Dexter Gordon: Best Of 3CD

Take a bow EMI France, who put the package together.

Here's what the liner notes don't tell us. Best Of 3CD is a compilation Gordon's 1961-65 period on Blue Note. There are selections, chronologically programmed, from Doin' Alright (1961), Dexter Calling (1961), Landslide (1962), Go! (1962), A Swingin' Affair (1962), Our Man In Paris (1963), One Flight Up (1964), Clubhouse (1965) and Getting' Around (1965). Armed with that information, you can work out the personnel for each track—if you have time, strong overhead lighting and maybe a magnifying glass, for the type size and color-way of the booklet conspire against easy reading (as does the translation of the brief introductory essay, from French to an approximation of English, presumably made by an online program).

The music on the discs is, of course, exceptional. The early 1960s were golden years for Gordon and there are glories here in abundance. Few things in life can compare with the saxophonist's shamanistic performance of "Night In Tunisia" (from Our Man In Paris), and there are many, many other moments of bliss. Devotees may quibble about the inclusion of some tracks, or the omission of others, but really, you can't go wrong.

Which begs the question, who is Best Of 3CD aimed at? Not hardcore fans, who'll have the original albums already. The casual listener then. But surely, for these folks, a single or perhaps double disc—with a decent accompanying booklet—would be more appropriate?

Who knows? Not EMI France, for sure.