A Sense of Direction
| A Sense of Direction | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Walt Dickerson | ||||
| Released | 1961 | |||
| Recorded | 
May 5, 1961  Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey  | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 40:54 | |||
| Label | 
New Jazz NJLP 8268  | |||
| Producer | Esmond Edwards | |||
| Walt Dickerson chronology | ||||
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A Sense of Direction is the second album led by vibraphonist and composer Walt Dickerson recorded in 1961 and released on the New Jazz label.[1][2]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic | |
| Down Beat | |
AllMusic awarded the album 4½ stars with its review by Steve Huey stating, "If it's a shade less challenging and inventive than This Is Walt Dickerson!, A Sense of Direction compensates by making Dickerson's innovations more accessible and inviting".[3] Down Beat reviewer Pete Welding wrote "if it is only slightly less adventurous than his initial recording, it is still an ardent collection -- primarily of ballads -- treated with unflagging invention and restrain ...Were it not for the slight conventionality of some of the numbers, the rating would have been five stars."[5]
Track listing
All compositions by Walt Dickerson except as indicated
- "Sense of Direction" - 6:00
 - "Ode to Boy" - 5:30
 - "Togetherness" - 3:00
 - "What's New?" (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) - 4:44
 - "Good Earth" - 3:33
 - "Why" - 4:48
 - "You Go to My Head" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 8:19
 - "If I Should Lose You" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) - 5:00
 
Personnel
- Walt Dickerson - vibraphone
 - Austin Crowe – piano
 - Edger Bateman – bass
 - Eustis Guillemet Jr. – drums
 
References
- ↑ Prestige Records New Jazz catalogue discography accessed March 27, 2015
 - ↑ Fitzgerald, M., Walt Dickerson discography accessed March 27, 2015
 - 1 2 Huey, S., Allmusic Review, accessed March 27, 2015
 - ↑ Down Beat: Vol. 29, No. 23, September 28, 1961
 - ↑ Weilding, P., Walt Dickerson Reviews, accessed March 27, 2015
 
