The suave saxophone master Dexter Gordon had been living in Europe for several years when he returned to the U.S. for a brief stay during which he entered Van Gelder Studio to record what would be his final Blue Note album, Gettin’ Around, in 1965. Dexter’s tenor holds the spotlight throughout this sublime set, the lone horn accompanied ably by a unique instrumentation with Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone, Barry Harris on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Dexter is at his luxuriously lyrical best on a program of bossas (“Manhã de Carnaval”), ballads (“Everybodys Somebodys Fool”), and even a Basie hit (“Shiny Stockings”). The album closes playfully with Dexter’s own stylish original “Le Coiffeur.” This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
