In den 1950er Jahren nahm der der Baritonsaxofonist Gerry Mulligan eine exzellente Serie von Alben auf,
die ihn im Zusammenspiel mit anderen Saxofonisten zeigten - mal mit Legenden, mal mit Zeitgenossen.
Als eines der besten und überraschendsten Alben dieser Reihe gilt das Zusammentreffen mit dem DukeEllington-Solisten und Altsaxofonisten Johnny Hodges, das 1959 stattfand.
"Recorded in 1959, Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges is heralded as one of the best of Mulligan’s recorded pairings with fellow instrumentalists. On this date, the two saxophonists are joined by a solid rhythm section of Claude Williamson (piano), Buddy Clark (bass) and Mel Lewis (drums), splitting the repertoire across three originals each from Mulligan and Hodges. The two complement the other throughout with the exception of Mulligan’s ‘What’s the Rush’, where the baritonist sits out altogether in favour of Hodges’ alto taking the spotlight.
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging."
VERVE ACOUSTIC SOUNDS SERIE: Stereo, komplett analog von Ryan K. Smith bei Sterling Sound von
den Originalbändern gemastert, QPR-Pressung (180 g), stabiles Tip-On-Gatefold (Stoughton Printing),
wattierte Innenhülle.
Mit seiner unverwechselbaren, ungemein eleganten Phrasierung auf dem Altsaxofon war Johnny Hodges -
nur mit einer kurzen Unterbrechung in den frühen 1950ern - von 1928 bis zu seinem Tod 1970 eine der
prägenden Stimmen des Duke Ellington Orchestra gewesen. Dass ihre musikalische Komplizenschaft auch
im kleinen Rahmen hervorragend funktionierte, bewiesen sie 1959 bei einer lockeren Jamsession für Verve,
bei der einige der Aufnahmen für das Album “Side By Side” entstanden.
Beinahe 50 Jahre lang war Johnny Hodges der vielleicht wichtigste Solist im Orchester von Duke Ellington. Parallel unternahm der Altsaxophonist natürlich auch immer wieder erfolgreiche Soloausflüge, so wie 1958 auf dem Verve-Album “Blues A-Plenty”. Mit einem All-Star-Septett, in dem gleich vier weitere prominente Ellington-Musiker versammelt waren, präsentiert Hodges hier neben fünf eigenen Kompositionen u.a. auch zwei Nummern aus der Feder seines Bosses
Several times in his career star alto-saxophone soloist Johnny Hodges struck out on his own, only to return each time to Duke Ellington's band. Critic Michael Ullman suggested that the blues classics chosen for this program may have been neutral ground, where Ellington's playing could come to the fore and Hodges' irrepressible sensuality could have free rein. This is one of the very best small-group records Ellington ever made — a perfectly integrated set of music that truly swings the blues.
"Brooklyn-based pianist Eva Novoa returns with The Freedom Suite: Novoa / Carter / Mela Trio, Vol. 2 — the second radiant release from her compelling trio with saxophone icon Daniel Carter and celebrated drummer Francisco Mela. This marks Novoa’s sixth album with 577 Records. The trio first came together live in 2021, followed by a series of performances, including appearances in Cambridge (Boston) and later at the Brooklyn edition of the NY Forward Festival.
"The Freedom Suite is an homage to jazz titan Duke Ellington — particularly his masterful big band suites and legendary orchestra featuring Johnny Hodges and other luminaries who helped define an era of jazz greatness. In contrast, Novoa presents her Suite in a more intimate format: the piano trio. The album comprises twelve pieces — mostly brief — with a few extended tracks such as Free to Be Free and Cyborgs.
"For this recording, Novoa also steps in as a vocalist on several tracks, including Mainstream Media, Big Grande, Global, Free to Be Free, Dream, and Cyborgs. These pieces often feature a vocal dialogue between Novoa and Mela, whose expressive, word-infused style draws from rich Cuban traditions.
'Words are powerful,' says Novoa. 'They define who we are, where we come from, and who we hope to become. Without words, there is no conversation — and without conversation, there is no real sense of time, space, or connection.'
The Freedom Suite emerged from deep philosophical and creative conversations — spoken, written, and improvised — between Novoa, Carter, and Mela. In the studio, Novoa introduced printed texts that served as thematic foundations for spontaneous, in-the-moment musical interpretation. The result is an urgent and organic interplay, where instruments speak to one another in a language as fluid as it is fearless.
"Standout track Cyborgs begins with Novoa’s percussive piano, exemplifying the trio’s dynamic, conversational energy. Creative Destruction features Novoa on electric harpsichord in a wild, electric exchange. While Free to Be Free stands out as the album’s leading single, it also captures the essence and message of the entire Suite.
"Recorded in 2021 at New York City’s legendary Sear Sound Studio, the album captures a creative explosion of sound and spirit. Novoa dazzles on piano, Fender Rhodes, electric harpsichord, Chinese gongs — even whistle — showcasing her expansive sonic palette. Together, the trio embodies the power of free improvisation and emotional storytelling.
"Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Eva Novoa has been cultivating her distinctive voice since childhood. Now a staple of the New York creative music scene, she has performed across the globe and collaborated with some of the most adventurous voices in jazz and beyond."
Frank Sinatra gilt als erster und ohne Zweifel größter Pop-Star aller Zeiten. Daran, dass er auch eine
Jazzgröße war, erinnert diese Doppel-LP mit zwei großen Kollegen. Sie enthält seine Zusammenarbeit mit
zwei Giganten des Jazz auf den inzwischen legendären Alben “It Might As Well Be Swing“ mit Count Basie
und ”Francis A. & Edward K.“ mit Duke Ellington.
Diese beiden Jazz-Höhepunkte Frank Sinatras Karriere erscheinen hier erstmals zusammen als hochwertige Doppel-LP, neu remastert von den Archivbändern und in einer attraktiven Gatefold-Hülle, die seltene
Fotos und die damalige Grafik der Originalhüllen beinhaltet.
Das erste der beiden Alben, ”It Might As Well Be Swing“, erschien erstmals im August 1964. Sinatra
sang darauf zum zweiten Mal nach dem Hit-Album ”Sinatra-Basie“ (1962) zehn Stücke begleitet von Basie
und seinem Orchester. Es war Sinatras erstes von Quincy Jones, einem weiteren Jazz-Giganten, arrangiertes
Studioalbum. 1968 erschien das Album ”Francis A. & Edward K.“, das Sinatra erstmals mit Duke Ellington
und seiner Big Band zusammenbrachte. Zu Ellingtons Orchester gehörten damals Jazzlegenden wie Johnny
Hodges, Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson und Paul Gonsalves. Billy May, der langjährige Arrangeur von
Sinatra, orchestrierte das Album.
Eine Ella-Entdeckung sondergleichen: die „First Lady of Jazz“ singt und swingt ein dynamisches Konzert mit Top-Musikern der Ellington-Band. Dass dieses Traum-Konzert von 1967 in Stereo mitgeschnitten
wurde, war bislang unbekannt. Im Nachlass ihres Managers Norman Granz fanden sich jetzt die von Wally
Heider hervorragend aufgenommenen 4-Spur-Bänder, und die haben es in sich! Ella war in phänomenaler
Form und wurde vom Trio aus Jimmy Jones, Bob Cranshaw und Sam Woodyard sowie Ellington-Legenden
wie Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton und Johnny Hodges zusätzlich beflügelt.
Vom swingenden Opener “The Moment Of Truth” und dem lässigen Klassiker „Let’s Do It“ bis zum
Fitzgerald-Evergreen „Mack The Knife“ ist alles dabei, was man als Fan liebt. Zwei zusätzliche Pop-Songs
der Sixties transponiert Ella meisterhaft in die Jazz-Welt: die bittersüße Ballade „Alfie“ von Burt Bacharach
und den Ohrwurm „Music To Watch Girls By”. Beide Songs waren bislang noch nie von Ella interpretiert
zu hören!
Ausstattung LP: 140g, Gatefold-Sleeve mit ausführlichen Linernotes von Will Friedwald
Ausstattung CD: Mintpack, Booklet mit ausführlichen Linernotes von Will Friedwald
VERVE ACOUSTIC SOUNDS SERIE: Stereo, komplett analog von Ryan K. Smith bei Sterling Sound von
den Originalbändern gemastert, QPR-Pressung (180 g), stabiles Tip-On-Gatefold (Stoughton Printing),
wattierte Innenhülle.
Mit seinem schwerelosen und luftigen Ton revolutionierte Gerry Mulligan in der Cool-Jazz-Ära das Image des Baritonsaxofons und trug so maßgeblich dazu bei, es als Soloinstrument zu emanzipieren. Bevor
Mulligan 1960 seine Concert Jazz Band gründete, spielte er eine Reihe sehr populärer Alben ein, bei
denen andere große Saxofonisten wie Lee Konitz, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond und Johnny Hodges seine
“Sparrings”-Partner waren. Zu einem besonderen historischen Treffen kam es 1959 mit dem legendären
Swing-Tenoristen Ben Webster. Für den US-amerikanische Radiosender NPR ist es “ein klassisches Album
zweier Giganten”, das in keiner Jazzsammlung fehlen sollte
• Bob Thiele is one of the great producers. For his work with John Coltrane alone, where he gave free reign to the saxophone great's wildest musical visions including “A Love Supreme”, ignoring the usual cost consciousness of a major label, he deserves to be lauded. In addition to this, his eight years at Impulse! saw him recording seminal works by scores of musicians including late-blooming masterpieces by Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges, and a whole wave of 'new thing' jazzers such as Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. He didn't stop there and when he launched his own label, Flying Dutchman in 1969, he continued to innovate and record music that reflected its times, but that also resonates down through the ages. It is to Flying Dutchman that we are paying tribute on this compilation.
• Gil Scott-Heron's recordings for the label ran to three records, which sold well but not spectacularly at the time. They have since taken on a resonance that makes the album "Pieces Of A Man" in particular one of the most important recordings of the last century, and its opening track 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' an anthem. Pianist Lonnie Liston Smith had been on Thiele's final important Impulse! Recording, Pharoah Sanders’ "Karma", and continued to appear on Flying Dutchman, first as a sideman and then as a leader. His 1975 album "Expansions" was the perfect encapsulation of his 'cosmic jazz' and the title track is a moment of near perfection which has become one of the foundation pieces of modern dance music.
• Flying Dutchman's other great discoveries are here. Vocalist Leon Thomas found a new route for jazz vocals in the early 70s, which made him a star and earned him a place in Santana. Gato Barbieri became one of the major saxophone stars of the era, after Thiele enabled him to meld his free jazz leanings to the rhythms of South America. The label also made important recordings with Tom Scott (featured on Thiele's own 'Head Start'), Ornette Coleman and Oliver Nelson, whilst interesting records appeared by Esther Marrow, Harold Alexander and many more.
• This is Flying Dutchman is a considered tribute to the label, and features in depth and fully illustrated sleeve notes. In the year when Bob Thiele's son is gearing up to release the first new music on the label since 1976, it is an apt and timely reminder of the power of the music.
United States at the beginning of the 1960s, the vibrant speeches of the great defenders of the black cause were soon relayed by the artists of the time.... The groove revolution is underway! Dive into the heart of this era with the proud voices of the Artists who made the Protest Song! A fine selection with : GIL SCOTT-HERON - Angela Davis- Doris Duke- Seven Seas- Shirley Caesar- Skull Snaps- T-Connection- The Whatnauts...
Grammy-nominated blues, soul and Americana singer is revered
worldwide for her defiant music and fire-breathing performances
' Done Come Too Far' continues Shemekia's riveting, clear-eyed testimony about
our troubled world while celebrating the blessings that keep hope alive. The new
album, available in Clear Vinyl and CD, is again produced by Will Kimbrough, and
an all-star supporting cast includes slide guitar whiz Sonny Landreth, Hill Country
blues great Cedric Burnside and Hi Rhythm Section organist Charles Hodges.
'Done Come Too Far' is another exhilarating Shemekia Copeland showcase, as
her rousing vocals bring the heat in an infectious array of muscular rockers,
stomping blues, swampy soul and heartbreaking ballads. Intense, topical new
originals make up most of the tracks and spirited versions of songs by Ray Wylie
Hubbard and her father, Johnny Copeland, fit right into the mix.
MOJO - September review
BLUES MATTERS - upcoming review
BLUES MATTERS - upcoming feature with interview
BLUES IN BRITAIN - upcoming review
BLUES IN THE SOUTH - upcoming review
BLUES' BLUES - upcoming review
BLUES BYTES - upcoming review
