LONEHILL JAZZ DELIVERS AGAIN
W. BUTLER | NEVADA USA | 08/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With so few reviews of their incredible Johnny Hodges - Wild Bill Davis releases it seems the present generation has no idea what they're missing. All the more reason to thank whoever it is in Spain who continues to keep the Johnny Hodges faithful happy. Especially because his late Verve albums are (in my opinion) his greatest in terms of sound quality and the confidence of his alto-saxophone statements - representing a lifetime's experience.
Like many others I'd no idea "Buenos Aires Blues" existed. Sufficient to say it's great mainstream listening from begining to end. Lalo Schifrin being an ideal accompanist - always staying in the background as one would wish.
"The Eleventh Hour" is no less welcome. This is one of those cases where one knew Verve's pressings never did justice to the original recording. Anything larger than a quartet beyond the capability of my record player. But now one can hear Oliver Nelson's adventurous orchestrations in perfect clarity - expertly transfered to CD.
Once again Johnny Hodges is beautifully featured. Never overwhelmed by the occasional unusual oriental textures which accompany him on a well-chosen selection of Ellingtonia and pop material from 1962. The biggest surprise being how great "Guitar Amour" from "Paris Blues" sounds when played on a saxophone. An Ellington tune which could have become a "standard" if he'd arranged it for his full forces.
Having nearly exhausted the Hodges Verve discography I'm hoping Lonehill Jazz might get round to releasing his Gershwin album in brighter sound than on the Japanese Verve CD reissue. Which could be coupled with "Rippin'& Runnin'" one of his last Verve albums. Not one of his best - but still providing one more unrepeatable memory of the greatest-ever master of the alto saxophone.
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Track Listings (21) - Disc #1