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