A Letter to Dexter is an album by pianist George Cables, performing tunes associated with saxophonist Dexter Gordon, that was recorded in 2004 and released by the Kind of Blue label in 2006.[1][2]

A Letter to Dexter
Studio album by George Cables
Released	2006
Recorded	May 25, 2004
Studio	Avatar Studios, NYC
Genre	Jazz
Length	67:28
Label	Kind of Blue KOB 10006
Producer	David Baker, Suzanne Severini
George Cables chronology
Looking for the Light (2003) A Letter to Dexter (2006) You Don't Know Me (2007)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
All About Jazz	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[5]

The AllMusic review by Rick Anderson said "Pianist George Cables, who spent some of his formative years accompanying saxophone great Dexter Gordon, pays tribute to the man with a nicely varied collection of tunes written by or associated with Gordon, A Letter to Dexter ... Cables has a decorous and romantic playing style, and combined with a rhythm section as mighty as this one, the results should be magnificent. And so they are, at least most of the time. Unfortunately, there are occasional moments when the rhythmic thread is lost and the groove falters. This usually happens during piano solos ... But most of the album is a delight ... Recommended.".[3]

On All About Jazz, Chris May stated "There's nothing revolutionary here, but some mighty fine music and enough good vibes to make you feel happier with the world (for a while, anyway)".[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Dexter Gordon except where noted

1. "Catalonian Nights" – 7:07
2. "Three O'Clock in the Morning" (Julián Robledo) – 5:38
3. "Cheese Cake" – 5:09
4. "Polka Dots And Moonbeams" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) – 8:13
5. "Tanya" (Donald Byrd) – 7:53
6. "Fried Bananas" – 4:55
7. "Body and Soul" (Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton) — 8:06
8. "I Told You So" (George Cables) – 4:56
9. "Who Can I Turn To?" (Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse) – 8:20
10. "LTD (Long Tall Dexter)" – 5:35
11. "'Round About Midnight" (Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams, Bernie Hanighen) – 4:29

Personnel

• George Cables – piano
• Rufus Reid - bass (tracks 1-10)
• Victor Lewis – drums (tracks 1-10)

References