1965 · Album
Gettin' Around
Recorded May 1965 · Blue Note · Produced by Not specified in verified information
Two Days in May, a Lifetime of Swing
Gordon blows with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly what he wants to say.
Gettin' Around is a straightforward blowing session, the kind Dexter Gordon did regularly in the mid-1960s. Recorded over two days in May 1965, it's solid, unpretentious work—Gordon and his rhythm section trading ideas without much fuss. The album doesn't announce itself as essential or career-defining. It just happens, which is partly why it works.
What you get here is Gordon in his element: relaxed enough to stretch out, skilled enough that stretching out actually means something. The rhythm section does its job, staying responsive without calling attention to itself. The horns are clear and direct. There's no studio trickery, no overdubs trying to paper over anything. This is what a working saxophonist sounded like when the tape was rolling and the band was in the pocket. The bonus tracks added to the CD reissue come from the same session, so they fit seamlessly—no awkward vintage shifts between the original release and the extras.
Where does this sit in Gordon's catalog? It's neither his peak nor his entry point. His earlier work has sharper focus; his later recordings often cut deeper. Gettin' Around is the album for someone who already knows Gordon's voice and wants to hear him in a low-pressure setting, just playing the gig. If you're new to him, there are stronger starting places. But if you already like his sound, this is the kind of album that rewards repeat listens—nothing flashy, nothing to prove, just a musician doing what he does on a couple of afternoons in 1965.
Who's playing
Bob Cranshawbass
Barry Harrispiano
Dexter Gordontenor saxophone
Billy Higginsdrums
Bobby Hutchersonvibraphone
Where next?
The musicians on this record
Dialogue 1965
Bobby Hutcherson
plays vibraphone here
plays vibraphone here
Barry Harris at The Jazz Workshop 1960
Barry Harris
plays piano here
plays piano here
♫
The Oracle 1989
Billy Higgins
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
