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Artist:
Johnny Hodges
Title:
Johnny Hodges, Billy Strayhorn & The Orchestra



Details:
Unfortunately jazz fans in this century are forced to enjoy a concert by Johnny Hodges or Duke Ellington from the comfort of their television armchair. The climax of any of these recorded concerts is always found in the lyrical gentle solos of the first-rate alto saxophonist. and one can see for oneself how seemingly effortlessly the notes just pour out of his instrument and how his restless eyes search contact with the audience. The melodies were almost always penned by Billy Strayhorn Duke's friend and alter ego. For the jazz producer Norman Granz it was a foregone conclusion to record an LP with the two lyricists. and for Johnny Hodges who had already released more than a dozen LPs to his name this particular recording was to be the summit of his career. The swinging schmaltz-free carpet of sound of Duke Ellington's orchestra might well be better likened to the swell and surge of a calm sea over which the archlike melodies are allowed to unfold. Such a mood is virtually impossible to express in words - which is logical - for if it was easy then musicians would be authors not musicians ... One shouldnÆt be tempted to first pick out the new titles such as (Your Love Has Faded˜ or (Tailor Made˜ in the belief that there is nothing new to discover in such numbers as

Label: Verve

This item was added to our catalog on Thursday 19 July, 2007