DEXTER GORDON
L.T.D. (Prestige)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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L.T.D. is a live performance by tenor giant Dexter Gordon from a 1969 Baltimore, MD date that has just been mastered and released by Prestige. L.T.D. was the initials of one of Gordon's nicknames - long, tall Dexter. For this session, Gordon, the gentle giant, was joined by Bobby Timmons on piano, Victor Gaskin on bass, and Percy Brice on drums. There are only four songs, the shortest of which is almost nine minutes and the rest all longer than 17 minutes.

Dexter was in excellent form on this afternoon, his solos burned with passionate intensity. His sound on tenor was always rich, warm, and full-bodied and all those atributes were exhibited during the concert. Gordon possessed a wonderful sense of humor, interspersing quotes from other songs in his solos. His citing was never forced, always an integral part of the song. On this disc, he used parts of "Swinging On A Star," "Mairzy Oats," "Mona Lisa," and other well known numbers. The rest of the band sounds duly inspired, whether interpreting a Gordon original, standards, or the blues.

Gordon treated Duke Ellington's classic "In A Sentimental Mood", with tender love and respect, playing the song close to the original melody, but imparting a smoldering sensuality. Yet on the famous Gene Ammons/ Sonny Stitt jam number, "Blues Up And Down," Gordon attacked the song like a heavyweight boxer in a championship fight, at one point punching off 40 verses of pure aural delight. It was one of those times that Gordon was focussed and ready to play.

L.T.D. is great music. Dexter Gordon fans should own at least one live recording. Clocking in at well over an hour of music, I found myself totally absorbed in this recording, awaking from a trance like state only after the last note sounded.

© 2001 - Ron Saranich