Search - Dexter Gordon :: Clubhouse

Mid-sixties Dexter, with Hubbard

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 07/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though not as outstanding as Dexter's earlier Blue Note albums such as OUR MAN IN PARIS and A SWINGIN' AFFAIR, this outing still ranks very high. Why it remained unissued until released on LP in 1979 is a mystery, though there are a couple of spots where the playing is a bit ragged, as if the players hadn't enough rehearsal time to work everything out. But these spots are few and far between, and it's a respectable date no matter how you look at it. Pianist Barry Harris is in excellent form throughout and is especially inspiring in his solos on DEVILETTE and CLUBHOUSE. Dexter's composition HANKY PANKY is a march-like tune with good solos by Dex and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Two ballads appear featuring Gordon's big, sensuous tone: on I'M A FOOL TO WANT YOU he takes a brilliant solo after Hubbard's while JODI is a beautiful original by Dex and features his gorgeous sound perfectly. This is solid mid-sixties Blue Note Dexter Gordon, definitely worth checking out."