1961 · Album
Doin' Allright
Recorded 1961 · Jazzland · Produced by Information not reliably confirmed
Dexter Gordon Finding His Groove Again
Gordon sounds reinvigorated here, playing with the kind of purpose that made people believe in him again.
By the time Dexter Gordon recorded Doin' Allright (1961), he'd already lived several lifetimes as a musician. The saxophonist had been through bebop, hard bop, a stretch in prison, and the kind of personal struggles that could've ended most careers. This album finds him on Jazzland Records, a smaller label, but don't let that fool you — he's playing with the clarity and confidence of someone who knows exactly what he still has to offer. The title itself carries weight. He's not claiming transcendence or declaring a masterpiece. He's just saying he's doing alright, and somehow that honesty matters more.
What makes this session work is the chemistry between Gordon and his rhythm section. Sonny Clark on piano brings a direct, swinging touch that matches Gordon's straightforward approach. Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums provide a foundation that's locked and purposeful without being flashy. The tunes are mostly standards and blues — nothing exotic — but Gordon treats them like they're worth your time. His tone is warm and substantial, his phrasing conversational. On tracks like "Watermelon Man," he's not trying to dazzle you with technique; he's trying to speak to you.
This isn't his breakthrough record — that came earlier — and it's not the album most people start with when discovering Gordon. It's more of a checkpoint, a moment where a musician in the middle of his career proves he still belongs in the conversation. If you're already familiar with his work and wondering what came after the more celebrated sessions, this is worth hearing. It's a solid, unpretentious blowing date that lets you hear a master craftsman doing what he does best.
Who's playing
George Tuckerbass
Horace Parlanpiano
Dexter Gordontenor saxophone
Freddie Hubbardtrumpet
Al Harewooddrums
Where next?
More by Dexter Gordon
All 11 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
