A Sense of Direction

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
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