Dexter Gordon – The Other Side Of Round Midnight

Recorded during filming of Bertrand Tavernier’s Round Midnight film. Players include Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Billy Higgins, Tony Williams, Bobby McFerrin, John McLaughlin and Bobby Hutcherson. Whoa.

Dexter Gordon – One Flight Up

I got this CD out of a bin for $1. Brand new, still in the shrink. Seriously. It was criminal – I had to rescue it.

And oh man, am I ever glad I did. I listen to this CD very frequently. It’s a perfect late-night CD, adventurous and infectious and great jazz without being annoyingly doodly (as some others can be). Every moment, every inch of this record is gold. Honestly.

The album opener, Tanya (18:19), feels like Dexter’s version of Kind Of Blue, while still not playing slave to that seminal recording. And the album just grows from there. Coppin’ The Haven (11:17), Darn That Dream (7:30), and King Neptune (11:01) round out the beautiful mayhem and gorgeous soloing and groove that this record oozes from every pore.

The reproduction of the recording, here, is perfect. This album is a giant among giants.

Get this.