Search - Dexter Gordon :: The Tower of Power

Fine late-60s Dexter

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

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Over a two-day period in early April 1969, during a brief visit to the US from his home in Europe, Dexter Gordon recorded enough material for two Prestige LPs - this one and one called MORE POWER. Barry Harris was the pianist, Buster Williams was on bass, and Albert Heath was the drummer. James Moody guested on a few sides - on MONTMARTRE included here; it's taken up-tempo and is long enough to give everyone a decent taste solo-wise. Dexter and Moody have a great affinity and compliment each other well. Dexter dug back into his 1950s repertory to revive STANLEY THE STEAMER, a medium-up blues. THE RAINBOW PEOPLE, another Gordon original, is a lilting, melodic tune that brings out the best in Barry Harris. THOSE WERE THE DAYS, a good tune rarely heard, changes tempos nicely from slow to medium (and back again) and contains a nostalgic, plaintive solo by Dex. Like most OJC CD reissues it's a bit on the short side, but Dexter was in good form and the date was a solid one. (MORE POWER is just as good, if not slightly better.)"