The Comeback [Import]

Dexter Gordon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jazz Row
• ASIN: B001BOMBU6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,925 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2008 release. This edition contains Dexter Gordon's complete October 22, 1976 studio session. These are the very first recordings made by the tenor saxophonist upon returning to the U.S. after a 14-year exile in Europe. This is the first time that any of this material appears on CD! Six tracks. Jazz Row.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dexter's Return 1976, January 27, 2012

By 

John C. Graham (toronto, ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Comeback (Audio CD)

Recorded in a New York studio on October 22, 1976. Four of the six tracks are with a septet that featured Blue Mitchell and Sam Noto on trumpet, Al Cohn and Dexter on tenor sax, Barry Harris on piano, Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. Track four is a tenor sax duet and track five is just the two saxophones and the rhythm section. Total time is 79:55.

01 Lady Bird 11:00
02 How Deep Is The Ocean? 9:31
03 True Blue 17:39
04 On The Trail 8:23
05 Allen's Alley 13:39
06 Silver Blue 19:35

The music is familiar material that these professionals had played countless times throughout their years in the business. There was no rehearsal time before the session, just a brief discussion of tunes, keys, time signatures and solo order. Dexter had already played and recorded with each member of the rhythm section. This would be the only time he recorded with the horn players. From the beginning, there is a nice loose feeling to the proceedings. With each tune, the melodies would be stated before the inevitable string of solos followed. What makes this one special -different from the ordinary jam session type recording- is that everyone sounds inspired...they sound like they're playing with a purpose...perhaps it's because Dexter is back in town. My favourite track is the last and the longest. Silver Blue, at nearly 20 minutes, is an incredible version of the slow blues and always has me jumping up to hit the replay button when it's done. It's that good IMHO. Every track has some outstanding moments, the soloists are always up to the challenge and the rhythm sections just cooks. The informative liner-booklet breaks down each tune and lets you know who is playing and when.

Dexter recorded quite often throughout his lengthy career. Much has been made of his years with Blue Note where, arguably, he made his finest recordings which are still in print. Box sets from the Prestige and Steeplechase years are also available at this time as are the Columbia recordings from his last years. The recordings under review here were, if I remember correctly, found briefly in the 70's/80's on the Xanadu label in LP form(of course). Their quality is easily good enough to occupy space in your collection. If you're a Dexter fan, you won't want to miss this one.