Dexter Gordon – GO (1962 – Blue Note)

From the first moments when Dexter Gordon sails into the opening song full of brightness and confidence, it is obvious that Go! is going to be one of those albums where everything just seems to come together magically. A stellar quartet including the stylish pianist Sonny Clark, the agile drummer Billy Higgins, and the solid yet flexible bassist Butch Warren are absolutely crucial in making this album work, but it is still Gordon  who shines. Whether he is dropping quotes into “Three O’Clock in the Morning” or running around with spritely bop phrases in “Cheese Cake,” the album pops and crackles with energy and exuberance. Beautiful ballads like “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” metamorphosize that energy into emotion and passion, but you can still see it there nonetheless. Gordon  had many high points in his five decade-long career, but this is certainly the peak of it all.
Stacia Proefroc (All Music Guide)

Tracks:
1. Cheese Cake
2. I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
3. Second Balcony Jump
4. Love For Sale 7:34
5. Where Are You 5:17
6. Three O’Clock In The Morning 5:41

Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone)
Sonny Clark (piano)
Butch Warren (bass)
Billy Higgins (drums)

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on August 27, 1962. Originally released on Blue Note (4112). Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Rudy Van Gelder (1998, Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey).

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Dexter Gordon – The Other Side of Round Midnight: (1985 – Blue Note)

 

After seeing “Round Midnight,” I knew I had to have the soundtrack, and if you too have seen the movie, you know what I mean. All the recordings on here were recorded live for the movie, which gives it a great intimate feeling. At the same time, the sound quality  is surprisingly good. If you haven’t seen the movie you should know that even though much of the soundtrack does features Dexter, the supporting cast is just as important, featuring Herbie Hancock, as well as occasional appearances by the likes of Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby McFerrin, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, and others. But, as I see it,  apart from making allusion to Dexter’s genius, the other virtuoso performance on this album is Herbie Hancock playing Round Midnight. The realism of his piano is quite stunning. You can tell that the top of the piano is open. With each of the chords struck, you get that immediacy or sharp striking of the hammer to the string. The leading edge of the notes comes quickly. They don’t sound the least bit harsh or mechanical or worse yet, they don’t sound soft and mushy. There is also a completely believable sustain of the chords. The harmonic structure of the notes played, especially in the lower octaves, is very exacting. Overall, a very solid soundtrack with memorable versions of many standards and some of Dexter Gordon’s and Herbie Hancock’s finest playing.

Track List:

1. Round Midnight

2. Berangere’s Nightmare #2

3. Call Sheet Blues

4. What Is This Thing Called Love

5. Tivoli

6. Society Red

7. As Time Goes By

8. It’s Only a Paper Moon

9. Round Midnight – (solo piano)

Personnel:

Dexter Gordon (soprano & tenor saxophones)

Bobby McFerrin (vocals)

Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor saxophones)

Palle Mikkelborg, Freddie Hubbard (trumpet)

Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton (piano)

Pierre Michelot, Ron Carter, Mads Vinding (bass)

Billy Higgins, Tony Williams (drums)

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