Personnel:
Dexter Gordon, Al Cohn (ts), Blue Mitchell, Sam Noto (tp), Barry Harris (p), Sam Jones (b), Louis Hayes (d)
Reference: JR653
Bar code: 8436019586532
These are the very first recordings made by Dexter Gordon upon returning to the U.S. after a 14-year exile in Europe. This edition contains tenor saxophonist's complete October 22, 1976 studio session issued on CD for the first time.
Tracklisting:
01. Lady Bird
02. How Deep Is The Ocean?
03. True Blue
04. On The Trail (*) Sax duet
05. Allen's Alley
06. Silver's Blue
Total time: 79:55 min.
Tracks #1-3 originally issued as Al Cohn / Dexter Gordon: "True Blue" (Xanadu LP 136).
Tracks #4-6 originally issued as Al Cohn / Dexter Gordon: "Silver Blue" (Xanadu LP 137).
Personnel: Dexter Gordon, Al Cohn (ts), Blue Mitchell, Sam Noto (tp), Barry Harris (p), Sam Jones (b) and Louis Hayes (d). Recorded in
New York City, on October 22, 1976.
(*) Track 4 is a tenor saxophone duet, while track 5 is a quintet featuring the two saxophonists and the rhythm section.
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Notes:
-True Blue
"The first of two LPs taken from an all-star jam session, this album features Al Cohn and Dexter Gordon on tenors, trumpeters Blue Mitchell and Sam Noto, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes. Together they perform "Lady Bird" (the two trumpets play Miles Davis' "Half Nelson," which has the same chord changes, at the same time), the ballad "How Deep Is Tthe Ocean" and a 17½-minute blues "True Blue." All of the musicians play up to their usual standard. This album was soon joined by Silver Blue from the same date."
-Silver Blue
"Recorded at the same session as True Blue, this Xanadu LP gets the edge due to a remarkable version of "On the Trail" that is a fascinating unaccompanied duet by tenors Al Cohn and Dexter Gordon. Cohn and Gordon are joined by pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes for a heated and competitive version of "Allen's Alley" and then the group becomes a septet with the addition of trumpeters Blue Mitchell and Sam Noto for a sidelong 19½-minute "Silver Blue," a slow blues. Highly recommended for bop fans."
Both written by Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
