Our Man in Paris
Recorded in 1963, this record finds tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon at the top of his game during his Blue Note days. Leading a high-profile quartet comprised of pianistBud Powell, drummer Kenny Clarke, and bassist Pierre Michelot, Gordon leaps through the complex "Scrapple from the Apple" with youthful aplomb and then nestles deep inside the bluesy lyricism of "Willow Weep for Me." Gordon's strengths as a balladeer resonate beautifully on "Stairway to the Stars," while his bebop prowess flexes mightily on "A Night in Tunisia." The rhythms crackle, the solos fly;Our Man In Parisis essential Dexter.--John Murph