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Don Sickler writes: "While preparing this edition for jazzleadsheets.com, I noticed that my previous lead sheet proofs didn't have articulations indicated. I'd even written legato under the first note as a general style description. Legato is certainly one valid way to play this delightful melody. However, since two versions of Dexter performing the composition are available, the master take and the alternate, we can hear how he often varies the articulation. I've elected to add Dexter's articulation on the master take to the lead sheet. The staccato marks mean Dexter plays those notes separated, not short. Our audio excerpt starts at the beginning of the track with the melody, which is in an elongated AABA format, each section 16 measures in length."
In 1969, Dexter traveled back and forth between Europe and the US. Just before this recording, he played and also recorded for Prestige at the Montreux Jazz Festival (June 18, 1970). After "The Panther" session he went to Chicago to record "The Chase" album with Gene Ammons, then to the West Coast, then back to New York before returning to Europe for more performances. That trip started with a Jazz Festival in Zurich (September 18, 1970).
Dexter wrote this composition for his daughter Robin.
Tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon was born in Los Angeles, CA. In his last year of high school, he received a call from alto saxophonist Marshall Royal asking him to join the Lionel Hampton big band. This led to Dexter's first recording, with the Hampton band, on December 21, 1941. In 1944, after a few weeks with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra and working and recording with Louis Armstrong's orchestra, Dexter joined Billy Eckstine and recorded with Eckstine's legendary band of soon-to-be jazz superstars that included Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Leo Parker, Art Blakey, Sarah Vaughan, arranger Tadd Dameron and others, on September 5, 1944. Read more...
