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Joe GordonLast Sessions: Lookin\' Good! + Awakening!! (2 Lps On 1 Cd)
Joe Gordon
Featuring:Joe Gordon (tp), Jimmy Woods (as),Dick Whittington, Amos Trice (p), Jimmy Bond (b), Milt Turner (d)
Born in Boston,Mass. in 1928, trumpeter Joe Gordon was one of the two local musicians—DickTwardzik was the other—with whom Bird said he enjoyed playing.. On the Eastcoast, he worked with such notables as Parker, Monk, Horace Silver, Art Blakey,Dizzy Gillespie and Herb Pomeroy, recording his first album as leader in 1954.Facing into a musically brilliant career, but with a problem-filled and heroin-plaguedpersonal life, in 1958 he moved to Los Angeles, where he soon became a valuedmember of the West Coast jazz scene,working as a sideman and joining ShellyManne for about two years. He also toured the coast with Thelonious Monk.Despite his problems, Gordon was well-liked and respected. He had a clean,crisp attack with a bright, brassy sound and a singing quality that made hissolos flow easily. His July 1961 album “Looking’ Good!” reflects theseconsiderable virtues and, in addition, introduced the hard-toned, fervid altosax of Jimmy Woods.The other sides—with Woods’ group from his album “Awakening!”—were recorded inSeptember that year. They were the last he made before his untimely death.According to his fellow musicians, “he was playing better than ever” when histiny apartment caught fire and he received severethird-degree burns. He died atSanta Monica Hospital, on November 4, 1963, aged just 35.
Tracklisting:01. Terra Firma Irma 7:43
02. A Song for Richard 5:02
03. Non-Viennese Waltz Blues 4:12
04. You’re the Only Girl
in the Next World for Me 4:02
05. Co-op Blues 5:57
06. Mariana 4:10
07. Heleen 4:02
08. Diminishing 5:06
09. Anticipation 4:01
10. Love for Sale 6:36
11. A New Twist 3:37
12. Awakening 4:05
13. Circus 4:21Compositions by Joe Gordon (#1-18), Cole Porter (#10), Jimmy Woods (#9,11,12)and Louis Alter & Sidney Keith Russell (#13)
Sources:Tracks #1-8, from the Joe Gordon album
“Lookin’ Good!” (Contemporary S7597)Tracks #9-13, from the Jimmy Woods album
“Awakening!!” (Contemporary S7605)Personnel on \"Lookin\' Good!\"Joe Gordon, trumpet, Jimmy Woods, alto sax; Dick Whittington, piano; JimmyBond, bass; Milt Turner, drums.Recorded at Contemporary’s Studio, Los Angeles, July 11,12 & 18, 1961
Personnel on \"Awakening!!\"Joe Gordon, trumpet (#9,10); Martin Banks (#10,11,12), trumpet; Jimmy Woods,alto sax; Amos Trice, piano; Jimmy Bond, bass; Milt Turner, drums.Recorded at Contemporary’s Studio, Los Angeles, September 13, 1961Original recordings produced by Lester Koenig
Sound engineer: Roy DuNann
Cover photograph by Roger MarshutzThis CD release produced by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
