Swingin Affair

Dexter Gordon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HCH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,303 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An "Affair" Renewed, March 6, 2006

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Swingin Affair (Audio CD)

The most recent batch of six RVG reissues (2/21/06) has left me scratching my head, as the original CD incarnations of four of these titles have never even gone out-of-print, and are still readily available, even new on Amazon. Certainly, there are more deserving titles to re-release that have actually been missing from the catalog for years, but I guess EMI must have plans to make most every golden-era Blue Note album an RVG edition at this point. To be fair, "A Swingin' Affair" is another classic recording from Dexter Gordon's renaissance period, and it is great to have it available in this remastered version. In fact, "Affair" is my favorite Dex Blue Note! Those who have read my reviews know I enjoy his other albums for the label (see "Doin' Allright," "Dexter Calling," "Our Man in Paris," "One Flight Up" and "Gettin' Around"), but there is just something magical about his two albums made with the rhythm trio of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins. And while many people will agree with that statement, most also place a higher value on "Go" and not "Affair," recorded two days later on August 29, 1962. But for some reason the second session has always caught my fancy, whether it was the latin flavored "Soy Califa," the best ever rendition of "You Stepped Out of a Dream," or the infectious Warren-penned "The Backbone." Take my word for it, after just one listen, you'll never want this "Affair" to end.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must!, June 15, 2000

By 

Antoine P. MANENS (Rennes, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swingin Affair (Audio CD)

If I had to choose only one CD out of Dexter's recordings for Blue Note (i.e. Go!, Our Man In Paris,...), I would definitely choose "A Swingin' Affair". This session is maybe not as intense as "Go!" but... what a warm, round sound! Billy Higgins does an amazing job on the drums and Sonny Clarck is impeccable. Dexter is at his best. Highlights are the first two tracks. In "Soy Califa", Dexter is amazing of humor, of energy and of mastery. "Don't Explain" (one of the two ballads of this CD) is wonderfully interpreted: his enormous tone sets a melancholic mood in just a few chords and it lasts for over 6 minutes of intense pleasure. Enjoy! As an extra bonus: an excellent quality of recording.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect introduction to Dexter Gordon, October 12, 2005

By 

Gregg G. Soininen "Gregg Soininen" (Franklin, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Swingin Affair (Audio CD)

It is purely my opinion that Alfred Lion upon hearing the finished product of Herbie Hancock's "Takin' Off" record debut as a leader, decided to grab drummer Billy Higgins & bassist Butch Warren to support Dexter again on this album and "Go!" Their swinging way of playing slightly behind the beat perfectly complements Dexter's preference for performing like-wise. I'm not a big fan of ballads but Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" is breathtaking in its beauty. My favorite cuts are Butch Warren's "The Backbone" and Dexter's "McSplivens."