https://open.spotify.com/track/4uMntEazjdxBjAc3JV79aZ
Tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon was a leading figure in bebop, drawing upon the styles of both of Count
Basie’s tenor players, Lester Young and Herschel Evans, to forge his own style in the bebop idiom. His
composition Bikini exhibits an interesting and unique hybrid form.
Listen attentively to Bikini performed by Dexter Gordon, tenor saxophone (ts); Jimmy Bunn, piano (p); Red
Callender, bass (b); and Chuck Thompson, drums (d); and address the following questions:
1/ The order of solos in this piece is: Gordon, Bunn, Callender, and Thompson (at end). Provide counter
numbers for the beginnings and ends of all four solos.
2/ Compare and contrast the solo styles, and describe them. Listen to how they phrase or create musical lines
over the chord changes. Try to include some detail.
3/ How many choruses does each of them take?
4/What is your impression of this piece? How do these bebop soloists differ from the swing soloists that you
have heard? Does the bebop ensemble treat or arrange the melody differently from the swing big band
arrangements (of melody) that you have heard? If so, how?
Sample Solution
