Benji's Bounce – Dexter Gordon
A tribute to Thelonious Monk's Rhythm-A-Ning that takes the classic theme into new directions. Billy Higgins drum transcription available, plus a Solo Piano Arrangement, parts for two tenors, and a new quintet arrangement.
- Recording: Dexter Gordon - Bouncin' With Dex
- Recorded on: September 14, 1975
- Label: SteepleChase (SSCD 31060)
- Concert Key: B-flat
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (uptempo)
- Tenor Sax - Dexter Gordon
- Piano - Tete Montoliu
- Bass - Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen
- Drums - Billy Higgins
Video
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
Solos are on "rhythm changes."
A tenor sax second part is also available in the key of B♭ (Dexter's original key), as well as alternate second parts. This is ideal for a quintet with two tenors, a setting Dexter always loved. Of course, it can also be used with alto sax or guitar playing the melody (from our lead sheet) as the first part.
After a tour of England and the Continent in the fall of 1962, Dexter settled in Copenhagen, Denmark. He didn't start recording for the Steeplechase label until July of 1973, when he recorded with Jackie McLean live at the Jazzhus Montmartre (where they recorded Sunset by Kenny Drew). Dexter did his last New York recording for Prestige Records in June of 1972. Then he started recording for European labels, doing a series of recordings for Steeplechase between May 1974 and November 1976. Dexter recorded Benji's Bounce on the second day of two consecutive sessions for Steeplechase, replacing guitar with pianist Tete Montoliu for the second day. This recording features two European musicians, Montoliu (Spain), and Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen (Denmark), alongside Higgins.
-- eight-bar drum set up
-- melody is shown above the drum staff
-- everything Higgins plays behind the in melody
-- drum solo trading 8s, 4s and 2s with Dexter Gordon
-- everything Higgins plays behind the out melody
This transcription includes a lot of Billy Higgins solo material. Though mostly known for his signature "groove" on many classic Blue Note albums, Higgins' soloing is not to be overlooked. It is tasty, always grooving, and very much unique to his style.
The musical relationship between Billy and Dexter is evident throughout the track, but their interaction in the trading section is very special.
To hear Billy talking with engineer Rudy Van Gelder and Don Sickler about Dexter Gordon, click here. Drummer Victor Lewis talks about Higgins on our YouTube channel.
Related Songs
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- Recording: Thelonious Monk Institute NPAHS All Star Quintet - Benji's Bounce
- Recorded on: May 7, 2016
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1036)
- Concert Key: F
- Vocal Range: , to
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Trumpet - Evan Abounassar
- Tenor Sax - Isaiah Collier
- Piano - Jamael Dean
- Bass - Jud Mitchell
- Drums - Jerome Gillespie
Video
-
Dexter Gordon's BENJI'S BOUNCE is performed by the Thelonious Monk Institute National Performing Arts High School All-Star Peer-to-Peer Jazz Quintet 2016: Evan Abounassar, trumpet; Isaiah Collier, tenor sax; Jamael Dean, piano; Jud Mitchell, bass; Jerome Gillespie, Jr. , drums. Arrangement by Don Sickler for jazzleadsheets.com. Video made May 7, 2016, at the jazzleadsheets.com studio.
- Description
- Historical Notes
- Solos
- Piano Corner
- Bass Corner
- Drum Corner
- Guitar Corner
- Inside & Beyond
- Minus You
A minus-melody (no horns) MP3 is available at no charge, plus the mix of the session.
Rhythm section players should get the Condensed Score.
Related Songs
Email Send Benji's Bounce to a friend
Dexter Gordon
February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990
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...