For years, only two scant albums featured tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon and trumpeter Donald Byrd playing together. There are the two tracks on Gordon's One Flight Up, recorded in Paris in June 1964. And there is a live recording, Lady Bird: Montmartre Jazzhus 1965, that was captured in Copenhagen, Denmark. [Photo above of Donald Byrd and Dexter Gordon by Jan Persson/CTSImages]
Now there's a third album—Dexter Gordon and Donald Byrd: The Berlin Studio Session 1963. This glorious album, on Germany's The Lost Recordings label, features Gordon and Byrd with Herb Geller on alto saxophone, Ake Persson on trombone, Heinz Kitschenberg on guitar, Jürgen Ehlers on bass and Joe Harris on drums. The previously unreleased tracks are a stunning find, making this one of the most important historical albums of the year.
Recorded at Saal 3 in Berlin, Germany, on October 14, 1963, the session was organized by Herb Geller, who had moved to Germany in 1962 at the urging of Stan Getz. Herb's 30-year-old wife, Lorraine, had died suddenly in 1958, leaving him despondent.
Based on the new album's brief liner notes, not much more is known about why these musicians were all in Berlin at the same time, why they recorded just four songs and whether they were part of a larger project that was aborted. Also unclear from the notes is how the tape of this session surfaced.
My guess is the tape was sitting on a shelf at the radio archives in Berlin and was originally recorded for radio airplay in Germany to promote a concert or a series of concerts by these musicians, either together or separately. The reason I say this is that the running time of the recording is 21:35 minutes—just enough time for a half hour airing if you add an announcer introducing them and talking briefly about their bios and accomplishments. In addition, the fidelity is so extraordinary, the tape was likely running at a faster speed used when recording for broadcast playback.
What's most surprising is how good Herb's arrangements are for the septet and how tight these musicians play them together. Most disappointing is that there are only four songs—An Air for the Heir (by Herb Geller), Blue Orchids (Jack Hilton), Fly Me to the Moon (Bart Howard) and The Dexter Byrd (unknown). [Photo above of Herb Geller]
Blue Orchids had never been recorded by any of the musicians on this session, and The Dexter Byrd was new, which means it was likely composed for this date or the name was added after the song was recorded and the producer needed a title. Why this extraordinary septet wasn't recorded by a German label for an album or two is a mystery. Failing to do so was a major lost opportunity.
With that said, we now have almost 22 minutes of new priceless music by jazz artists who were at the top of their game. For that, all jazz fans should be grateful.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Dexter Gordon and Donald Byrd: The Berlin Studio Session 1963 here. It's only available on vinyl.
JazzWax note: To read my multipart interview in 2010 with Herb Geller, start here.
JazzWax clip: Here's Fly Me to the Moon. Dig the sterling sound...
