Thinking of Dexter Gordon

Saxophonist Dexter Gordon is one of the first names I mention to young students looking to get hip to the sounds of jazz.  Unmistakable for his saxophone sound and rhythmic feel, Dexter’s playing remains easily identifiable among legions of followers and imitators.  I learned a number of standards from his recorded renditions, including It’s You Or No One, Love For Sale, The Shadow of Your Smile, You Stepped Out of a Dream, and Star Eyes. While Dexter became known to a mainstream audience late in his career due to his leading role in the movie ‘Round Midnight for which he was nominated as best actor for the 1986 Oscars, he has always been known to jazz fans for his use of riffs and quotes in …

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End of April Update

Summer seemed to arrive here in Nashville in full force this past Thursday, and upon looking at my calendar I realized we’re already 4 months into the year 2009.  Things have been going well for me here in Tennessee – I’ve become quite busy with teaching and gigging. I got to play two more concerts with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra: one downtown at the Nashville Convention Center where I covered  alto saxophone and flute, and then tenor saxophone and clarinet at this past Thursday night’s “Writer’s Night” at the Blair School of Music.  The saxophone section had some serious shredding to do in Bruce Dudley’s arrangement of Parisian Thoroughfare. …and I got a chance to wail on the debut of a Jim Williamson tune. Spent …

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Media From 3.29.09

Last Sunday was an exciting day for me as I got a chance to play with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra in the afternoon and lead Cobb’s Mob! at night.  NJO played an afternoon set at the Limelight, and I got a chance to wail on a Mike Crotty arrangement of Dolphin Dance and Christina Watson’s tune Free. I’ll be playing with the NJO two more times this month as well, on the 15th and the 23rd. At Cafe CoCo I debuted a couple new tunes and arrangements.  I’m not going to spoil those for you by posting them on here, but I have included some playing highlights below. Straight, No Chaser arranged by EC. [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/straight-no-chaser-solo-edit-32909.mp3] Rhythm-a-ning by Thelonious Monk [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rhythm-a-ning-solo-edit-32909.mp3] There should be another Cobb’s …

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Sound Clips and Photos from 1.25.09

The debut of Cobb’s Mob went off successfully at Cafe CoCo this past Sunday night.  Please enjoy some of the highlights below and feel free to add commentary. – evan Questionable Beliefs [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/music/Questionable Beliefs CoCo.mp3] Crack or Jack [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/crack-or-jack-12509-solo-edit.mp3] How High The Moon (by M. Lewis) [audio:http://evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/music/How High The Moon 1.25.09.mp3] Wail (by Bud Powell) [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/music/Wail 1.25.09.mp3]

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Monk’s Music In Nashville

Last night I had the pleasure of playing in another ensemble at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.  The group was a septet dedicated to the music of Thelonious Sphere Monk.  We performed six of his tunes, including two which were previously unknown to me: Four In One and Little Rootie Tootie.  The septet featured some original arrangements and the alto saxophone playing of Denis Solee, as well as the bass playing of the Workshop’s co-owner Roger Spencer.  I’ve posted some personal playing highlights below, with yours truly on the tenor saxophone.  I hope that you enjoy listening. Epistrophy [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/epistrophy-solo-edit.mp3] ‘Round Midnight [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/round-midnight-edit.mp3] Bright Mississippi [audio:http://www.evancobbjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/bright-mississippi-solo-edit.mp3] – evan

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