like his future sparring partner Wardell Gray, he still had a slight hint of Lester as well as Hawkins, particularly on ballads, although Illinois Jacquet was, in Dexter's case, a bigger influence overall the two having played together in the Lionel Hampton Band which was Dexter's debut with a 'name' band.
This was bebop tenor and yet it bore only the slightest Parker influence. However, his influence on Coltrane, even at this early stage, could be noted by the keen-eared listener - or so a keen-eared listener once told me - and he was right!
As well as Dexter, this double album also has Leo Parker on baritone who indulges in a couple of chase choruses and takes Dexter to a split decision.
Fats Navarro, Howard McGhee, Bud Powell, Sonny Criss and other members of the bebop elite also add to the delights.
If you want to learn bop tenor this is a good place to start and then move on to the Blue Notes and beyond. I feel so privileged to have heard him live in Newcastle in 1978. Lance
Dexter Gordon: Long Tall Dexter - the Savoy Sessions.
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