Johnny Hodges (4)

JOHNNY HODGES & WILD BILL DAVIS - CON-SOUL & JAZZ - WILD BILL IS THE BOSS! (1965-1966)

CD 1
01. On The Sunny Side Of Th e Street
02. On Green Dolphin Street
03. Lil' Darlin'
04. Con Soul And Sax
05. The Jeep Is Jumpin,'
06. I'm Beginning To See Th e Light
07. Sophisticated Lady
08. Drop Me Off In Harlem
09. No One
10. Johnny Come Lately
11. Just Squeeze Me
12. It's Only A Paper Moon
13. Taff y
14. Good Queen Bess
15. L.B. Blues
16. In A Mellow Tone
17. Rockville

CD 2
01. I'll Always Love You
02. It Don't Mean A Thing
03. Belle Of The Belmont
04. Blues For Madeleine
05. When I'm Feeling Kinda Blue
06. Pyramid
07. Nonchalance
08. At Dawn
09. Th e Brown-Skin Gal In The Calico Gown
10. Stormy Weather
11. Rabbit Out Of Th e Hat
12. Hash Brown
13. Blue Notes*
14. Say It Again*
15. I Can't Believe Th at You're In Love With Me*
16. Broad Walk*
17. L.B. Blues*,
18. Sandy's Gone*
19. Candy's Theme*
20. The Caretakers Theme*
21. Again*

Featuring: Johnny Hodges, Wild Bill Davis, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Hamilton, Kenny Burrell, Mundell Lowe, George Duvivier, Osie Johnson

The Johnny Hodges-Wild Bill Davis Project, Vol.1 The only 2-CD set of the series, comprises the only two albums in which Wild Bill Davis was the primary session leader, and in which his name preceded that of Hodges in the original cover art (Con-Soul & Jazz and Wild Bill Davis & Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City). These albums usually appear on jazz discographies under Wild Bill's name. In addition, we also have the album Blue Pyramid, in which Hodges' name is, as usual, the first one mentioned.
The three albums, recorded in '65 and '66, were the last small group albums by this amazing team. As fillers at the end of Disc Two are 5 songs from the Hodges album Blue Notes and the four tracks featuring both Hodges and Davis from the album "Sandy's Gone".

JOHNNY HODGES & HIS STRINGS - PLAY THE PRETTIEST GRRSHWIN (1958)

Love Is Here to Stay        
Nice Work If You Can Get It        
'S Wonderful        
Summertime        
Soon        
But Not for Me        
Somebody Loves Me        
They Can't Take That Away from Me        
Someone to Watch over Me        
Man I Love        
Oh, Lady Be Good        
They All Laughed        

by arwulf arwulf

Only the most potent jazz musicians are capable of successful collaboration with string ensembles. Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and Ben Webster each made their share of sweet chamber ensembles or lush, orchestrally augmented recordings. And so did Duke Ellington's star alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges. On November 18, 1958 he recorded an album for Verve consisting of 12 melodies written by George Gershwin. The session took place in Stuttgart, Germany; Hodges was accompanied by pianist Horst Jankowski and by a bassist who has yet to be identified. "Atmosphere" was generated by the Stuttgart Light Orchestra, under the direction of Wolfram Rohrig. Arrangements were scored by Russell Garcia. As with most string-laden recordings, the listener will need to accept the violins, violas and celli in order to enjoy the jazz element that exists quite strongly -- and intimately -- in the foreground. Most of the songs are performed slowly, with "Nice Work If You Can Get It" taken at a gentle bounce tempo. "But Not for Me" comes across as slightly sassy, "They Can't Take That Away from Me" is walked in 4/4 time and "Summertime" is savored as a deeply felt meditation in blue. All of these performances, like most of the music in the latter day Johnny Hodges discography, combine the elegant tonal ligatures of swing and cool.

Johnny Hodges & Rex Stewart - Things Ain't What they used to be (1967)

By Pino. Vey good, thanks.


1. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
2. Squatty Roo
3. Passion Flower
4. That's the Blues, Old Man
5. Good Queen Bess
6. Day Dream
7. Junior Hop
8. Goin' Out the Back Way
9. Linger Awhile
10. Mobile Bay
11. Some Saturday
12. Poor Bubber
13. My Sunday Gal
14. Menelik: The Lion of Judah
15. Without a Song
16. Subtle Slough

Ray Nance (trumpet 1-3), Cootie Williams (trumpet 4-8), Rex Stewart (trumpet 9-16)
Lawrence Brown (trombone)
Ben Webster (tenor saxophone 9-16)
Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone 1-8)
Harry Carney (baritone saxophone)
Duke Ellington (piano)
Jimmy Blanton (bass)
Sonny Greer (drums)

JOHNNY HODGES - DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY (1967)

Thanks to Jazzman. Kiss.

A1.Don't Sleep In The Subway    
A2.The Wonder Of You        
A3.Serenade In Blue    
A4.Everytime She Walks        
A5.Wisteria        
B1.Heel Kickin'        
B2.You've Changed        
B3.Some Fun    
B4.Eydie-Dee Dee

Musicians:

Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Ernie Royal (trumpet), Bill Berry (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Frank Wess (tenor sax), Jimmy Hamilton (tenor sax), Jerome Richardson (alto sax), Hank Jones (harpsichord), Everett Barksdale (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Grady Tate (drums),
Tony Studd (trombone), Danny Bank (baritone sax)

Composed by Tony Hatch & Jackie Trent. Arranged and conducted by Jimmy Jones