In case you didn’t know, a Gordian Knot is related to Alexander The Great’s solving a difficult problem with a rope and therefore proving his genius. Gordon Goodwin must be referencing his charts to the title, as his arrangements and compositions have for years been an alluring and challenging attraction for death defying LA based musicians like Eric Marienthal/as, Wayne Bergeron/tp, Andy Martin/tb, Sal Lozano/as, Brain Scanlon/ts, Jeff Driskoll/ts and Andrew Synowiec/g. This album, supported by the rhythm section of Ray Brinker/dr, Kevin Axt/b, Joey DeLeon/p and Goodwin himself at the piano, is a mix of tunes that sound like they could be comfortable in a Looney Tunes Saturday morning TV show or a late night film noir film fest.
Of course, there’s plenty of fun and funky moments as well, with Marienthal’s alto searing through the Average White Band inspired “T.O.P. Adacent” and Vangie Gunn giving a big Broadway show feel to Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Detective TV shows boogaloo to “Deja Moo” and the rhythm team is shaken, not stirred to the Bondish “The Buddy Complex” which has Scanlon going mano a mano with Brinker and percussionist Joey Leon. The Rat Pack reed section slinks to “Sometimes I Rush” and the Hitchcockian title track has the deep saxes creating a thick fog for Mike Rocha’s trumpet work. Goodwin himself shows he’s adept at playing as well as pen, with a nice soprano sax solo on the lusch “Lost In Thought” and a big toned tenor on the Looney Tuned “Kneel Before Zod.” Merrie Melodies abound!