Dexter Gordon
Tenor Sax Solo on
Meditation

About

Dexter Gordon's tenor saxophone solo is the first of two improvisations on this rendition of Jobim's beloved bossa nova composition. Taking two choruses of the 56-bar AABA form in C at 146 BPM, Gordon delivers a relaxed statement that adapts his warm tone and spacious phrasing to the Brazilian rhythmic setting. His approach lends the melody a distinctly jazz sensibility while respecting the bossa nova groove, the extended 56-bar form providing ample room for melodic development.

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