DEXTER GORDON
The Sophisticated Giant
Bande No. 1
Bande No. 1
DEXTER GORDON & DONALD BYRD
THE BERLIN STUDIO SESSION 1963
By 1963, Dexter Gordon and Donald Byrd had become two of the leading lights of the Blue Note label, curiously, however, it was not until the autumn of that year that the two musicians made a recording together.
The session was a fine one in itself: Gordon, obviously enchanted by the playing of his young colleague, invited him a few months later to play on their one and only shared record on the Blue Note label: the sparkling One Flight Up.
DEXTER GORDON/DONALD BYRD
THE BERLIN STUDIO SESSION 1963
DEXTER GORDON/DONALD BYRD
THE BERLIN STUDIO SESSION 1963
The History of this discovery
“Two idolized giants of Jazz. When we discover this 28-minute tape with these names on it, we can't believe our eyes, knowing that this is the second recording in the history of music of Donald Byrd and Dexter Gordon are together! The studio session, captured in the RBB Studio 1 – the world's first modular acoustic studio – is a true gem recorded brilliantly. Listening to the original tape for the first time, we knew that we had, once again, made music history! »
Frédéric D'ORIA-NICOLAS
Musical treasure seeker
THE FORMATS OF THIS DISCOVERY
Maxine Gordon
“I was thrilled to visit The Lost Recordings studio in Paris and listen to this wonderful session for the first time. It was like Dex was in the room!”
Dexter Gordon: A Tenor Saxophone Virtuoso
Dexter Gordon, an undisputed master of the tenor saxophone, has been making jazz history since the mid-40s. Fusing the rhythmic insouciance of Lester Young and the virile sensuality of Coleman Hawkins through the prism of bebop, Gordon forged a unique style that has influenced many musicians and left its mark on the hard bop genre.
After years of battling addiction, the musician enjoyed a creative renaissance in the early '60s. Despite a tumultuous career, Gordon managed to maintain his status as a leading musician on the jazz scene, leading him to collaborate with many of the genre's great names.
One of these pivotal moments took place on November 14, 1963, during a recording session in Berlin organized by the American alto saxophonist and arranger Herb Geller. Gordon was one of the "Special Guests" at this session, which brought together seasoned American musicians and talented young European soloists. The compositions resulting from this session, in a variety of styles, bear witness to Gordon's virtuosity and talent.
This musical encounter was particularly significant in that it enabled Gordon to collaborate with trumpeter Donald Byrd.
Their exchange of styles and improvisational talents culminated in their sole collaboration on a Blue Note album, the sparkling "One Flight Up".
Dexter Gordon: The Legacy of a Jazz Great
Dexter Gordon, a major figure in twentieth-century jazz, made a major contribution to the evolution of hard bop. His career, characterized by a distinctive musical style and a capacity for constant innovation, has firmly established him in musical history. In 1963, his meeting with the talented trumpeter Donald Byrd during a recording session in Berlin led to a unique collaboration, fusing their styles to give life to the exceptional album "One Flight Up". This precious piece of musical history is now accessible thanks to the reissue offered by The Lost Recordings.
"What I'm doing, I prefer to call that jazz, because it is a beautiful word - I love it."
OUR HAPPY MUSIC LOVERS