Author Maxine Gordon continues her extensive tour of speaking engagements and presentations around the release of Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon, the highly-praised official biography of her late husband.
“Maxine Gordon astutely frames the fiery daring of Dexter Gordon’s generation of bebop innovators in the context of rising black consciousness and creative agency in midcentury America…“Sophisticated Giant” is a work of considerable sophistication, the first-person testimony of its subject employed with affectionate discipline, smartly contextualized and augmented by material from interviews Maxine Gordon conducted with the tenor saxophone masters Sonny Rollins and Jimmy Heath, the record producers Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cucsuna, and others.”
—The New York Times
Jazz and culture aficionados will be delighted if they are in the area and able to attend one of the below events:
- June 25, Tuesday, Capitol Theatre, Cleveland, OH – 6–10 PM —Screening and discussion of the 1986 film ‘Round Midnight. Jazz legend Dexter Gordon played the lead role in this fictional film about an aging saxophonist who rekindles his spirit in Paris. Maxine Gordon will participate in a Q&A session and book signing after the screening. Saxophonist Nathan Paul Davis will perform before the film.
- June 27–29, Thursday–Saturday, Tri-C Jazz Fest, Cleveland, OH —Book discussion with Maxine Gordon.
- July 19, Friday, Peavey Memorial Library, Eastport, ME – 1 PM — Book discussion with Maxine Gordon.
- July 20, Saturday, Eastport Arts Center, Eastport, ME – 6 PM — Screening of ‘Round Midnight and Sophisticated Giant book discussion.
- August 3, Saturday, Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI — Storyville, Book discussion with legendary jazz impresario George Wein.
- August 31, Saturday, Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI — Book discussion and interview by Mark Stryker in the Festival Talk Tent.
Not coming to your town? Sophisticated Giant events will continue, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and more. Stay tuned here or visit www.maxinegordon.com for ongoing event details.