A Sense of Direction

A Sense of Direction
Studio album by Walt Dickerson
Released	1961
Recorded	May 5, 1961
Studios	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:54
Labels	New Jazz NJLP 8268
Producer	Esmond Edwards
Walt Dickerson chronology
This Is Walt Dickerson! (1961) A Sense of Direction (1961) Relativity (1962)

A Sense of Direction is an album led by vibraphonist and composer Walt Dickerson recorded in 1961 and released on the New Jazz label.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Down Beat
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings

AllMusic reviewer Steve Huey stated: "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". DownBeat 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."

Track listing

All compositions by Walt Dickerson except as indicated

1. "Sense of Direction" - 6:00
2. "Ode to Boy" - 5:30
3. "Togetherness" - 3:00
4. "What's New?" (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) - 4:44
5. "Good Earth" - 3:33
6. "Why" - 4:48
7. "You Go to My Head" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 8:19
8. "If I Should Lose You" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) - 5:00

Personnel

• Walt Dickerson – vibraphone
• Austin Crowe – piano
• Eustis Guillemet Jr. – bass
• Edgar Bateman – drums

References