Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges - Side By Side - SACD

Product no.: CVRJ 6109 SA

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Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges - Side By Side - SACD
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Analogue Productions - CVRJ 6109 SA - Hybrid SACD Stereo 

Mastered By George Marino at Sterling Sound - Verve G VS-6109

Limited Edition - Plays On ALL CD Players

"...these are all truly classic Verve titles that you simply don't want to miss...most importantly, the sound of these reissues is nothing short of astounding. Particularly the early Billie and Ella mono records are incredible treasures of sonic beauty. I'd definitely ask Santa for the whole set, or, if you want to cherry pick, the most classic titles. Whatever you decide, you owe yourself at least a half dozen!" Winner of a 2012 Positive Feedback Online Writers' Choice Award - Danny Kaey, Positive Feedback Online

Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project.

When Norman Granz signed Johnny Hodges to a recording contract in 1951, it was a prelude to Hodges's leaving the Duke Ellington orchestra to lead his own small band. Four years later Hodges was back in the Ellington fold, but he continued to record for Granz under his own name.

Side by Side, recorded in 1958 and 1959, is a throwback to the small-group sessions Ellington recorded with Hodges and other members of his orchestra in the Thirties, but with a couple of important differences: the absence of Ellington himself on several cuts (with Billy Strayhorn taking over at the piano), and the presence of such notable non-Ellingtonians as drummer Jo Jones and trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Harry "Sweets" Edison.

The most awesome, the most swinging rhythm group of all times! Fantastic winds! There’s only one guy who can make an alto saxophone sound like this – somewhere between melancholy and aggressiveness! Superlative after superlative come to mind when you listen to these nine numbers, which were recorded at the end of the Fifties. 
The idea of scaling down Ellington’s band for jam-session-like numbers is absolutely genial because it offers soloists great opportunities to display their artistry. And these wind musicians are the best of the best, masters of their instruments.
 
We have Roy Eldridge, who influenced the transition from swing to be-bop and a modern style of trumpet playing; Harry Edison, whose light and airy Basie-swing style cannot be denied; and Ben Webster, who amalgamates both the Count’s and the Duke’s style of swing. And then there is Johnny 'The Rabbit' Hodges, whose natural feeling for rhythm and gentle tone is brought to optimal expression within this concept.
 
"Squeeze Me" and "Stompy Jones" both stem from the Forties and are often performed, but in this session they have been rejuvenated in a masterly fashion. The standard "Let’s Fall In Love" demonstrates Lawrence Brown’s highly personal sound on the trombone and then goes on to spotlight Roy Eldridge and Johnny Hodges, both of whom prove that they are at the very zenith of their artistic prowess. "Ruint" and "Going Up" provide a showcase for Johnny Hodges, while "Just A Memory" focuses on the gentle, sometimes rather sentimental sound of Ben Webster.
 

Just as exceptional is the recording quality of this LP. Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the two sessions, the reissue offers a excellent opportunity to pay homage to the Verve recording engineers.
 
When Norman Granz signed Johnny Hodges to a recording contract in 1951, it was a prelude to Hodges's leaving the Duke Ellington orchestra to lead his own small band. Four years later Hodges was back in the Ellington fold, but he continued to record for Granz under his own name.
 
Side by Side, recorded in 1958 and 1959, is a throwback to the small-group sessions Ellington recorded with Hodges and other members of his orchestra in the Thirties, but with a couple of important differences: the absence of Ellington himself on several cuts (with Billy Strayhorn taking over at the piano), and the presence of such notable non-Ellingtonians as drummer Jo Jones and trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Harry "Sweets" Edison.

Musicians:

Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone

Duke Ellington, piano

Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet

Al Hall, bass Les Spann, guitar, flute

Jo Jones, drums

Ben Webster, tenor saxophone

Roy Eldridge, trumpet

Lawrence Brown, trombone

Wendell Marshall, bass

Billy Strayhorn, piano

 

Selections:

1. Stompy Jones

2. Squeeze Me

3. Big Shoe

4. Going Up

5. Just a Memory

6. Let's Fall In Love

7. Ruint

8. Bend One

9. You Need to Rock

Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges - Side By Side - SACD

ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES
We use the Original Tapes and work with only the Best Mastering Studios
 
LIMITED EDITION
Released in Limited Quantities

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