Dexter Gordon was born in 1923 in Los Angeles, California. His father was one of the first African-American physicians in L.A. Among his patients were Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton. Gordon began playing the clarinet at the age of 13. After two years, he shifted to the alto saxophone, and then to the tenor. At school, he played in bands with Chico Hamilton and Buddy Collette. He was a member of Lionel Hampton’s band between 1940 and 1943. Afterwards, he was also featured in the Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, and Billy Eckstine bands.
At the end of 1944, Gordon was residing in New York and was the featured soloist of the Billy Eckstine band. Not long after, he was featured on recordings by Dizzy Gillespie and Sir Charles Thompson. By late 1945, he was recording under his own name. Two years later, he moved back to Los Angeles for Ross Russell’s label. Back in L.A. he became known for “dueling” with fellow tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray.
In 1955, he recorded the albums Daddy Plays the Horn and Dexter Blows Hot and Cool. He also played for the Ozy Matthews Big Band in 1959, along with Curtis Amy then recorded The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon in 1960.
Gordon signed with Blue Note Records in 1961, making him move back to New York City. With this label, they produced albums for several years, some of which gained much acclaim. The Blue Note recordings allowed him to record with Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Barry Harris, Kenny Drew, Horace Parlan, Bud Powell, and Billy Higgins. Today, these recordings are considered as jazz classics. But his stay in New York turned out to be shorter than expected. Gordon got offers for engagements in England and Europe. Working in London was a new experience for Gordon. He began to travel and work in Europe and eventually settled in Copenhagen. He returned to the U.S. in 1976 where he received a hero’s welcome. Upon returning to America, he signed with Columbia Records and organized his first working band. He considered this band to be his best and toured extensively with them.
“Jazz to me is a living music. It’s a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, the hopes of the people.” — Dexter Gordon
In 1986, Dexter shifted careers from musician to actor. He starred in the motion picture Round Midnight, a film directed by Bertrand Tavernier. Gordon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and won for his portrayal of Dale Turner, a character based on the lives of Lester Young and Bud Powell. The music of the film won an Oscar for musical director Herbie Hancock. In 1990, the film Awakenings was released. It starred Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. Dexter Gordon had a non-speaking cameo appearance in that film. In April of that same year, Dexter Gordon died of kidney failure and cancer of the larynx at the age of 67.
Oris and jazz go back many years, and the company’s limited edition jazz-inspired watches have become favorites of collectors. This year, Oris is delighted to announce a watch that commemorates the life and accomplishments of Dexter Gordon.
The Oris Dexter Gordon Limited Edition is the seventeenth jazz watch made by Oris. Its design cues are inspired by the saxophonist. Overall, the watch presents itself in a harmonious aura, a reflection of Gordon’s famously warm, sociable personality. Looking at the dial, the 12 o’clock index appears to be like any other index that has been modified a little to separate it from the others, signifying its top position. But upon careful inspection, the 12 o’clock index is actually designed to look like the shape of a saxophone reed.
Looking even closer, you will notice a small letter “D” just above the 12 o’clock index. In fact, each hour index has a small letter just above, spelling out the name “DEXTER GORDON” around the dial. It is very subtle, yet apt, to honor the man. Another subtle design cue is the brass-colored seconds hand that clearly refers to the brass color of a saxophone.
Dexter Gordon was a tall man, standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall. He was nicknamed Long Tall Dex. Oris pays homage to this moniker by engraving it on the watch’s case back. This timepiece is limited to 1,000 pieces.
Dexter Gordon once said: “Jazz to me is a living music. It’s a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, the hopes of the people.”
