Dex Gordon's sound

Saxplayer_70 · 09-22-2003, 08:20 PM

How does he get that deep and rough tone that he has that is so full? I heard he puts his ligature way back. Is there anything else? I really like his sound and would like to copy it. What is his emoschure?

Quijote · 09-22-2003, 08:45 PM

vintage Florida Metal Otto Link

Mike Ruhl · 09-22-2003, 09:13 PM

Or a vintage Dukoff Hollywood, depending...

Subtone Sam · 09-22-2003, 09:42 PM

He played on Dukoff Hollywood with Conn 10M (or was it 30M?) and later MKVI with metal Link (around 8 tip) with Rico 3s.But the main part of his sound was because the way he was,physically and mentally;big,heavyset man,he was called "Long Tall" for a reason.I suggest you check out Bertrand Tavernier's film "Round Midnight",not because it is a great movie but you can see the connection between the man and the way he is and talks and his sound and playing.According to Tavernier (the director of "Round Midnight"),Gordon didn't really act but was more or less himself in the movie.

**Dr G** · 09-22-2003, 11:36 PM

Hey Subtone, I thought that was Charlie Rouse in "'Round Midnight".

What movie am I thinking of? (Obviously I don't know.)

Good observations, tho', that the man's sound was much more that the placement of his ligature... or mouthpiece selection... or choice of horn... Maybe his sound was influenced by what he heard in his head.

Maybe he practiced!

Quijote · 09-22-2003, 11:59 PM

IMO, "Round Midnight" is the great movie.

Mike Cesati · 09-23-2003, 12:22 AM

Dr G I think you mean "Straight No Chaser". The Monk film.

Jazzer · 09-23-2003, 01:43 AM

Well Charlie certainly played the song with Monk on its initial release but it is Long Tall in the movie and they also cover the tune in the movie as well. Speaking of the moive version, I thought it was an interesting version for sure.

I bought that movie and say that it, Straight No Chaser and the Ken Burns Jazz are probably the finest Jazz films ever made.

David

**Dr G** · 09-23-2003, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Dr G I think you mean "Straight No Chaser". The Monk film.

Ah, that's the ticket!

Thanks,

G

MattC · 09-23-2003, 04:05 AM

Quote:

the Ken Burns Jazz are probably the finest Jazz films ever made.

RS · 09-23-2003, 05:01 AM

Dexter had one of the greatest lines of all time in "Round Midnight" in the scene where he walks into a bar, sees a drunk passed out on the floor, and says "I'll have what he's having".

MB-913 · 09-23-2003, 09:19 AM

Not sure if you giys regoznie this. I always consider Dexter Gordon's articulation is very straight forwarder. He attack the reed more heavy & direct, don't make too much slur than than other players.

For his sound, his is unique. I don't think we can make same sound even use his setup. So, very player have their own sound even same instrument, MPC & reed.

Sam · 09-23-2003, 01:08 PM

If you want to sound like Dexter, all you have to do is get his gear, then shape your throat and mouth exactly like his . . . . . .

Mike Ruhl · 09-23-2003, 01:31 PM

I think it goes without saying that we all "sound like ourselves" when we play. And it should go without saying that you'll get a lot closer to Gordon's type of sound if you use a metal Link or Dukoff Hollywood than if you use a Runyon Bionix or Vandoren Jumbo Java.

There's no harm in asking "what did Player X use to get that sound". We all have to start somewhere.

danidin · 09-23-2003, 01:43 PM

RS my favorite line in around midnight is when Gordon returns to
NY from the calm Paris, gets a long and actic spech from his agent
(played by Martin Scorsece) sits on his bed in this New York "hotel" and says:
"S.O.S : Same Olds ****...."

sabritas · 09-23-2003, 05:10 PM

I was listening to cheese cake on the go album yesterday and playing along with transcription for the first time. (not getting most of it yet).....Well I like doing this because I found myself really listening to his tone and dynamics/ and beautiful inflections. While trying to play along I realized my tone is too even across notes. On CC, right of the bat Dex's notes bend- theres inflection an semi like vibrato on almost all of his endings. He mixes it up, too. I need more of this in my playing......On a live dvd prefromance I have of him doing CC it appears there are less dynamics, less inflection, and less semi like vibrato. He sounds more like me (sill way better).

The other thing about DEX I love is his playing seems to be very scale- ish. He seems logical. I'm in the process of memorizing my majors and major patterns etc...Many of is ideas seem attainable, more so than parker or coltrane for example....

About roundmidnight, well I watch this movie alot and you guys are missing the boat....The best line in there by far (one which I found only after watching and listening along with subtitles in english to figure out what the hell he was saying) comes when he's talking to the bar tender and aking for a drink and he calls him a "half a mother fu*ker"! lol... I'd never heard that before.....

MikeH · 09-24-2003, 03:31 AM

The quote is not original to Dexter. It originated with Lester Young who used this obscenity to refer to Pee Wee Marquette who was the MC at Birdland(who was a dwarf, to be politically incorrect) and who would not announce the players properly unless they tipped him generously.

michaelbaird · 10-13-2003, 10:10 PM

I got on SOTW today just so I could comment on how much I love Dexter's tone!

MB-913 · 10-14-2003, 10:33 AM

Need to recognize different setup makes different sound on the same player.

Dexter use Conn 10M & Dukoff Hollywood in his early Blue Note Record period. But switch to Mark VI & Florida Metal Link later.

His tone was different in these two periods. But most people like his Blue Note Record sound more (including myself).

michaelbaird · 10-14-2003, 08:56 PM

I do like his blue note sound better. That is hard to admit, I'm a selmer/ dukoff player.