 |  | A must for Dexter Gordon fans |  |
An excellent set featuring Bobby Hutcherson on vibes recorded at the Rudy Van Gelder studios after two years in Europe, 'Gettin' Around' is a must for Dexter Gordon fans.
December 28, 2006The Tower of Power is such a commanding storyteller that he can be a heavy load, requiring the listener's undivided attention. "Gettin' Around," a 2006 release of a 2005 Rudy Van Gelder remastering of a 1965 session, finds a more dulcet and demure Dexter. He softens his tone, holds back on the searing top tones, evens out his vibrato, and takes more than a page out of the Lester Young book: this is Dexter in a mellotone, a session that plays well anytime and any number of times.
This is not to say LT isn't up to his usual tricks. On the first chorus of his solo on "Manha de Carnaval" he quotes 3 bars of Victor Young's "Delilah"; during his own "Le Coiffeur" (a cross between the samba "So Nice" and Bird's "My Little Suede Shoes"), he incorporates Debussy's "Claire de Lune." Finally, Dexter does for the sentimental oldie, "Heartaches," what Mobley does for "Remember" on "Soul Station"--refreshing it and transforming it into a hip tune. Only on "Very Saxily Yours," excluded from the original LP, does the tenor giant begin to show his customarily aggressive edge.
Hutcherson stays laid back and in the pocket much as does Barry Harris--both musicians assuming supportive roles that encourage Dexter to keep the flame burning low. Although this may not be a five-star performance, it's likely to receive more plays from me than some of Dexter's more auspicious recording dates.
June 22, 2006| | | Dexter's "Gettin' Around" Again | |
Dexter Gordon's "Gettin' Around" may not be universally celebrated but it is great to have it available once again via this RVG Edition. Personally, I find it to be highly enjoyable. I agree that this is not his best effort on Blue Note, but his eight albums for the label are the crowning achievement of his five decade long career. Like most of his Blue Notes, "Gettin' Around" was recorded during a stateside tour (like many jazz musicians in the 60s, Gordon chose Paris as home base over New York). Recorded on May 28 & 29, 1965, this session features Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, and the remarkable rhythm trio of Barry Harris on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. (A brief aside: To get the most out of his U.S. visit, Dex went into the studio a day earlier on May 27th with the same rhythm trio, and Freddie Hubbard instead of Hutch, to cut "Clubhouse." This recording was first released on LP in the 70s, and it was released on CD in 1990. However, with the exception of its inclusion in the Blue Note Box Set, it has been out of print for going on ten years. Now that would be a title worth reissuing in the RVG or Connoisseur series!) The rhythm trio of Harris, Cranshaw and Higgins was the backbone of one of Blue Note's most famous recordings, Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," and their chemistry here is as great as ever. And speaking of chemistry, Hutch and Dex have a unique brand, as the vibist's precise, percussive style challenges Gordon to play with more deliberate, pronounced phrasings. Like the original CD issue of "Gettin' Around," this disc adds two bonus tracks (both Gordon originals) not available on the original vinyl, which brings the disc's length to almost an hour. In all, this is a fine outing by Dex and is a title that any discerning fan of Blue Note should not hesitate to pick up.
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