This tenor saxophonist was an adaptable sideman as well as a flexible interpreter of classic jazz tunes. When accompanying Herbie Hancock on the keyboardist's debut, Takin' Off, Gordon pivoted from his hard-charging playbook to embrace the languid soul-jazz groove of “Watermelon Man”. And he could elevate any hard-bop session, as with his brisk solo on “Tune Up”, led by drummer Stan Levey.