After his exile in Europe Dexter Gordon returned to the USA the end of 1976. This event was documented on the 2 LP set Homecoming – Live at the Village Vanguard (CD1 & 2). After this Dexter and producer Michael Cuscuna embarked on a new project only a major label could fund: a larger ensemble to support the lush and marvellous tenor sound of Mr. Gordon. Slide Hampton was enlisted as arranger and the result was the album Sophisticated Giant (CD3). With his working quartet (George Cables, Rufus Reid and Eddie Gladden) Dexter recorded Manhattan Symphony in 1978 (CD4). The Live at Carnegie Hall tapes were discovered in 1998 and here we hear the quartet stretching out a bit more than in the confines of the studio walls. Johnny Griffin sits in on 2 tracks (CD5). The quartet broke up at the end of the 70’s so the next album Gotham City became an all-star affair with Woody Shaw, George Benson, Cedar Walton, Art Blakey & Percy Heath (CD6). The CBS All-Stars - Montreux Summit and the Havana Jam tracks on which Dexter plays can be found on the last CD (CD7). The tracks from the Great Encounters album are put back together with the original sessions from which they came. Dexter would even reach greater stardom with the general public through his appearance in the movie ‘Round Midnight but these albums from the late 70’s show us the strength and magnificent skills he had as an improviser. A true Sophisticated Giant of the Tenor Saxophone!

CD1: HOMECOMING
Live At The Village Vanguard
1. Gingerbread Boy
2. Little Red's Fantasy
3. Fenja
4. In Case You Haven't Heard
5. Fried Bananas

CD2: HOMECOMING
Live At The Village Vanguard
1. It's You Or No One
2. Let's Get Down
3. 'Round Midnight
4. Backstairs
5. Body And Soul

CD3: Sophisticated Giant
1. Laura
2. The Moontrane
3. Red Top
4. Fried Bananas
5. You're Blasé
6. How Insensitive
7. Diggin' In
8. It's Only A Paper Moon

CD4: Manhattan Symphonie
1. As Time Goes By
2. Moment's Notice
3. Tanya
4. I Told You So
5. Body And Soul
6. Ltd
7. Ruby, My Dear
8. Secret Love

CD5: Live At Carnegie Hall
1. Introduction
2. Secret Love
3. Introduction
4. The End Of A Love Affair
5. Introduction
6. More Than You Know
7. Introduction
8. Blues Up And Down
9. Introduction
10. Cheesecake

CD6: Gotham City
1. Hi Fly
2. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley
Square
3. The Blues Walk (Loose Walk)
4. Gotham City
5. A Conversation With Dexter
Gordon. Music Elements / Gotham
City/A Nightingale Sang…/Hi
Fly/Blues Walk
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas (Short Version)
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas (Long Version)

CD7: Bonus Tracks
1. Fried Bananas
2. The Moontrane
3. Red Top
4. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
5. Project S
6. Isn't She Lovely