Customer Reviews

Back Door

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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A chance buy, but worth it. The playing is phenominal, whether playing quickly or slowly. Whether saxes or flute. I've never really warmed to the sound of the higher saxes, finding them too brash or tinny, but Ron Aspery converted me. His playing is precise and immotive, (where are you now). The rythmn section is tight, and intricate. Colin Hodgkinson's bass is a marvel. if you want to know what's possible to do on the bass listen to this record. If I hadn't seen the man do it, I woudn't believe there are two people playing bass. A brilliant record from a little known jazz trio. Modern jazz, but not Free jazz. Each track is quite short, but to be honest there is a great passion in breveity, which overstatment can hide.

I first heard this album (yes, I still have the original vinyl too) not long after it came out. I was in college at Miami of Ohio playing drums in a band that touched on some of Back Door's approaches...as well as those of Coltrane, Zappa, Corea, and others. Jive Grind remains my favorite cut, followed closely by Human Bed.

I know from direct experience that a trio is one of the hardest musical formats. There is no place to hide. There is little forgiveness if you are not 100% all of the time. While all three musicians are superb, Colin Hodgkinson did things on the electric bass guitar in 1972 that most players of today are still incapable of. Only Jack Bruce and Jack Casady come to mind as contemporaries and peers.

There was never anyone else like Back Door - an amazing 3 piece combo of base, horns and drums where bass and horns exchange lead roles and the bass sounds like lead, base and rhythm guitars! The bassist is Colin Hodgkinson - once called the Hendrix of the Base - a label that does not in any way over state his prowess with his chosen instrument.
Buy this album and you will never regret it.

I saw Back Door live once and this recording very nearly captures the magic. It's the next best thing to seeing them live, now impossible of course, so therefore -- if you like GREAT music, great bass playing, drumming, woodwinds and brass; if you like great jazz, then buy this GREAT CD, put it on your machine, and sit back and smile:) Small combos don't get any better than this.

Every once in a great while, some bunch of musicians comes up with something that just amazes you, sounds like nothing else and drops your jaw. Back Door is one of those things.

Featuring the innovative chord-melody/strum bass work of one Colin Hodgkinson, this Brit threesome lets forth the full cry of the blues, the musical adventurousness of Ornette Coleman and lots of greasy get-down funk all in one deliciously heady brew. Even more amazing, is how they keep the pieces very short and concise, yet manage to pack so much musical meat in there!

Saxophonist Ron Aspery has just the right balance of honk, skronk and plaintive melody, while drummer Tony Hicks propels things along with feisty cymbal and snare work especially.

A must have!

In 1973 a friend of mine introduced me to this album. It's simply an astounding record which I've never stopped playing. From the sublime 'Askin' the Way' to the ridiculously fast paced 'Lieutenant Loose'and to the superb bass playing of Colin Hodgkinson on track 9 which is called 'Catcote Rag'. It was their debut album and their best and still brings tears to my eyes. It's truely an important album.