Friday, August 15, 2008

If it's got Dexter Gordon and Billy Higgins, it must be good


And it is! This is a rip from an out-of-print CD on Steeplechase of a 1975 Dexter Gordon session that features Billy Higgins (drums), Tete Montoliu (piano), and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass).

Like many people, I'm a Blue Note addict, and I'm drawn first to the albums cut during the heyday of a particular period which in Dex's case would be his early '60s Blue Note albums like Go! and A Swingin' Affair. While this album doesn't pack the punch of either of those, especially sonically, it's nonetheless excellent. For one, I hear some serious development in Billy Higgins' playing. His pocket is just as light and funky as it ever was, but his soloing is on another level. Here in 1975 he's started to play about as melodically as any drummer ever has and his hands are quick. Montoliu and Pedersen are both top-notch accompanists and Dexter is his usual tenor-ripping, silly-ass-quoting self.

Link is in the comments.

3 comments:

Bill Carbone said...

http://www.divshare.com/download/5185802-dee

johnv said...

Thanks for sharing this--I am a really big fan of Dexter's late 60s/70s albums and this is one that I've been wanting to hear/

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing, and see that you are abusy men. just been 2 weeks away and already so much more new lp's on your site. thanks again and keep up the good work.
ciao, Spoeter