Evan Cobb Jazz
Nashville Saxophonist and Oboist, Composer, Instructor

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.

Dexter showing good posture and proper embrouchure

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 his solos.  Wanting to find a better understanding of where that vocabulary came from, I’ve started listening to some of his older tracks, mainly from the disc ‘Dexter Rides Again‘, his first album as bandleader.

Once Dexter got a recording contract from Blue Note Records, he recorded very few original tunes.  On ‘Dexter Rides Again’ however, ten of the eleven tracks were penned by Gordon himself.  Listening to the heads of a few of these tunes gives the listener an idea of how his compositions reflected his riff-based playing.

Settin’ the Pace, Pts. 1 & 2 -  similar to a rhythm changes (Leo Parker on bari)

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Blow Mr. Dexter - an unfortunately titled blues

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Dexter Rides Again – an original tune and the title track

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It’s also worth noting how much you can hear Lester Young’s direct influence on Dexter’s playing in 1945.  In fact, if you check out the Verve album ‘Lester Young Trio‘ released in 1994, you’ll find four Dexter Gordon tracks recorded in 1943 at the end of the disc.

At the Cobb’s Mob! gig last weekend here in Nashville, we played a Dexter Gordon tune penned in similar fashion.  Here’s our version and my solo:

The Chase – recorded 6.7.09 at Cafe CoCo

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How has Dexter Gordon influenced you?

- evan

It is with great pleasure that I tell you about an upcoming evening of music and art which I am honored to be a part of.

Gallery One of Nashville is to present a chamber music recital on the 11th of March, 2009, at 7pm. The recital will feature violinist Sean Neukom, cellist Alicia Storin, and Oboist Evan Cobb. The design of the program is to highlight employment of color and texture in music. First on the program is Sonata for Violin and Cello by Maurice Ravel. While this work utilizes the typical subtlety and contour of Ravel, it also hinges on the use of dissonance, vivacious rhythmic patterns, and Gypsy bravura found throughout the composer’s later works. Second, Mr. Neukom will parry with the virtuosic gauntlet of Eugène Ysaÿe’s Solo Sonata No. 1, Op. 27. Finally, Mr. Cobb will join the duo for a world premiere of Trio for Violin, Cello, and Oboe commissioned from Nashville composer Alyssa Weinberg, sure to be a stunning conclusion to a colorful recital. During the recital, artist Lori-Gene will lend her talent to the evening by capturing the performers on canvas. The recital is free and open to the public and is suitable for children, adults, amateur, and professional musicians alike.

After the recital, I’ll be headed to Windows Off the Cumberland where I’m playing in a jazz quartet led by the fine saxophonist and head of MTSU’s jazz department, Don Aliquo.

- evan

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. 

Evan Cobb and Denis Solee

EC and Roger Spencer