Dexter Gordon - The Other Side Of Round Midnight FLAC album

The Other Side of Round Midnightis an album that needs to be considered with a grain of salt, as the record showcases the last recordings released under Gordon’s name, though one must keep in mind that Dexter Gordon does not appear on all of the tracks.

Gordon will forever be known as the ‘Sophisticated Giant,’ a man who had a gregarious stage presence and was able to coax smooth velvety notes from his tenor saxophone. The sound delivered here is large, yet confined to your listening space, dark but not hard, rising like smoke from a neglected cigarette and very plaintive. Gordon was a bit older when this album was laid down, not as sharp as he was during his youth, yet age has its virtues, where Gordon flows, ebbs and flowers with a resilience and timing that younger musicians have yet to learn, delivering his notes with a personality developed over countless years of relentless playing.

To say Dexter Gordon was broadly and highly accomplished would be an understatement, he had rhythmic ideas that were fresh and inviting, he avoided most of the syncopated phrases many jazzmen of the late 40’s and 50’s were employing. He was comfortable in his ability to take full advantage of the skills of the musicians he worked with, sparking them to new heights, where they in turn helped Gordon create contemporary musical sounds and visions. Gordon was able to effortlessly swim in a self generated sea of notes that did not establish walls between listeners and the stage, managing to convey a sense of vulnerability, though never weakness, inviting anyone willing to step though the door and be one with the endeavor.

All that I’ve suggested and more is elegantly delivered here, a masterful album from a man who instinctively understood the nature of jazz.

*** As to the vinyl, I’ve alway loved my 1986 DMM recording. Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) is an analogue audio disc mastering technique. Unlike conventional disc mastering, where the mechanical audio modulation is cut onto a lacquer coated aluminum disc, DMM cuts straight into metal (copper).

*** The Fun Facts: Not to be missed is the movie “Round Midnight,” where director Bertrand Tavernier, a jazz buff himself, had decided from the beginning to cast a musician and not an actor playing a musician. After viewing hundreds of old film clips of jazz greats at work, he was struck most by Gordon, who gave a standout performance.

Review by Jenell Kesler