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Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray

Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray were bebop's tenor kings, famed for their epic saxophone duels. Geoffrey Smith recalls those thrilling encounters and their later individual careers, marred by battles with drugs.

First broadcast in December 2013.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 22 May 2016 00:00

BBC Radio 3

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Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon

The Chase
Performer: Wardell Gray, Dexter Gordon, ts; Jimmy Bunn, p; Red Callender, b; Chuck Thompson, d. 12 June 1947.
Composer: Gordon, Gray
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- P1318. Tr. 1 (6.47).
Wardell Gray

Stealin Apples
Performer: Wardell Gray, ts; Fats Navarro, t; Benny Goodman, cl; Gene Di Novi, p; Mundell Lowe, g; Clyde Lombardi, b; Mel Zelnick, d. 9 September 1948.
Composer: Waller, Razaf
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- P1318. Tr. 17 (3.06).
Wardell Gray

Twisted
Performer: Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Tommy Potter, b; Roy Haynes, d. 11 November 1949.
Composer: Gray
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- Proper 1319. Tr. 9 (3.04).
Wardell Gray

Southside
Performer: Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Tommy Potter, b; Roy Haynes, d. 11 November 1949.
Composer: Gray
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- Proper1319. Tr. 10 (3.21).
Wardell Gray

Sweet Lorraine
Performer: Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Tommy Potter, b; Roy Haynes, d. 11 November 1949.
Composer: Parish, Burwell
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- Proper P1319. Tr. 12 (4.06).
Wardell Gray

Little Pony

Composer: Hefti
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- Proper 1319. Tr.22 (2.29).
Wardell Gray

The Jeep is Jumpin
Performer: Clark Terry, t; Juan Tizol, v-tb; John Graas, fr-h; Willie Smith, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Harry Carney, bs; Billy Strayhorn, p, arr; Wendell Marshall, b; Louis Bellson, d; 2 February 1952.
Composer: Ellington, Hodges
- The Wardell Gray Story.
- Proper.
- Proper 1320. Tr. 7 (3.05).
Dexter Gordon

Long Tall Dexter
Performer: Leonard Hawkins, t; Dexter Gordon, ts; Bud Powell, p; Curley Russell, b; Max Roach, d. 29 January 1946.
Composer: Gordon
- Long Tall Dexter.
- Savoy.
- SJL 2211/A; A7 (2.58).
Dexter Gordon

I Can't Escape from You
Performer: Leonard Hawkins, t; Dexter Gordon, ts; Bud Powell, p; Curley Russell, b; Max Roach, d. 29 January 1946.
Composer: Robin, Whiting
- Long Tall Dexter.
- Savoy.
- SJL 2211/A; B2 (3.11).
Dexter Gordon

Soy Califa
Performer: Dexter Gordon, ts; Sonny Clark, p; Butch Warren, b; Billy Higgins, d. 29 August 1962.
Composer: Gordon
- A Swingin Affair.
- Blue Note.
- CDP7841332 (1); Tr.1 (6.24).