Blues-A-Plenty - Johnny Hodges Septet (1LP Vinyl)

Condition: Sealed (New)

Blues-A-Plenty by Johnny Hodges Septet.

There are records that announce themselves loudly, and then there are records like this one, which simply settle into the room and make it feel warmer. "Blues-A-Plenty" gathers Johnny Hodges and a septet of remarkable company for a session that lives up to its title, offering an unhurried, deeply satisfying tour through ballads, swingers, and the blues itself.

At the center of it all is Hodges on alto saxophone, that famously singing tone gliding through the material with the ease of a man who has nothing left to prove. He is surrounded by players who could each headline their own date. Ben Webster brings his breathy, muscular tenor as a foil to Hodges; Roy Eldridge lends heat and brilliance on trumpet; and Vic Dickenson rounds out the front line with his warm, wry trombone. It is a horn section built for both conversation and contrast.

The rhythm section is no less distinguished. Billy Strayhorn sits at the piano, an inspired presence given the Ellington lineage running through this music, with Jimmy Woode anchoring things on bass and Sam Woodyard driving the pulse on drums. Together they lay a foundation that is elastic and swinging, giving the soloists all the room they need without ever losing the thread.

The program moves gracefully across its two sides. The opening "I Didn't Know About You" eases the listener in, and the title track "Blues-A-Plenty" delivers exactly the slow, expressive blues its name promises. Along the way there are relaxed originals like "Cool Your Motor," "Honey Hill," and "Central Park Swing," alongside the standards "Gone With The Wind" and "Don't Take Your Love From Me." The second side keeps the momentum going through "Saturday Afternoon Blues," the elegant "Satin Doll," the spirited "Reeling And Rocking," and the closing "M.H.R."

Part of the pleasure of holding this record lies in its presentation. The cover carries a painting by Gerhard Noack, giving the package a distinctive visual character, while Liam Keating supplies liner notes to accompany the listening. It is the kind of thoughtful production that rewards those who appreciate a record as a complete object, from the artwork inward.

For collectors of small group jazz, this is a session that captures a rare confluence of talent in a mood of easy mastery. Hodges and his companions make the difficult sound effortless, turning ballads and blues alike into something intimate and enduring. Drop the needle and let the whole thing unfold; there is, quite genuinely, blues a-plenty here, and a good deal of grace besides.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. I Didn't Know About You
A2. Cool Your Motor
A3. Gone With The Wind
A4. Honey Hill
A5. Blues-A-Plenty
A6. Don't Take Your Love From Me
A7. Central Park Swing
B1. Saturday Afternoon Blues
B2. Satin Doll
B3. Reeling And Rocking
B4. M.H.R.

Credits:
Johnny Hodges - Alto Saxophone
Jimmy Woode - Bass
Gerhard Noack - Cover [Cover Painting], Painting [Cover Painting]
Sam Woodyard - Drums
Liam Keating - Liner Notes
Billy Strayhorn - Piano
Ben Webster - Tenor Saxophone
Vic Dickenson - Trombone
Roy Eldridge - Trumpet

Artist: Johnny Hodges Septet

Supporting Artists: Ben Webster

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: 20th Century Masterworks

Catalog Number: 350219

Release Year: 2021

Country: Import