dexter gordon

Dexter Moses is a saxophonist, composer, and educator in Durham. 

In addition to his own group, the Dexter Moses Quartet/Quintet, the musician has performed and recorded with Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Joey Calderazzo, and Nneena Freelon, among others.

A double alumnus from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), Dexter holds a bachelor’s in jazz studies and master’s in jazz composition and arranging. On Wednesdays, he hosts Evening Jazz at WNCU 90.7 FM, the university’s jazz radio station, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

On this episode, Dexter shares about: 

• the life and legacy of the legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon (to whom he dedicated his August show at the Sharp 9 Gallery in Durham);
• how listening to a bootleg recording of saxophonist Don Byas and bassist Slam Stewart inspired his master’s thesis at NCCU, which argued that Byas should be named among the founding fathers of bebop alongside saxophonist Charlie Parker;
• and negotiating the complexities of performing historic swing music today as a Black musician within the context of race and racism in the United States.

Further reading: Dexter mentions the longest musicians’ strike and recording ban in entertainment history, which took place from 1942 to 1944. Learn more about “The Day the Music Stopped.”

Dexter joined Six Count the day after being a featured artist of the Wednesday jazz jam hosted by drummer Taha Arif at Hayti Collective Kitchen and Cocktails in Durham. You can find out more about the weekly event, which takes place from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., by listening to Taha’s episode (published in April 2023). 

Dexter teaches private lessons in saxophone, flute, and clarinet at the Russell Lacy Music school in Durham (and he’s accepting new students!).

Episode art credit: Micah Haycraft

Music credits

This episode features a live recording of “The Change,” by the Dexter Moses Quartet.

This season features the songs “Forged in Rhythm” and “Callous & Kind” by Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers (2017), used by Six Count with permission from the artist. 

How to listen

You can find Six Count on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other listening app! The series also airs on taintradio.org, an online jazz radio station based in North Carolina, on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. EST. 

Support the show

If you’d like to support Six Count, you can make a gift on DonorBox or Venmo @thexarawilde. Follow Six Count on Instagram at @sixcountpodcast and Xara Wilde on Facebook and Instagram @thexarawilde.

Django Nudo and Smut Peddler are excited to have new films this week from two of their favourite companies that specialise in the beautiful restorations of lost classics: Denmark's Another World Entertainment and Deaf Crocodile.

From A.W.E. we have "Pornography - a Musical" (1971), a series of erotic vignettes with music by amongst others jazz legend Dexter Gordon. (NB: the Bodil scene is NOT included, for obvious reasons.). "Dear Irene" (1971) is an erotic love triangle drama by a director better known for his books on great cinema directors. Lastly there is "The Sweet Life on Mallorca" (1965) about the naughty things that your grandparents got up to when the Danes first embarked on package holidays to the Balearic islands.

Separately we also have "Love in Three Dimensions" (1973), which actually does work in 3D, but only if you have those old red-blue glasses in the bottom of some drawer. It is one for Christina Lindberg completionists, as she has a small part in the film. 

We then talk to Dennis Bartok and Craig Rogers, the co-founders of legendary boutique restoration, post-production and distribution label Deaf Crocodile. The company has specialised in finding forgotten gems and putting them out in gorgeous new versions on DVD, BluRay and DCP. Recent films include 1980s Romanian animated sci-fi "Delta Space Mission" (1984) and they are currently wrapping Kickstarter campaign for Jiří Barta’s stop-motion masterpiece "Pied Piper" (1986).

Cultpix is thrilled to present no less than six Deaf Crocodile films this spring, with two now and four later this spring. Dennis and Craig talk about their and the company backgrounds, method of finding and restoring films, as well as their cult following.

Don't call "Solomon King" (1974) a 'blaxploitation' film, because the black leads are not pimps or pushers but a super secret agent action hero. The only film by director and entrepreneur Sal Watts it was long-lost, until Deaf Crocodile managed to locate a surviving print. 

In "The Unknown Man of Shandigor" (1967) you get Serge Gainsborough headlining an amazing cast in a Swiss spy-action thriller about nuclear secrets and international intrigue. Marvelous and surreal, part-Dr Strangelove, par-Alphaville, with some The Avengers and Dr Who mixed in, this is a gorgeous restoration.

Keep an eye out for four additional films from Deaf Crocodile in the next few months.

There is a special Deaf Crocodile Spotify playlist with songs from and relating to this week's films.