Our Man in Paris [Import, Original recording remastered]

Dexter Gordon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note
• ASIN: B0002FQM5K
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,466,562 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Scrapple from the Apple

2. Willow Weep for Me

3. Broadway

4. Stairway to the Stars

5. A Night in Tunisia

6. Love Is Here to Stay [*]

7. Like Someone in Love [#][*]

Editorial Reviews

Japanese limited edition 24-bit remastered reissue of the jazz saxophonist's 1963 album. Blue Note. 2004.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb but..., July 2, 2007

By 

S J Buck (Kent, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Man in Paris (Audio CD)

This 1963 album finds Dexter Gordon in sparkling form. He is backed by Bud Powell on Piano, Pierre Michelot bass and Kenny Clarke drums. Its one of the best sessions Gordon ever recorded and is an essential purchase for any Jazz fan.

Dexter Gordon is in fine form throughout the album. Just take the opening Charlie Parker classic 'Scrapple from the Apple'. The theme is stated and Gordon takes the first solo. Three and a half minutes later he finishes. Theres no apparent repetition here, or use of a stock of standard riffs that you might hear with a lesser musician. Throughout this solo he is inventive using the full range of the Saxophones marvellous palette. The other stand-out track on here for me is his version of 'A Night in Tunisia'. Whether he's throwing in a quote from 'Summertime' or bending notes on this form Gordon was up there with the very best. On a few moments in his solo on Tunisia I was reminded of Coltranes Soprano solos. Whilst there is no doubt that in his early career Gordon was an undoubted influence on Coltrane I wonder if at this stage Gordon was actually being influenced by Coltrane.

Its worth mentioning the appearance of Bud Powell on the album. He was the most important Jazz pianist before Bill Evans arrived in the late 1950's. Sadly he suffered from mental health problems and his playing later in his career (from the late 1950's onwards) could be erratic. On this recording he isn't the whirlwind of 10 years earlier, but his playing is mostly consistent and occasionally inventive.

This imported version of the album only has the original five LP tracks and not the two bonus tracks on the original CD release or the RVG re-master. I'd get the RVG edition if I was you.