This mammoth eight-disc box set contains all of the recordings Dexter Gordon cut for Steeplechase Records during the mid-'70s during the last years of his long sojourn in Paris. While his earlier Blue Note sides are often considered his finest, these dates, placing him in the company of brilliant musicians such as Kenny Drew, Tete Montoliu, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Albert Heath, Billy Higgins, Barry Harris, Sam Jones, and others, unquestionably rival them in quality. In addition to the great catalog Gordon amassed at Steeplechase, he left a ton of alternate takes and unreleased material on the shelf. This set brings together all of it, including 24 never-before-issued performances, making this, along with the Blue Note box set, the definitive Dexter Gordon caught at both his creative peaks.
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (tracks: 1-1 to 7-9), Sam Jones (tracks: 7-9 to 8-8)
Drums – Al Foster (tracks: 7-9 to 8-8), Al "Tootie" Heath* (tracks: 1-1 to 2-12), Alex Riel (tracks: 7-1 to 7-9), Billy Higgins (tracks: 5-1 to 6-8), Tony Inzalaco (tracks: 3-1 to 4-6)
Engineer – Elvin Campbell (tracks: 7-9 to 8-8), Freddy Hansson (tracks: 1-1 to 7-9)
Guitar – Philip Catherine (tracks: 5-1 to 5-10)
Piano – Barry Harris (2) (tracks: 7-9 to 8-8), Horace Parlan (tracks: 3-1 to 4-6), Kenny Drew (tracks: 1-1 to 2-12), Tete Montoliu (tracks: 6-1 to 6-8)
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon
Sessions location and date:
# 1-1 to 1-9: Rosenberg Studios, Copenaghen, July 24, 1974.
# 1-10 to 2-11: Rosenberg Studios, Copenaghen, September 9, 1974.
# 3-1 to 4-6: Rosenberg Studios, Copenaghen, March 10, 1975.
# 5-1 to 5-10: Rosenberg Studios, Copenaghen, September 13, 1975.
# 6-1 to 6-8: Rosenberg Studios, Copenaghen, September 14, 1975.
# 7-1 to 7-9: Sweet Silence Studios, Copenaghen, June 15, 1976.
# 7-10 to 8-8: CI Recording Studios, New York, November 9, 1976.
Disc: 1
1 Some Other Blues [Take 1]
2 Some Other Blues [Take 2]
3 Strollin'
4 Old Folks [Take 1]
5 Old Folks [Take 2]
6 Mr. P.C. [Take 1]
7 Mr. P.C. [Take 2]
8 Days of Wine and Roses
9 There Will Never Be Another You
10 Apartment [Take 1]
11 Apartment [Take 2]
Disc: 2
1 Apartment [Take 3]
2 Candlelight Lady [Take 1]
3 Candlelight Lady [Take 2]
4 Candlelight Lady [Take 3]
5 Antabus [Take 1]
6 Antabus [Take 2]
7 Antabus [Take 3]
8 Strollin'
9 Wee-Dot [Take 1]
10 Wee-Dot [Take 4]
11 Stablemates [Take 1]
12 Stablemates [Take 6]
Disc: 3
1 Just Friends [Take 1]
2 Just Friends [Take 2]
3 Just Friends [Take 3]
4 Misty [Take 1]
5 Misty [Take 2]
6 Misty [Take 3]
7 So What
Disc: 4
1 Stablemates [Take 1]
2 Stablemates [Take 2]
3 In a Sentimental Mood
4 Red Cross [Take 1]
5 Red Cross [Take 3]
6 Red Cross [Take 4]
Disc: 5
1 Freddie Freeloader [Take 3]
2 Freddie Freeloader [Take 4]
3 When Sunny Gets Blue
4 Invitation
5 Winther's Callin'
6 Yesterday's Mood [Take 1]
7 Yesterday's Mood [Take 3]
8 Yesterday's Mood [Take 4]
9 Special Introduction By Gordon
10 Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Disc: 6
1 Four [Take 1]
2 Four [Take 2]
3 Catalonian Nights
4 Easy Living [Take 1]
5 Easy Living [Take 2]
6 Easy Living [Take 3]
7 Benji's Bounce
8 Billie's Bounce
Disc: 7
1 Nursery Blues [Take 2]
2 Nursery Blues [Take 3]
3 Tanya
4 Born to Be Blue [Take 1]
5 Born to Be Blue [Take 2]
6 Good Bait
7 Lullaby for a Monster [Take 2]
8 Lullaby for a Monster [Take 3]
9 On Green Dolphin Street
10 La Modal
Disc: 8
1 Skylark [Take 1]
2 Skylark [Take 2]
3 Skylark [Take 3]
4 Blue Bossa
5 Apple Jump
6 Georgia on My Mind
7 I'll Remember April [Take 1]
8 I'll Remember April [Take 2]
