Sophisticated Giant

The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon

By: Maxine Gordon

Narrated by: Joe Morton, Terria Joseph, Prentice Onayemi

Sophisticated Giant presents the life and legacy of tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon (1923-1990), one of the major innovators of modern jazz. In a context of biography, history, and memoir, Maxine Gordon has completed the book that her late husband began, weaving his “solo” turns with her voice and a chorus of voices from past and present. Reading like a jazz composition, the blend of research, anecdote, and a selection of Dexter’s personal letters reflects his colorful life and legendary times. It is clear why the celebrated trumpet genius Dizzy Gillespie said to Dexter, “Man, you ought to leave your karma to science.”

Dexter Gordon the icon is the Dexter beloved and celebrated on albums, on film, and in jazz lore - even in a street named for him in Copenhagen. But this image of the cool jazzman fails to come to terms with the multidimensional man full of humor and wisdom, a figure who struggled to reconcile being both a creative outsider who broke the rules and a comforting insider who was a son, father, husband, and world citizen. This essential book is an attempt to fill in the gaps created by our misperceptions as well as the gaps left by Dexter himself.

©2018 The Regents of the University of California (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

One of the best!!

Mrs. Gordon, THANK YOU!
This was one of the best bios I have ever read about an artist. Totally loved all the references and detail on sessions, people, and Mr. Gordon's highs and lows. I may have to listen again and order the book for the photos!! I pulled out my documentaries on Miles and 'Trane to watch for the umpteenth time along with 'Round Midnight. Enjoy everyone and stay safe!!! -TGH

Well researched and well-written.

This is an outstanding biography of tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, written by his widow, Maxine Gordon. It is factually accurate and a fast read.

Well Done Maxine!

I’ve read many books on Jazz musicians. This Hass to be the best! Well done, Maxine Gordon!

Highly recommend

Great story of the man Dexter Gordon his life and relationships along with his struggles. At the end Dexter was a good soul and the and lived the life of Jazz/Bee Bop

SOPHISTICATED GIANT Is a Sophisticated Giant of a Book.

A personal and informative journey into the world of BeBop and sophisticated jazz in the 20th century. Tells the triumphs and struggles of several of the musicians and a focus on what sustained Dexter Gordon. Written with sensitive love by his adoring wife.

Long Tall Dex Was Indeed a Sophisticated Giant

A wonderful bio written by his widow Maxine Gordon. From his Los Angeles roots and a father who was a well regarded physician to the early LA scene its all there. Maxine does an excellent job in filling in Dexter's life in the fifties (a decade he did not want to talk about) with some help by the late tenor sax man Hadley Caliman. A surprise from the read is how many did not think he could make a successful come back after his time in Europe. Well read, well performed by all involved . Listening to Gordon's album Doin Alright as I write this and hearing the book brings me a bit closer to these classic jazz performances and The Sophisticated Giant Long Tall Dex,

Beautifully Told

Really enjoyable and touching read. The writer's prose makes you emotionally connect to the characters and time period. The narration is absolutely first class, I can't wait to hear more from Terria Joseph and Joe Morton. The narrators' voices and cadences are well mated to the prose and Terria Joseph has one of those voices that oozes kindness. One of the things I like about jazz biographies are the side stories about other jazz musicians, being steeped deeply in the jazz world, the author has an abundance of these stories from her own direct experience, from what was narrated to her by Dexter himself, and her own research (which I note was a remarkable amount).

Overall, this is a sympathetic treatment of Dexter's life while being open about his flaws and failures (of which there are many). I would have liked to have gotten more details around Dexter's relationship with his other children, but I understand the sensitivity/privacy issues around these details, especially as this work has been written by Dexter's widow.

This is certainly highly recommended reading for jazz fans; you get the previously mentioned side stories about other musicians and I really appreciated the intricate details on recording contracts and the paltry sums these musicians received for their work. As a Blue Note fanatic, I relished the details on Dexter's professional/personal relationship with Alfred Lion and Francis Wolf. I also enjoy finding out what jazz musicians thought of the musicianship and playing chops of their fellow musicians.

To conclude, you walk away from this book having a good feel of not just Dexter Gordon's personality but Maxine Gordon's (the author) as well; you have a front row seat to Dexter's growth as a human being; you gain a better understanding of the lifestyle (good and bad) of jazz musicians; you discover new artists whose music you should be exploring (in my case Ike Quebec), and you also discover new narrators to follow on audible.

This book is a beautiful addition to the jazz biography canon and I really hope many people take a chance to read/listen to it.