"Meditation" from Dexter Gordon's 1969 album More Power! presents Antonio Carlos Jobim's beloved bossa nova composition in C major with an AABA form spanning 56 bars. Gordon delivers two relaxed choruses on tenor saxophone at 146 BPM, his warm tone and spacious phrasing lending the Brazilian melody a distinctly jazz sensibility. Pianist Barry Harris follows with one chorus, his bebop-rooted approach bringing a different harmonic perspective to Jobim's composition. The bossa nova feel, popular among jazz musicians since the early 1960s, is handled with authenticity and grace by the rhythm section. Gordon's interpretation of this standard avoids the overly smooth treatments that had become common by the late 1960s, instead bringing his characteristic depth of tone and rhythmic personality to the material. More Power! was recorded during a transitional period in Gordon's career, as he prepared to return to the American jazz scene after years of European residence. The album demonstrates his ability to engage with a wide range of repertoire while maintaining the distinctive musical identity that had made him one of jazz's most recognizable voices. Harris's accompaniment throughout is characteristically supportive, his comping providing a harmonic cushion that enhances Gordon's solo statements.
