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.
Maxine Gordon is an independent scholar with a lifetime career working with jazz musicians. As an oral historian and archivist in the fields of jazz and African American cultural history, Sophisticated Giant fulfills the promise she made to her late husband, jazz saxophonist and Academy Award-nominated actor Dexter Gordon, to complete his biography.
"Who is Dexter Gordon? 1) A great musician of the highest level. 2) A great human being of the highest level."—Sonny Rollins, legendary tenor saxophonist
"What began as a solemn promise to Dexter Gordon to finish writing the story of his life is now an extraordinary gift to those of us who are the fortunate readers of Sophisticated Giant. Maxine Gordon’s rigorously researched, jazz-inflected, genre-bending account of the many dimensions of this prodigious life—from small intimacies, musical and personal, to major social issues, such as racism, drugs, and mass incarceration—is an occasion to appreciate Dexter’s resounding musical genius as well as his wish for major social transformation."—Angela Y. Davis, political activist, scholar, author, and speaker
"Sophisticated Giant tells a story from Buffalo Soldier to bebop, from Madagascar to Cuba! Maxine Gordon sheds light on the remarkable career and family history of Dexter Gordon, one of America’s most unique and misunderstood talents. When you talk about 'cool,' Dex lived it!"—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, author and legendary athlete
"At long last, the definitive biography of Dexter Gordon has arrived. Maxine Gordon's thoroughly researched and engaging biography uses Dexter's own voice as well as a chorus of jazz legends who riff on the musical changes in Gordon's extraordinary life. It's all here, leaving no doubt about the truth of Dexter Gordon's description of himself: 'I'm not just your ordinary B-flat.'"—Wesley Brown, author and playwright
"Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon, tells the story of the making of Round Midnight where Dexter possessed as much genius as an actor as he ever had as a musician. Dexter understood, intrinsically, that for all of Dale's problems, he was about creating something beautiful. Dexter's awkward gait, his weary, cigarette-ravaged voice, and rarefied charisma were all perfectly matched to Dale Turner, the character he brilliantly portrayed in Round Midnight."—Joe Morton, actor
"Long Tall Dexter was the tenor man Coltrane and I admired and wanted to be like when we changed from alto to tenor. We listened to everything he recorded. He and Sonny Stitt set the pace for the bebop tenor players."—Jimmy Heath, composer, bandleader, tenor saxophonist
"This biography tells the story of a man who was not only a tremendous musician, with a unique sound, the link between Hawkins and Coltrane, but one of the sharpest, funniest human beings I have ever met; very educated and very hip."—Bertrand Tavernier, French film director, screenwriter, and producer; director of Round Midnight
296 pp.6 x 9Illus: 23 b/w illustrations
9780520350793$19.95|£16.99Paper
Sep 2020