Customer Reviews

The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon

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In many ways Dexter Gordon's professional life was a four act play -- his beginnings in the late 40s as one of the early bebop players, his subsequent second chance as a Blue Note artist in the early 60s, his triumphant stateside homecoming in the mid 70s after years in Europe, and his final act starring in the 1986 movie "Round Midnight." His career spanned more than forty years, but he may have never even made it to Act II if it had not been for a stint in the west coast production of "The Connection" and for a certain talent scout/alto saxophonist named Cannonball. Yes, it was Adderley who brought Dex to the Jazzland label to cut this session on October 13, 1960 in Los Angeles. This is a sextet date but clearly Long Tall Dexter is the only star here, though two names should be well known to jazz aficianados, pianist Dolo Coker and drummer Larance Marable. The following Spring he would cut the memorable albums Doin Allright and Dexter Calling (see my reviews) and the rest, as they say, is history. But just think, without "The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon" we may have simply had another name in the footnotes, instead of one of jazz's all-time greats.

Check out Dexter Gordon's discography or look up his CDs available on Amazon.com. They number to around 100 titles. I have them all. They are among my most prized jazz recordings. Every note the man blew was seemingly well-thought-out. Beyond that, the tenorist was a master who spent his life in constant study of his instrument and his chosen art form jazz. Dexter worked and recorded with other brilliant musicians, and their interaction as bandmates comes through time and again across his recordings. So that means for me that everything Dexter recorded is essential except...The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon. It's the only dud in his entire body of work. Dexter himself actually sounds good. But he and the band are totally out-of-synch on this lp. Dexter as much as admitted it, as quoted in Stan Britt's biography of him. Gordon: "It's a mediocre album. The session suffered from a clear lack of preparation." (Quote from page 147). Should any enthusiast for Dexter Gordon's work buy this CD? Yes and no. Yes, if you want to be a completist and, like me, own every recording he made. And no, if you are just exploring his discography and don't know where to begin. In that case, every other studio or live recording, for any other label (Blue Note, Savoy, Prestige, Steeplechase, Black Lion, etc.), merits your time and money first. I'd review any (all) of his other recordings with 5 stars. This one barely rates 3. Ninety-nine out of 100 ain't bad. Long live Long Tall Dexter.