Dexter Gordon: Our Man In Paris - 1963
As with all my jazz reviews, I have to state firmly at the outset that I am certainly no jazz expert. I have several albums and every now and again I have a jazz session. When I do, I really enjoy it. The sound quality is invariably mind-boggling in its quality. Just listen to the clarity and stereo separation on this 1963 recording. Compare that to rock-pop recordings from the same era. The difference is seismic.
Dexter Gordon was a master tenor saxophonist. The tenor was to this sort of lively, "bop" jazz what the electric guitar was to rock. Allied with piano, stand up bass and solid cymbal-brush work on the drums you have the classic jazz line up for this particular genre. This album found Gordon living in Paris and his foursome included two other US expatriates - Bud Powell on piano, Kenny "Klook" Clarke on drums and Frenchman Pierre Michelot on bass.
The album was very evocative of sixties Paris in its carefree, lively and ebullient "bop", particularly as exemplified on the opening track, the highly enjoyable Scrapple From The Apple. Gordon's saxophone is sublime.
If you want an example of classic jazz, from my limited knowledge, I think this is a good pick. Night In Tunisia is, I think, quite well known. It is catchy, toe-tapping, melodic and rhythmic. There is certainly an upbeat liveliness to a great deal of this album. It could function just as well as morning album as well as the late night one that so many jazz recordings can be.
Another recommended jazz album.
