Dexter Gordon – The Complete Columbia Albums Collection 7CD Box Set

Dexter Gordon – The Complete Columbia Albums Collection

After his exile in Europe Dexter Gordon returned to the USA the end of 1976. This event was documented on the 2 LP set Homecoming – Live at the Village Vanguard (CD1 & 2). After this Dexter and producer Michael Cuscuna embarked on a new project only a major label could fund: a larger ensemble to support the lush and marvellous tenor sound of Mr. Gordon. Slide Hampton was enlisted as arranger and the result was the album Sophisticated Giant (CD3). With his working quartet (George Cables, Rufus Reid and Eddie Gladden) Dexter recorded Manhattan Symphony in 1978 (CD4). The Live at Carnegie Hall tapes were discovered in 1998 and here we hear the quartet stretching out a bit more than in the confines of the studio walls. Johnny Griffin sits in on 2 tracks (CD5). The quartet broke up at the end of the 70’s so the next album Gotham City became an all-star affair with Woody Shaw, George Benson, Cedar Walton, Art Blakey & Percy Heath (CD6). The CBS All-Stars - Montreux Summit and the Havana Jam tracks on which Dexter plays can be found on the last CD (CD7). The tracks from the Great Encounters album are put back together with the original sessions from which they came. Dexter would even reach greater stardom with the general public through his appearance in the movie ‘Round Midnight but these albums from the late 70’s show us the strength and magnificent skills he had as an improviser. A true Sophisticated Giant of the Tenor Saxophone!

Tracklist:
Homecoming - Live At The Village Vanguard (Disc One)
1-1 Gingerbread Boy 13:48
1-2 Little Red's Fantasy 12:46
1-3 Fenja 12:46
1-4 In Case You Haven't Heard 11:14
1-5 Fried Bananas 14:54

Homecoming - Live At The Village Vanguard (Disc Two)
2-1 It's You Or No One 14:01
2-2 Let's Get Down 13:10
2-3 'Round Midnight 13:11
2-4 Backstairs 12:49
2-5 Body And Soul 13:04

Sophisticated Giant
3-1 Laura 7:39
3-2 The Moontrane 6:37
3-3 Red Top 8:52
3-4 Fried Bananas 7:53
3-5 You're Blasé 9:50
3-6 How Insensitive 4:54
Great Encounters
3-7 Diggin' In 4:49
3-8 It's Only A Paper Moon 5:08

Manhattan Symphonie
4-1 As Time Goes By 8:57
4-2 Moment's Notice 8:23
4-3 Tanya 7:25
4-4 I Told You So 6:38
4-5 Body And Soul 12:49
4-6 Ltd 6:47
4-7 Ruby, My Dear 8:43
4-8 Secret Love 10:45

Live At Carnegie Hall
5-1 Introduction 1:01
5-2 Secret Love 12:28
5-3 Introduction 0:31
5-4 The End Of A Love Affair 14:36
5-5 Introduction 0:54
5-6 More Than You Know 17:02
5-7 Introduction 1:15
5-8 Blues Up And Down 13:04
5-9 Introduction 0:35
5-10 Cheesecake 15:18

Gotham City
6-1 Hi Fly 9:35
6-2 A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 7:34
6-3 The Blues Walk (Loose Walk) 8:20
6-4 Gotham City 9:19
Bonus Tracks
A Conversation With Dexter Gordon (5:53)
6-5a Gotham City 1:29
6-5b A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 1:29
6-5c Hi Fly 1:30
6-5d Blues Walk 1:20
6-6 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Short Version) 7:05
6-7 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Long Version) 9:40

Bonus Tracks
7-1 Fried Bananas 13:14
7-2 The Moontrane 10:00
7-3 Red Top 11:27
7-4 Polka Dots And Moonbeams 11:41
7-5 Project S 8:36
7-6 Isn't She Lovely 3:22

Label: Music On CD
Released: 2011/2022