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Album Description
55 tracks from 1943 to 1950...mostly be-bop with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Ben Webster, Billy Eckstine, Sonny Criss and more. Includes 44 page illustrated booklet. Four standard jewel cases with individual artwork, housed together in a deluxe slipcase.
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This CD gathers all of Dexter Gordon's recordings as a leader for Savoy, with one session each from 1945 and 1946 and two from December 1947. Gordon had already worked in the bands of Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, and Billy Eckstine, and he was among the very first players to adapt the innovations of Charlie Parker to the tenor saxophone, creating his own voice out of an amalgam of Parker and Lester Young. Gordon's sound was already his own, a harder-edged tenor sound with very little vibrato, and there's evidence as well of the striking harmonic imagination that would later influence John Coltrane. Ballads like "I Can't Escape from You" and "Dexter's Mood" show Gordon's romantic side, but it's the bop tunes that most clearly chart his rapid evolution.
Two of bop's most brilliant--and doomed--players make substantial appearances here. Pianist Bud Powell is present on the eight takes from 1946, adding Tatum-esque filigree to the ballad and driving, incandescent play to the other tracks, prodding, testing, and usually exceeding the horns. Trumpeter Fats Navarro appears on the final session, along with composer-pianist Tadd Dameron, and it's once again apparent that he was Dizzy Gillespie's only serious rival among bop trumpeters.
Whether it's the presence of a working band or growing maturity, Gordon is at his best on "Index" and "Dextivity," with a relaxed drive and full command of his substantial ideas. While most of the tracks are around three minutes--the compressed jolts of bop energy dictated by the limited playing time of the 78--"Settin' the Pace," originally divided over two sides, is nearly six minutes. It's a saxophone chase with baritonist Leo Parker, in the same vein that Gordon explored to great acclaim with Wardell Grey. The wealth of alternates includes several issued for the first time, among them tracks with Powell and Navarro. --Stuart Broomer
Settin' the Pace (Mini Lp Sleeve) Reviews
Settin' the Pace (Mini Lp Sleeve) Reviews
| 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:  An essential collection of the first great bop tenor player, By Walter A Gross (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: Settin' the Pace (Mini Lp Sleeve) (Audio CD) As I parse through this collection I am amazed that Proper was able to compile such a complete collection surveying the early years of Dexter Gordon. It's all here, the historic Savoy sides that Dexter led between 1945 through 1947 which include a stellar cast of sidemen such as Bud Powell, Max Roach, Fats Navarro and Leo Parker. There is also the historic Dial sides w/ Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards that produced tracks like "The Chase" (w/ Gray), and "The Duel" (w/ Edwards). A set containing the Savoy and Dial sides would be fantastic on it's own but Proper has also included a number of other tracks of Dexter featured with the Billy Eckstine Band, Dizzy Gillespie's Sextet, Red Norvo, and Benny Carter's band. Also included is the historic 9/4/45 date led by Sir Charles Thompson for the Apollo label that also featured Charlie Parker! And if that wasn't enough there are 5 lenghty tracks recorded on 7/6/47 at the Elk's Auditorium in Los Angeles and billed as the "Hollywood Jazz... Read more 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: The emergence of bop tenor, By Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Settin' the Pace (Mini Lp Sleeve) (Audio CD) The kings of bop were Dizzy and Bird - on trumpet and alto, and there were Bud Powell, Monk, Kenny Clarke and Max Roach on piano and drums. It may be true that the tenor sax is just not suitable for bebop, just as the soprano sax is certainly not - but for other reasons. The tenor sound is just too big for the fast flurry of arpeggio notes, that is part of bop playing.Dexter Gordon was one tenor player who managed to excell playing bebop without loosing any of the sound qualities of his instrument. His deep and elastic sound was part of the great tenor tradition, yet perfectly modern. I am convinced that the evolution of Sonny Rolling, Joe Henderson and John Coltrane, could not have been what it was without the influence of Dexter's sound. It is interesting to compare Gordon with the great Wardell Gray, who is co featured on many tracks - especially the third cd. Gray's harmonic ideas were modern - but rhythmically he was part of the older tradition. These recordings,... Read more 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: A Great Dexter Gordon CD!, By This review is from: Settin the Pace (Audio CD) Over 70 minutes of finely recorded bop and blues by tenorist extraordinaire Dexter Gordon. His full beautiful tone is both relaxing and exhilarating. These recordings are from 3 dates for Savoy in 1945-1947. (The CD notes that this is not a thorough collection of EVERY track cut for Savoy, alternative takes from two sessions are not included. Only Dexter "completists" should be concerned.)Of the 23 selections, 11 include either Max Roach or Art Blakey on drums. Fats Navarro brings his wonderfully rounded sound to six cuts recorded in 1947, and Tadd Dameron plays piano on eleven. What's surprising, however, is not the great playing of the jazz legends here, but the work of not as celebrated musicians such as Leo Parker on baritone sax and Sadik Hakim on piano. This is great bop playing which will get you moving! |
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