DEXTER GORDON - Go & A Swingin’ Affair
Masterworks Singles Original Albums 21342
Tracks 1 to 6
Go
Tracks 7 to 12
A Swingin’ Affair
Dexter Gordon ( tnr ) Sonny Clark ( pno ) Butch Warren ( bass ) Billy Higgins ( drs )
Recorded Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 26th & 29th August 1962
The first six tracks on this release is a straight re-release of the iconic Dexter Gordon album “Go” which never seems to have been out of the catalogue and deservedly so. The remaining six tracks are the complete album “ A Swingin’ Affair” and were recorded two days after “Go” with the same personnel.
Dexter recorded six albums between 1960 and 1962 after an absence from the recording studio for five years and mark his return to the States after living in Copenhagen and Paris for fifteen years. After recording these six albums he departed for Europe for another ten years but these six albums represent some of his best work.
“Go” gets off to a brisk start with a Dexter Gordon original “Cheese Cake” with both Dexter and pianist Sonny Clark contributing incisive solos. The ballad “Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” owes much to Frank Sinatra’s vocal version the “Only the Lonely” album and Dexter’s version complements rather than copies it.
Billy Eckstine & Gerry Valentine’s “Second Balcony Jump” generates a full head of steam with Dexter throwing in the odd quote and Sonny Clark’s solo is incisive and holds the tension.
Dexter gives full rein to his ballad skills on “Where are You” with a passionate reading of the tune and again Sonny Clark shines on his short solo.
“Three O’clock in the Morning” has a nice feel to it with Dexter giving his best performance on the album.
The balance of the album recorded two days later with the same personnel is more of the same without being dismissive as it is just as interesting. The opening track “Soy Califa” has nice latin feel to it with the whole group playing well entering into the spirit of the number.
The bass player on the session, Butch Warren contributed the composition “The Backbone” is a tricky little number with plenty of room for Dexter to expand on the theme and again pianist Sonny Clark is as inventive as ever.
The most entertaining number on the session is “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” finds Dexter in a laid back mood and producing a stunner of a solo with supportive playing from Sonny Clarks well as a This is the complete output from this group with no alternate takes in existence. Recommended to all lovers of good tenor playing.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Masterworks Singles Original Albums 21342
Tracks 1 to 6
Go
Tracks 7 to 12
A Swingin’ Affair
Dexter Gordon ( tnr ) Sonny Clark ( pno ) Butch Warren ( bass ) Billy Higgins ( drs )
Recorded Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 26th & 29th August 1962
The first six tracks on this release is a straight re-release of the iconic Dexter Gordon album “Go” which never seems to have been out of the catalogue and deservedly so. The remaining six tracks are the complete album “ A Swingin’ Affair” and were recorded two days after “Go” with the same personnel.
Dexter recorded six albums between 1960 and 1962 after an absence from the recording studio for five years and mark his return to the States after living in Copenhagen and Paris for fifteen years. After recording these six albums he departed for Europe for another ten years but these six albums represent some of his best work.
“Go” gets off to a brisk start with a Dexter Gordon original “Cheese Cake” with both Dexter and pianist Sonny Clark contributing incisive solos. The ballad “Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” owes much to Frank Sinatra’s vocal version the “Only the Lonely” album and Dexter’s version complements rather than copies it.
Billy Eckstine & Gerry Valentine’s “Second Balcony Jump” generates a full head of steam with Dexter throwing in the odd quote and Sonny Clark’s solo is incisive and holds the tension.
Dexter gives full rein to his ballad skills on “Where are You” with a passionate reading of the tune and again Sonny Clark shines on his short solo.
“Three O’clock in the Morning” has a nice feel to it with Dexter giving his best performance on the album.
The balance of the album recorded two days later with the same personnel is more of the same without being dismissive as it is just as interesting. The opening track “Soy Califa” has nice latin feel to it with the whole group playing well entering into the spirit of the number.
The bass player on the session, Butch Warren contributed the composition “The Backbone” is a tricky little number with plenty of room for Dexter to expand on the theme and again pianist Sonny Clark is as inventive as ever.
The most entertaining number on the session is “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” finds Dexter in a laid back mood and producing a stunner of a solo with supportive playing from Sonny Clarks well as a This is the complete output from this group with no alternate takes in existence. Recommended to all lovers of good tenor playing.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
