Johnny Hodges - The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions (1956-1961) [2000] (6 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

JOHNNY HODGES

Johnny Hodges - The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions (1956-1961) [2000] (6 x CDs)

Johnny Hodges was Duke Ellington's most important soloist, so when the alto saxophonist returned to his former employer in the fall of 1955 after leading his own band for just over four and a half years, he had Ellington's approval to record under his own name for Verve on a steady basis. This limited-edition box set collects all of Hodges' small-group sessions recorded for Verve between 1956 and 1961 (excepting some selections whose masters were lost), often with a number of sidemen on loan from Ellington. The leader's chops are best exhibited in the ballads and blues features, though his originals merit attention, too. Hodges hardly hogs the spotlight; he obviously takes his share of solos but generously features his guests and associates from the Ellington band. A nonet with Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Quentin Jackson, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Woode, and Sam Woodyard is easily the best all-around session within this compilation, with many fine tracks. The humorous "Just Squeeze Me," with Nance's hip vocals complemented by Terry's talkative horn in the background, as well as a surprising extended workout of "Take the 'A' Train," with Terry taking over the famous solo spotlight that Nance first recorded in 1941 (heard on flügelhorn) and followed by Nance on his swinging violin, are among its highlights. Some of the other veterans appearing in this collection include Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson, Ben Webster, and Herb Ellis. The atmosphere of each session is friendly and swinging, with the feeling that each take came together quickly, whether or not that was actually the case. While Johnny Hodges' recordings as a leader from this period never rivaled Duke Ellington's in either sales or critical acclaim, they proved to be consistently enjoyable and able to stand the test of time. The set includes 30 previously unissued tracks. The detailed liner notes and discography, along with the numerous photos, also help to make The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions 1956-1961 an essential purchase for swing fans, though it is a limited edition of just 7,500, so it is guaranteed to soar in value. (AMG review by Ken Dryden)

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Track lists

CD01

01 Johnny Hodges - Hi 'ya 3:08

02 Johnny Hodges - Snibor 7:14

03 Johnny Hodges - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 3:28

04 Johnny Hodges - Texas Blues 11:44

05 Johnny Hodges - A-Oddie-Oobie 3:31

06 Johnny Hodges - Meet Mr. Rabbit 7:14

07 Johnny Hodges - Duke's In Bed 2:53

08 Johnny Hodges - Just Squeeze Me 3:06

09 Johnny Hodges - Ballade For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus Eaters 3:20

10 Johnny Hodges - Confab With Rab 3:16

11 Johnny Hodges - It Had To Be You 3:05

12 Johnny Hodges - Black And Tan Fantasy 6:18

13 Johnny Hodges - Take The 'a' Train 8:03

14 Johnny Hodges - Viscount 2:27

15 Johnny Hodges - Bouquet Of Roses 3:24

16 Johnny Hodges - Digits 4:18

CD02

01 Johnny Hodges - Early Morning Rock 3:36

02 Johnny Hodges - Blues-A-Plenty 3:23

03 Johnny Hodges - Cool Your Motor 3:36

04 Johnny Hodges - Gone With The Wind 3:18

05 Johnny Hodges - Honey Hill 4:03

06 Johnny Hodges - I Didn't Know About You 3:33

07 Johnny Hodges - Satin Doll 5:01

08 Johnny Hodges - Reeling And Rocking 9:35

09 Johnny Hodges - Don't Take Your Love From Me 3:39

10 Johnny Hodges - Saturday Afternoon Blues 5:59

11 Johnny Hodges - Just A Memory 5:52

12 Johnny Hodges - Let's Fall In Love 6:46

13 Johnny Hodges - Big Shoe 5:35

14 Johnny Hodges - Ruint 2:31

15 Johnny Hodges - Bend One 2:58

16 Johnny Hodges - You Need To Rock 5:51

CD03

01 Johnny Hodges - M.H.R. 5:57

02 Johnny Hodges - Broadway Babe 2:42

03 Johnny Hodges - Three And Six 2:20

04 Johnny Hodges - Not So Dukish 7:51

05 Johnny Hodges - Central Park Swing 3:24

06 Johnny Hodges - Preacher Blues 8:22

07 Johnny Hodges - Jeep Bounced Back 3:34

08 Johnny Hodges - The Last Time I Saw Paris 2:53

09 Johnny Hodges - First Klass (C'mon Home) 3:59

10 Johnny Hodges - Second Klass 2:41

11 Johnny Hodges - Straight Back 3:14

12 Johnny Hodges - Steerage 7:52

13 Johnny Hodges - Third Klass 3:31

14 Johnny Hodges - Meet The Frog 3:05

15 Johnny Hodges - Nite Life 5:29

16 Johnny Hodges - My Melancholy Baby 2:57

17 Johnny Hodges - Lotus Blossom 2:44

18 Johnny Hodges - Free For All 5:54

CD04

01 Johnny Hodges - Br' Rabbit 4:11

02 Johnny Hodges - Starting With You (I'm Through) 3:56

03 Johnny Hodges - The Hare 6:22

04 Johnny Hodges - The Things You Miss 3:48

05 Johnny Hodges - I Told You So 3:28

06 Johnny Hodges - Wiggle Awhile 4:29

07 Johnny Hodges - Get Ready 7:08

08 Johnny Hodges - The Peaches Are Better Down The Road 7:18

09 Johnny Hodges - Hygiene 5:31

10 Johnny Hodges - Ben's Web 5:05

11 Johnny Hodges - Side Door (Don't Kid Yourself) 5:47

12 Johnny Hodges - Blues'll Blow Your Fuse 4:18

13 Johnny Hodges - I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 2:44

14 Johnny Hodges - Dual Highway 3:14

CD05

01 Johnny Hodges - Big Ears 4:47

02 Johnny Hodges - Shorty Gull 3:45

03 Johnny Hodges - Ifida 4:34

04 Johnny Hodges - Big Smack 4:49

05 Johnny Hodges - I'd Be There 5:14

06 Johnny Hodges - Just Another Day 5:46

07 Johnny Hodges - Lollalagin Now 2:50

08 Johnny Hodges - Medley: Am I Blue / Something To Remember You By 4:22

09 Johnny Hodges - Once In A While 3:42

10 Johnny Hodges - Do Nothing' Till You Hear From Me 2:24

11 Johnny Hodges - Medley: More Than You Know / Memories Of You 7:11

12 Johnny Hodges - The Very Thought Of You 3:00

13 Johnny Hodges - When Your Lover Has Gone 3:40

14 Johnny Hodges - Blues Serenade 2:54

15 Johnny Hodges - Night And Day 4:04

16 Johnny Hodges - Lover Come Back To Me 4:41

17 Johnny Hodges - I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 5:23

18 Johnny Hodges - Two Sleepy People 3:00

CD06

01 Johnny Hodges - Exactly Like You 2:49

02 Johnny Hodges - I'm Beginning To See The Light 3:57

03 Johnny Hodges - Val's Lament 4:07

04 Johnny Hodges - Tipsy Joe 5:26

05 Johnny Hodges - Waiting On The Champagne 3:22

06 Johnny Hodges - Sweet Cookie 3:21

07 Johnny Hodges - Frog Hop 4:10

08 Johnny Hodges - Zag Zig 3:34

09 Johnny Hodges - Dag Knows 5:21

10 Johnny Hodges - Twice Daily 5:18

11 Johnny Hodges - John Smith 3:04

12 Johnny Hodges - Romeo 2:17

13 Johnny Hodges - Black Sapphire 2:36

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