It’s You Or No One

Dexter Gordon

Dexter is in prime form during this performance from late in his career

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Dexter Gordon had a long and episodic career that began in the last years of the swing era and largely ended with his Academy Award-nominated performance in the 1986 film Round Midnight.

A few years after he had triumphantly returned to the United States, he was still in prime form when he performed with his quartet of 1978-79 at the Iowa State campus as part of the “Jazz At The Maintenance Shop” series.

During a lengthy and uptempo version of “It’s You Or No One,” Dexter Gordon sounds inspired, coming up with inventive ideas over a hard-swinging rhythm section consisting of pianist George Cables, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Eddie Gladden.

Throughout the performance, Dexter Gordon once again proves that he was one of the all-time greats of jazz.

Personnel:

Dexter Gordon, tenor
George Cables, piano
Rufus Reid, bass
Eddie Gladden, drums

– Scott Yanow

 

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