Bebop is spoken throughout this swinging set (a reissue CD), which emphasizes jazz tunes written since 1945, including
George Handy's "Diggin' for Diz," "Tune Up," and
Oscar Pettiford's "This Time the Drum's on Me." Drummer
Stan Levey is the leader and he is properly forceful behind soloists, but the main significance of this set is the playing of the great tenor
Dexter Gordon, who was otherwise almost totally absent from records during 1953-1959.
Gordon is heard in prime form, joining a top-notch sextet also including
Levy, trumpeter
Conte Candoli, trombonist
Frank Rosolino, pianist
Lou Levy, and bassist
Leroy Vinnegar. Excellent bop-based music. ~ Scott Yanow