{"product_id":"9780520280649","title":"Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon","description":"\u003ci\u003eSophisticated Giant\u003c\/i\u003e presents the life and legacy of tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon (1923-1990), one of the major innovators of modern jazz. In a context of biography, history, and memoir, Maxine Gordon has completed the book that her late husband began, weaving his \"solo\" turns with her voice and a chorus of voices from past and present. Reading like a jazz composition, the blend of research, anecdote, and a selection of Dexter's personal letters reflects his colorful life and legendary times. It is clear why the celebrated trumpet genius Dizzy Gillespie said to Dexter, \"Man\u003cb\u003e, \u003c\/b\u003e you ought to leave your karma to science.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Dexter Gordon the icon is the Dexter beloved and celebrated on albums, on film, and in jazz lore--even in a street named for him in Copenhagen. But this image of the cool jazzman fails to come to terms with the multidimensional man full of humor and wisdom, a figure who struggled to reconcile being both a creative outsider who broke the rules and a comforting insider who was a son, father, husband, and world citizen. This essential book is an attempt to fill in the gaps created by our misperceptions as well as the gaps left by Dexter himself.","brand":"University of California Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47026077565168,"sku":"9780520280649","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780520280649_p0.jpg?v=1763710008","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780520280649","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}