Dexter Gordon’s seminal 1963 jazz recording, Our Man In Paris, is getting a new vinyl reissue courtesy of Blue Note Records’ Classic Vinyl Series.
Reissued once in 2003 on CD, the new edition of Gordon’s masterwork preserves the original album’s five-track run, and will be pressed on 180g vinyl from the original master tapes. This new Our Man In Paris reissue hits shelves on February 21 and is available for preorder now.
The five tracks on Our Man In Paris include pieces made famous by other giants of jazz, but Gordon brings his one-of-a-kind saxophone skills to each. Opening song “Scrapple From The Apple,” for example, was originally composed and performed by Charlie Parker, while Our Man In Paris’ final track, “A Night In Tunisia,” first belonged to Dizzy Gillespie.
Gordon had actually collaborated with the latter artist more than a decade prior for a recording that was later released on 1955’s Groovin’ High. For Our Man In Paris, Gordon recorded with pianist Bud Powell, drummer Kenny Clarke, and bassist Pierre Michelot. Both Powell and Clarke were fellow expats like Gordon was at the time, while Michelot was a native to Paris.
Recorded in 1963, Our Man In Paris was partly inspired by Gordon’s years spent in Europe. Though born and raised in Los Angeles, the musician spent a good portion of the 1960s and 70s in Copenhagen and Paris, teaming with both local musicians and fellow expats for a series of recordings.
In 1977, Gordon told interviewer Chuck Berg the reasons for his departure as he was returning to the United States. “I think it’s been very good for me. I’ve learned a lot, of course. Another way of life, another culture, language. I enjoyed it,” the saxophonist explained. “I still do. Of course, there was no racial discrimination or anything like that. And the fact that you’re an artist in Europe means something. They treat you with a lot of respect.” Even if perhaps overdue, Gordon’s work has certainly earned some very deserved respect now.