In the mid- to late '40s, there were three great young tenor saxophonists:
Dexter Gordon,
Wardell Gray, and
Teddy Edwards. Of the trio,
Dexter Gordon had the greatest influence on upcoming players and was the most bop-oriented. This superb two-LP set contains all 17 selections
Gordon cut for Savoy during 1945-1947 plus eight alternate takes and a jam session performance (with trumpeter
Howard McGhee and altoist
Sonny Criss) titled "After Hours Bop."
Gordon is heard in a quartet, with several quintets (featuring such major players as pianist
Bud Powell, drummers
Max Roach and
Art Blakey, baritonist
Leo Parker, and trumpeter
Fats Navarro) and in a septet with trumpeter
Joe Newman and trombonist
J.J. Johnson. Throughout,
Gordon holds his own with the slightly older players and gets his career off to a brilliant start.