Landslide is comprised of previously unreleased mateiral from three separate
Dexter Gordon-led sessions between May 1961 and June 1962. The title track is a Dexter Calling... outtake featuring pianist
Kenny Drew, bassist
Paul Chambers and drummer
Philly Joe Jones; it was later added to the CD version of Dexter Calling... as a bonus track. Three songs -- "Love Locked Out," "You Said It," "Serenade in Blue" -- are from May of 1962 and feature trumpeter
Tommy Turrentine, pianist
Sir Charles Thompson, bassist
Al Lucas and drummer
Willie Bobo. The remaining three songs -- "Blue Gardenia," "Six Bits Jones," "Second Balcony Jump" -- were recorded in June of 1962 and feature trumpeter
Dave Burns, pianist
Sonny Clark, bassist
Ron Carter and drummer
Philly Joe Jones. All three sessions hold together fairly well, and although nothing on the record qualifies as a masterpiece, nothing is bad, either. In comparison to the released sessions, this material may pale somewhat, but it remains first-rate hard bop and is recommended to
Gordon collectors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine