Chase and the Steeplechase

In 1947 Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray teamed up in the studios to record a six-minute tenor "battle" titled "The Chase." Five years later they performed a much more extended version at one of Gene Norman's Just Jazz concerts along with a lengthy rendition of "Steeplechase" (the latter also featuring trumpeter Conte Candoli). This music is close to classic and was last available on this LP from MCA's Jazz Heritage series; it deserves to be reissued on CD. The flip side of the album has eight titles featuring tenorman Paul Quinichette with either organist Marlowe Morris or pianist James Golden. As usual Quinichette gets overshadowed but his performances are enjoyable too. ~ Scott Yanow