Customer Reviews

Daddy Plays the Horn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dexter's Bethlehem recordings are markedly different from the recordings he made with Blue Note Records. The Bethlehem recordings capture Dexter brimming with confidence as always, but without the bitter tone he adopted in later years. Call it youthful exuberance. It's awe inspiring. Pure swagger. Dexter is backed by pianist Kenny Drew, heavyweight bass player Leroy Vinnegar, and young Lawrence Marable on drums (currently with Alan Broadbent and Charlie Haden). I've been listening to this album for 20 years and it's still fresh as the day I bought it.

This beautifully remastered CD is a joy for those of us who are too young to have enjoyed this musical genius during the 50s. My favorites are the slower tunes "Darn that Dream" and "Autumn in New York". The other four selections have a be-bop feel to them and are great, but you won't be playing this CD during a romantic interlude. Also, be warned: Whoever printed the song list put #3 as "You Can Depend on Me" when it's actually "Darn that Dream" (listed as #6).

IT IS MY UNDERSTANING THAT THIS "ALBUM" WAS RECORDED IN THE 50'S. DEXTER HAD NOT TOO LONG GOTTEN OUT OF THE JOINT FOR A DRUG BEEF. THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN HE SOUNDS BRILLIANT. BETHELHAM AND SAVOY RECORDS DID NOT ALWAYS EMPLOYE THE BEST RECORDING TECHNIQUES OR USE THE BEST RECORDING EQUIPMENT !

This is a hard-swinging date with Dexter playing with just a bit more nimbleness than on his later recordings while pianist Kenny Drew is not only supportive but matches him in melodic ideas and swing. The West-Coast rhythm section of Leroy Vinnegar, bass, and Lawrence Marable, drums, is less "busy" than its East-Coast counterparts on the Blue Note/Prestige dates of the era. As a result, the emphasis is on straightahead mainstream playing, at which Dexter simply has no peers.

Mention Dexter Gordon and people will immediately think of the Blue Note sessions like "Go" But for me it was the earlier period in late 40's early 50's Los Angeles that was his best period.Yes maybe less sophisticated and matching the sound of contemporaneities like Wardell Gray and Lucky Thompson it was and exciting sound and Central Ave must have been just as exciting as 52nd street in New York and not only from the "West Coast Sound" of ex Herman and Kenton-nites. The problem that Dex had during this period was not uncommon a hard core heroin habit.This LP is when he had just done a 5 year stretch and like a Phoenix rising from potential ashes it turns out his power hadn't dulled a bit.Much of what came out of labels like Bethlehem were a "no-cost" jazz.You couldn't say this sounded at all different than New York Be-Bop/Hard Bop.Here he teams with Kenny Drew (who like Sonny Clark did many California sessions),L.A Bass star Leroy Vinegar,and Lawrence Marable on drums who is now known best for his work in Charlie Haden's "Quartet West" (though I think his Jazz West session with Sonny Clark and the tragically under appreciated James Clay "Tenorman" is one of the greatest jazz LP's ever).But here Dex is the star,full of the energy,and again with no sense of impairment to his skills after not playing for close to five years.The band play one Gordon original 1)Number Four ,then play all standards 2)Autumn in New York 3)You Can Depend on Me -then another Gordon tune title track 4)Daddy Plays the Horn -Birds' 5) Confirmation and end with a gorgeous 6)Darn That Dream.To me this is just plain great jazz no matter the era or coast.If your not familar listen to the clips.
Cheers
Chazz

This is a nice if fairly standard jazz outing by the long tall one where he tears apart some blues and well known standards on this label that I have never heard of. Also the tracks are listed out of order. I first heard this when I didn't know anything about jazz so the song that I fell in love with, which I referred to as Autumn in New York, was actually Confirmation. Of course now the difference is painfully obvious but they need to straighten things out here. Otherwise the playing is pretty happy and swinging and laid back and stuff, so you might want to check it out.

If you can find this rare cd or album, it will be worth your money. Every cut is stand out. DG is one of the best sax players ever. Go by DG is essential also, but much easier to find than Daddy....Horn.