Dexter Gordon
Tenor Sax Solo on
Lady Bird

About

Dexter Gordon's tenor saxophone solo is the first of three improvisations on this spirited rendition of Tadd Dameron's elegant composition, featuring a rare two-tenor summit between Gordon and James Moody. Taking nine choruses of the 16-bar form in C at 162 BPM, Gordon opens with his trademark behind-the-beat phrasing and melodic wit on full display. The nine-chorus statement is expansive and commanding, each chorus building on the last as Gordon navigates Dameron's lyrical composition with the ease of a master storyteller.

Dexter Gordon was 45 to 46 years old at the time.