Dexter Gordon & Slide Hampton - A Day In Copenhagen (1969/2017) (Hi-Res)

Unlike many other American expatriates living in Europe, tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon always managed to play and record with the top musicians while overseas. This excellent sextet session (with trombonist Slide Hampton, trumpeter Dizzy Reece, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Art Taylor) finds him exploring three Slide Hampton compositions and a trio of standard ballads. The other soloists are fine but Gordon easily dominates the set, playing his brand of hard-driving bop.

A tremendous European meeting of tenorist Dexter Gordon and trombonist Slide Hampton – brought together in this impeccable sextet session for MPS – a real standout in the label's straight jazz catalog over the years! By the time of the set, Gordon had been working heavily in Europe, especially Copenhagen – a locale where he was given ample freedom to stretch out and really explore his tone and phrasing. Hampton had also kicked around the continent a fair bit too, but in a tighter format, doing arrangements for others and working in bigger groups – and it's actually his careful touch that really helps shape the sound of the set – by bringing Gordon's groove into a focus more strongly than before, and reminding us that Dex was a great group player when he wanted to be! The frontline features Gordon's tenor, Hampton's trombone, and the trumpet of Dizzy Reece – often stating the heads in a fluidly soulful way, then breaking out nicely with individual voices – very much in the best Blue Note mode. Rhythm is by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Art Taylor on drums, and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass – and titles include 3 excellent originals by Hampton – "A New Thing", "My Blues", and "A Day In Vienna" – plus a wicked almost-Lee Morgan-esque take on "What's New", and versions of "Shadow Of Your Smile" and "You Don't Know What Love Is".

Tracklist

01. My Blues
02. You Don't Know What Love Is
03. A New Thing
04. What's New
05. The Shadow of Your Smile
06. A Day in Vienna

Produced by Joachim E. Berendt. Engineered by Birger Swan.
Recorded on March 10, 1969 at Metronome Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Digitally Remastered.

Musicians
Dexter Gordon - tenor saxophone
Slide Hampton - trombone (tracks 1-4 & 6)
Dizzy Reece - trumpet (tracks 1-4 & 6)
Kenny Drew - piano
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - double bass
Art Taylor - drums