Daddy Plays the Horn is a 1955 jazz album by saxophonist Dexter Gordon, originally released on Bethlehem Records.

“There’s a clear focus on getting Gordon back in the spotlight on this record, as the basic set up for each song is to feature his solos heavily. The structures and tempos don’t exactly catch you off guard, but the traditional approach does create room for Gordon to win over audiences that may have forgotten him. And he does just that. The opening title track is a deeply swinging number, one that may have Gordon high in the mix but still gets the whole band working. You can hear Gordon feeling out the space of the track as he goes, his solos rising and falling at will, sounding both expansive and intimate by turns. He juxtaposes nicely with the more hushed delivery of Kenny Drew’s piano, which may be quiet but still hits with strength. “Confirmation” picks up the pace a bit and gets Gordon in the groove, but it also shows a tighter cohesion from all the players, especially the vital basslines of Leroy Vinnegar on the track.

Those sides show Gordon getting his fire back, and the band is right there with him. Drew is particularly impressive here. His solo in “Confirmation” is as jumping and exciting as Gordon’s horn work, and provides a playful counterpoint. He also drives the hard-stomping closer “You Can Depend on Me” with his unpredictable phrasings and the soft way he creates space before filling it with percussive runs. It’s so easy to get lost in the interplay between Gordon and Drew that it’s easy to forget the solid foundations provided by Vinnegar and drummer Larry Marable. Both give these songs, especially ballads like “Swinging the Dream: Darn That Dream” an important weight.”