Search - Dexter Gordon :: More Power!

Awsome Dexter Gordon album, but lousy sound quality

12/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nice tunes, but why did they have to destroy the sound quality by running the master into a cheap PC noise reduction system and then claim that it is a better sounding 20 bit release?
I've been looking for ages for the older CD release of it that is not tampered with like this release is."

The mighty Dexter

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 07/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Two albums were released by Prestige from material recorded at a two-day session by Dexter Gordon in April 1969; this is the second one (TOWER OF POWER was the first). Excellent tune selection and a very supportive rhythm section (Barry Harris [p] Buster Williams [b] Albert Heath [d]) make this album a success. FRIED BANANAS, a tune Dexter loved and seemed to play whenever he had the chance, gets a good reading here; Dexter's connection to (the early) John Coltrane is obvious on medium-up performances such as this. The 4x4's with Heath are also exiting. I don't know who BOSTON BERNIE was, but he's based on ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE; it's a nice composition taken up here. The Jobim bossa tune MEDITATION features a wonderfully sunny, bright and airy Barry Harris on piano. Two tunes (STICKY WICKET and LADYBIRD) bring in James Moody alongside Dexter; the first tune is a funky blues, but the second, a Tadd Dameron composition, has the better solos - both are excellent, though. Gordon's gut-honest, vibratoless tone is on full display on this date - it's beautiful. I think I like this CD a tad better than the TOWER OF POWER, but both can be highly recommended."