pryan Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 While browsing in one of the local record shops I noticed an Lp of Dexter Gordon's called: DEXTER BLOWS HOT AND COOL. It caught my eye because it was from the 50s and I knew that Dex hadn't recorded much during that time. The AMG review describes it as having "no surprises" but some "fine playing". What are your thoughts on this one? Quote
chris olivarez Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Carl Perkins as in the rockabilly player? Quote
BruceH Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Carl Perkins as in one of the finest bebop pianists in the history of jazz. Personally, I think this is one of Dexter's best pre-Blue Note albums. My advice: GET IT!! Dexter's in fine form here. You won't be dissappointed. Quote
chris olivarez Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 That makes more sense. Thanks for the heads up. Quote
John Tapscott Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 I bought this LP 25 years ago at the Jazz and Blues Center (long defunct) in Toronto. The pressing was very noisy. Whe I complained about it, I was told they were "all like that." So I would recommend buying it but don't be surprised if the pressing is not very good. Quote
Jim R Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 (edited) Boplicity put this out on CD in the late 80's. In 1994, it was released again on CD by Skylark Jazz, titled WAY PAST MIDNITE. The Skylark issue includes 9 extra tracks, which are a pretty dubious. They're labeled with these terms: "be-bop alternate track", "west coast unreleased mix", "unreleased be-bop take", and "west coast unreleased be-bop take". At least a couple of them seem identical to the master takes, except that the alternates are faded out after Dexter's solo. In addition to that, a couple of titles are mixed up. As if all this wasn't bad enough, there are some cheesy attempts to enhance the artwork (including the use of the original cover photo with little pink and turquoise stars added); and there's a bogus looking Good Housekeeping-type "seal of quality" on the back. The production, digital remastering AND the artwork were all done by one Wayne Stierle. Anybody know anything about this guy? BTW, the Sjøgren discography mentions four tracks having been issued in "edited versions" on different Dootone issues (the orinal Dootone # was 207, and the others referenced were 384 and 856). This is all greek to me, since the only LP version I ever owned was the Boplicity issue. Edited November 20, 2003 by Jim R Quote
Big Al Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 The production, digital remastering AND the artwork were all done by one Wayne Stierle. Anybody know anything about this guy? No, but I understand he helped popularize the process known as Stierlization! Quote
JSngry Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 I've got the Boplicity CD, and I like it. But, and it's a big but, this session comes from a time when Dexter was pretty strung out, and I think it's reflected in the music. REALLY laid back in vibe, not as much as Dexter in the last years, but a general "stoned" feeling to the music pervades, which I don't disaprove of out of hand. It doesn't have the "edge" of his later work, but the patented Gordon lyricism is plenty present, and that's enough for me. The rest I take as part of the package, the "document" aspect, if you will. The documentary value is enhanced by the appearance of Perkins and the obscure trumpeter Jimmy Robinson, to say nothing of Chuck Thompson on drums and the near omnipresent-in-those-days-in-that-place Leroy Vinegar. Not quite "essential" musically, but definitely so historically, even moreso if you're a Dex-head like I am. Quote
Brad Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 I think it depends upon how much you're into Dexter. If you're a dexhead, yes, you want to pick this up. If not, I suggest just his 40s work, Blue Note and some of his Steeplechase live and studio material. However, there's not a lot of Carl Perkins available, so just for that reason, I think it's a worthy pickup. Another good one from this period is Daddy Blows the Horn. Quote
JSngry Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Probably my favorite Dexter from the 50s (not that there's a lot to choose from...) is on that Stan Levy Bethlehem date. He sounds more like "the" Dexter there than anywhere else, I think. Quote
BruceH Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Agreed. The Bethlehem album (Daddy Plays the Horn) is great. I guess I'm a Dexhead, because I love the Blows Hot and Cool album as well. I got a vinyl copy around 1987 or so, and it sounds fine to me; no unusual amount of surface noise. Quote
Brad Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Probably my favorite Dexter from the 50s (not that there's a lot to choose from...) is on that Stan Levy Bethlehem date. He sounds more like "the" Dexter there than anywhere else, I think. I assume you were referring to the Stanley the Steamer date? That's available on Affinity, although I don't how easy it is to find. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Probably my favorite Dexter from the 50s (not that there's a lot to choose from...) is on that Stan Levy Bethlehem date. He sounds more like "the" Dexter there than anywhere else, I think. I assume you were referring to the Stanley the Steamer date? That's available on Affinity, although I don't how easy it is to find. I think Jim was talking about, Levey's This Time the Drum's on Me. This was reissued a couple years ago in the Bethlehem reissue series. Great album! Quote
JSngry Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Same album, different titles, but yeah, that's the one. Quote
Free For All Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 Some great Rosolino solos on that Levey date! Quote
mikeweil Posted November 20, 2003 Report Posted November 20, 2003 ..... this session comes from a time when Dexter was pretty strung out, and I think it's reflected in the music. REALLY laid back in vibe, not as much as Dexter in the last years, but a general "stoned" feeling to the music pervades, which I don't disaprove of out of hand. I personally think it shows a little too much in his playing - and the two other horns are playing out of tune in some of the heads - or was that the Jazzland LP ? - that is even worse in that respect. For Dexterites, yes, but not indispensable. Quote
pryan Posted November 21, 2003 Author Report Posted November 21, 2003 Well, I went back to the store with the intention of purchasing the album but, alas, someone had beat me to it. I kind of randomly chose another one, not a Dexter title but something by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, NICE GUYS. This is my first AEC album, although I do have Roscoe Mitchell's SNURDY.... so I am at least somewhat familiar with a couple of the musicians. Quote
BruceH Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 I was thinking of the Kenny Drew/Leroy Vinnegar/Lawrence Marable Bethlehem with Dex as leader. The Stan Levey-led "This Time the Drum's On Me" is great too, though. (I sometimes think that it seems the Bethlehem label never put out a bad album.) What do y'all think of Daddy Plays the Horn? "Confirmation," "Number Four," and "You Can Depend On Me" are particular favorites of mine from that album; the whole thing is good, though. (Dexhead talking.) Quote
Dan Gould Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 Fellow Dexhead says " ", Bruce! Quote
sidewinder Posted December 26, 2003 Report Posted December 26, 2003 I bought this LP 25 years ago at the Jazz and Blues Center (long defunct) in Toronto. The pressing was very noisy. Whe I complained about it, I was told they were "all like that." So I would recommend buying it but don't be surprised if the pressing is not very good. Seems to be a problem on all of the Dooto/Dootone LPs I have heard. The Carl Perkins 'Introducing' DL-211 has 'wash' type noise which seem to be attributable to the poor quality vinyl used by Dootone. The early 70s reissues were just as poor as the original deepgroove in this regard. Still, I just love this LP, warts and all ! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted December 26, 2003 Report Posted December 26, 2003 The production, digital remastering AND the artwork were all done by one Wayne Stierle. Anybody know anything about this guy? I think I know enough about him after reading your post... Quote
brownie Posted December 27, 2003 Report Posted December 27, 2003 Seems to be a problem on all of the Dooto/Dootone LPs I have heard. The Carl Perkins 'Introducing' DL-211 has 'wash' type noise which seem to be attributable to the poor quality vinyl used by Dootone. The early 70s reissues were just as poor as the original deepgroove in this regard. Still, I just love this LP, warts and all ! I listened to that Dexter Gordon Dooto LP reissue a while ago and found nothing really wrong with the sound. Granted it is not really top quality highfidelity but it is very acceptable. And yes, it's not really my favorite Dexter album but there are so few samples of what he was doing musically at the time! Plus I never miss a chance to enjoy Carl Perkins' piano playing! Quote
sidewinder Posted December 27, 2003 Report Posted December 27, 2003 Brownie - from my experience the sound on the Dooto LPs is definitely acceptable. One just has to mentally filter out the wash noise, which isn't too distracting in any case. No problems with the fidelity of the music reproduction itself. Quote
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