Can't think of too many better ways than to start my Saturday with Johnny Hodges, supported by Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson, Billy Strayhorn, Jimmy Woode, and Sam Woodyard from Hodges Verve album "Blues-A-Plenty" as reissued by Classic Records. The playing is, as you'd expect given the line up, out of this world. Of course Hodges, Webster, Strayhorn, Woode, and Woodyard have history together as in the Ellington band, and Hodges and Eldridge have been around the jazz world long enough to have meet in any number of diverse settings, so these cats know and respect each other. This is no cutting contest, just a mutual admiration society meeting. And the music they produce demonstrates this. Each player has their time to shine, though Hodges dominates things (as one would expect given it's his album). But it's fun to hear Hodges cream alto tones play off the deep, rich, warm, breathy sound of Webster's tenor. And Eldridge's trumpet offers a sharp contrast to the two saxophones. Dickenson's trombone is used mostly for color, but he plays his part perfectly. The Strayhorn/Woode/Woodyard rhythm section is so tight, so good, and lays down the foundation for the others to play over so perfectly it's almost uncanny until you stop and think how many hours these three have played together. This early stereo recording has all the left/right soundstage that plagued so many early stereo jazz recordings, but it can't get in the way of the great music recorded here. This album sounds like a late night, after the show, gathering of friends just sitting around having fun blowing together. And the sound Classic got on this remaster is outstanding (as always). You'll have to hunt for a copy, as all Classic records are long OOP, but the hunt will pay off the first time you drop your needle into the grooves. This LP comes extremely highly recommended. #LP #record #recordcollection #album #albumcover #vinyl #vinyladdict #vinylrecords #vinylcollector #vinylcollection #jazz #music #stereo #ClassicRecords #audio #audiophile #audiophilepressing #audiophilerecording #highend #analog
