Requisites

Setting The Pace ~ Booker Ervin | By Eddie Carter

I love a good blowing session, especially one featuring a tenor sax. I became a fan of Booker Ervin after hearing That’s It! (1961), Exultation! (1963), and Back From The Gig (1976). This morning’s album submitted for your approval is a 1967 release by the saxophonist, Setting The Pace (Prestige PR 7455/PRST 7455). Booker was born in Denison, Texas, and began playing the trombone as a youngster. He taught himself the tenor sax while serving in the Air Force and stationed in Okinawa. He later attended Berklee College of Music after completing his service and began playing with trombonist Ernie Fields. Ervin moved to New York a few years later and worked with Charles Mingus. Sharing the spotlight with him on this date is Dexter Gordon on tenor sax, Jaki Byard on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Alan Dawson on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1973 US Stereo reissue (Prestige PRT-7455).

The quintet dives straight into the first of two tunes by Dexter Gordon. Setting The Pace occupies the entire first side and both horns begin with an ear-opening introduction evolving into the ensemble’s lively melody. Dexter is up first with a lengthy performance of high-spirited delight. Booker keeps his foot on the pedal with long phrases soaring ambitiously to the stratosphere. Reggie makes a brief bass comment, then Jaki gets into something interesting on the next reading. Dex and Book return to share a brisk conversation. Alan concludes the solos with a short workout into the song’s climax. Side Two takes off with the rhythm section’s introduction and quintet’s theme to Dexter’s Deck. Booker starts things off vigorously in his opening statement. Dexter takes charge next on an enthusiastic nine-and-a-half-minute reading. Reggie responds with an inspired bit of bass walking preceding the song’s conclusion.

Setting The Pace was produced by Don Schlitten and Willy Schmidt was the man behind the dials. This reissue is a gorgeous recording possessing a very impressive soundstage. The instruments emerge from your speakers with crystal-clear clarity. Booker recorded a total of nine albums for Prestige, and seven more for Bethlehem, Blue Note, Candid, Pacific Jazz, and Savoy. He also made quite a few recordings as a sideman working with some of the best jazz musicians. He passed away at age thirty-nine from kidney failure on August 31, 1970. If you’re a fan of either Booker Ervin or Dexter Gordon and are in the mood for some adventurous Hard-Bop, I invite you to check out Setting The Pace on your next vinyl shopping spree. It’s forty-two-and-a-half minutes of splendid jazz that’s sure to have the listener hungering for more!

~ Back From The Gig (The Blue Note Reissue Series BN-LA488-H2), Exultation! (Prestige PRLP 7293/PRST 7293), That’s It! (Candid CJM-8014/CJS-9014) – Source: Discogs.com ~ Booker Ervin – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

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