Not only did no artists look better posing with a cigarette than Dexter Gordon (as proven by this cover as well as a surfeit of others in the past), but few gave lyrical or spoken intros to each tune like Long Tall Dexter. This album, from a collection of gigs in Copenhagen, 1964, have the tenor titan backed by a snappy team of pianist Tete Montoliu, drummer Alex Riel and then-newcomer but soon to be bass giant Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, who shows hard hitting nimble fingers throughout this toe tapping set.
Dexter is dapper as he gives intros to the swinging “Cheese Cake” and delivers the lyrics to “Misty” with bohemian aplomb before producing a bel canto rendition on his voluminous shorn. NHOP is featured on Gordon’s “King Neptune” and a “Big Fat Butterfly” that has the tenorist sing in a R&B fashion. Montoliu and NHOP bounce to the bluesy “Loose Walk” and Riel drives like Mario Andretti on “Manha de Carnival”. This quartet reflects the era and attitude of big, bold and beautiful pride in the basic ingredients of the musical meal. Filling and tasty with no gimmicks-this is what sold me on jazz in the first place.