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Bob Gordon

Bob Gordon was an American cool jazz baritone saxophonist born in St. Louis, Missouri, best known as a sideman for musicians like Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, Herbie Harper and Jack Montrose. He released one album as a bandleader. Gordon died in a car accident on his way to playing at a Pete Rugolo concert in San Diego.

His friend saxophonist Jack Montrose wrote, "The union of Bob Gordon and the baritone saxophone must have been decreed in Heaven, for never have I viewed such rapport between the natural tendencies of a musical instrument and the mind of the man using it. I cannot imagine Bob Gordon using any other instrument" Source: Wikipedia

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Album Review

Bob Gordon: Quintet/Sextet with Herbie Harper and Jack Montrose Complete Recordings

Read "Quintet/Sextet with Herbie Harper and Jack Montrose Complete Recordings" reviewed by David Rickert


Bob Gordon was a major player on the West Coast scene of the fifties and was on a path to become one of the greatest baritone sax players jazz had ever produced. Unfortunately, he died in an automobile accident in 1955, just as the cool jazz scene was beginning to gather some steam.

Before his untimely death he was a widely sought after session player, easily able to adapt to any leader's idiosyncrasies. He had a particular affinity ...

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Bob Gordon + Jack Montrose

Bob Gordon + Jack Montrose

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Bob Gordon was a fabulous West Coast baritone saxophonist whose brilliant jazz career was cut short at age 24 in a car accident. On August 28, 1955, Gordon and trumpeter Earl McCrea were driving to San Diego to play in a Pete Rugolo concert. Gordon's car was proceeding north on St. Andrew Place in Los Angeles when he was broadsided on the left side at Browning Blvd. by Emmett York, 22. Gordon was killed but McCrea, who complained of neck ...

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