Dexter Gordon Box vs. RVGs

[riverrat]

I'm thinking of joining BMG again, and saw that they have "Go" and "Our Man in Paris" RVGs.

I have the 6 CDs from the Dexter box set (promos I picked up for a song, without the box or booklet) , and the sound quality is actually pretty good on those.

Are the RVGs a significant improvement soundwise?

[jazzbo]

You're going to run into different opinions depending on how one feels about RVGs, McMaster remasterings, etc.

I have a lot of the RVGs and JRVGs from the albums in the Gordon box set and I, that is I myself, prefer their sound to the box set, but I wouldn't call the improvement staggering; the box set has pretty decent sound for a McMaster effort to my ears.

[Claude]

I don't have the box set, but compared to the McMaster CD of "Go", the RVG sounds more dynamic and direct, but the soundstage is almost reduced to mono. It is one of the more controversial RVGs.

So you are certain to have two versions of this album which will sound very different

[riverrat]

Thanks for the responses folks. I guess I'll stick with my box set discs for now, and pick up new music instead.

[Brad]

For anyone with the same dilemma, I'd say go with the box. The RVGs may sound a little better (possibly) but then you wouldn't get a great Mosaic-like book, which has many letters to and from Alfred Lion, plus a few tracks where Dexter reminsences. I believe those tracks were taken from Danish radio interviews. I'd love to get my hands on more of those.

[BFrank]

The only thing I don't like about the booklet is the insanely confusing track listing notes. You have to cross-reference 3 different places to find out what tracks come from what albums.

[king ubu]

The correspondences between Lion and Dexter (always signing "Very saxily yours") are priceless. However I cannot answer you question, as I have none of the RVGs. The box though is a good place to have it all together. I found out that I am very fond of the albums not that well-regarded, too (the quintet album with Drew, One Flight Up, the ones originally released in Japan)

ubu

[riverrat]

The track "Tanya" a Donald Byrd penned tune from One Flight Up is perhaps my favorite by Dexter- 18 minutes of bliss. Great extended solos by Dex and Byrd.

I was surprised to see that this one is apparently OOP. Half.com still has it though.

[Jazzdog]

The track "Tanya" a Donald Byrd penned tune from One Flight Up is perhaps my favorite by Dexter- 18 minutes of bliss. Great extended solos by Dex and Byrd.

I was surprised to see that this one is apparently OOP. Half.com still has it though.

It's on the list of upcoming RVG's for this summer!

[BFrank]

The track "Tanya" a Donald Byrd penned tune from One Flight Up is perhaps my favorite by Dexter- 18 minutes of bliss. Great extended solos by Dex and Byrd.

Absolutely!

Also the tune before it - "Coppin' the Haven"

[Z-Man]

The bonus track on One Flight Up, "Kong Neptune" is one of my favorites. I love the long, catchy melody. This has always been an underrated session, IMHO. For what it's worth, the sound of this material on the Dex box is far superior (to my ears, anyway) to the sound of the original CD issue of One Flight Up.

[tatifan]

I haven't heard the RVGs, but one thing in their favor is having the original track order -- the boxed set is in session order, and is difficult to program in album order because some albums are split over 2 cds.

[GA Russell]

Speaking of Dexter Gordon, I learned today that Fantasy will release a 9 CD box of his Prestige recordings in the fall.

[John L]

One Flight Up also contains an absolutely seminal reading of Darn that Dream.

[JSngry]

Speaking of Dexter Gordon, I learned today that Fantasy will release a 9 CD box of his Prestige recordings in the fall.

Hmmm...I'm a pretty big Dexhead myself, but some of those Prestige dates are a little, uh, "non-essential", imo. Early 70s stuff like CA'PURUNGE, GENERATION, TANGERINE, BLUES A LA SUISSE. They're certainly GOOD, but unless there's a LOT of quality unreleased material involved, I'd think the consumer would be well advised to buy the individual albums at their own pace and discretion.

The Steeplechase sides done concurrently, roughly, w/the 70s Prestige dates are usually markedly superior, with an exception or two like THE JUMPIN' BLUES & THE CHASE. Again, just my opinion.

[mikeweil]

I love "One Flight Up", but the mix annoys me: The drums way up front on the right channel, the horns at a distance with lots of room ambience. Like the drummer was in a booth and the rest of the band in the large room (you remember that studio from the 'Round Midnight movie?

9 CDs for the Prestige box set? Did he record so much for them? I counted 10 LPs that were released back then, with a maximum of 45 minutes playing time, and one CD with unissued live material.

[GA Russell]

Jim and Mike, my first thought when I received the memo from Fantasy was that I didn't know that he had recorded that much for them. I was thinking that maybe he recorded for them over two periods, with perhaps an early 50s period I am not aware of.

I also am surprised that Fantasy would issue a box of anything of Prestige from circa 1970. The reputation of the company from those years is not particularly good, though I am the first to admit that there may be great music I am unaware of. For example, the Sonny Criss on Prestige from that era is today given more credit than it was at the time.