Customer Reviews

Jeep Is Jumpin

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a BIG fan of Johnny Hodges, I was disappointed in these recordings. As is frequently the case with boxed sets, there was too much thrown in. The early work, while of interest to fans, contains too many weak tracks, some of them so poorly mastered that you hear a loud hiss. His soprano sax efforts from the 30s, marred by commercial sounding vocals, are mostly forgettable. This should have been edited down to a 2CD set. Somehow the recording quality of even the later sides fails to capture the uniqueness of JH's sound.

The detailed notes on each recording are scholastically thorough and as a fan, I did enjoy reading a lot of new information about my idol.

Instead of bargain hunting, spend your money wisely on any of the below instead:

"Side by Side" (Verve MGVS-6109) for the excellent remastering and broad range (the power & strength of his sound as well as the sweetness)in a small combo setting. If not his best, at least my favorite.

"Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins"(Impulse IMPD-162) for some of the sweetest ensemble playing this side of heaven (don't be put off by Jeep's lack of billing, he's as prominent as the Hawk)

"Back to Back" (MGM 823 637-2) for the Rabbit's sweeter side in a set of extended classic blues numbers.

"The Great Ellington Units" (Bluebird (RCA)6751-2) mines the same turf as the boxed set under discussion, but the sound is MUCH better.

"The Duke: Duke Ellington the Essential Collection 1922-1962" (Columbia C3K 65841) an example of a more carefully selected a lovingly remastered collection featuring the full Duke Ellington orchestra. It has more good Hodges solos than the JH boxed set. Shows how well the sound CAN be remastered from old recordings. This IS an essential collection.

Johnny Hodges was one of the 3 or 4 greatest jazz saxophonists of all time. No one ever matched his beautiful tone, fluid technique, or sheer elegance. This amazing bargain set contains 4 CDs with 94 tracks featuring Hodges leading a small band of Duke Ellington's best musicians (Cootie Williams, Billy Strayhorn, Lawrence Brown, and Duke Ellington himself) dating from 1937 to 1952. (The last disc contains some rare recordings of Hodges on hiatus from Ellington's Orchestra, leading his own band.) The tunes are almost all Ellington, Hodges, and Irving Mills classics. The sound is clear and warm, without the muffled sound that mars too many old jazz reissues. The packaging is handsome, with lots of photos and good liner notes in the accompanying booklet. Kudos to Proper for bringing out such excellent, inexpensive sets of America's greatest music!

No one played a smoother or more sublime sax than Johnny Hodges, and this very competently-produced compilation does him proud. You get well over four hours of Johnny playing for the most part with other once and future Ellington sidemen, at an unbeatable price. The sound quality is first rate -- I honestly don't know what the criticism of the recording quality in the other post refers to, with the possible (and understandable) exception of some of the very early stuff on the first disk, I certainly can't hear it. Extensive and well-written liner notes also. Definitely a best buy.

Though I found the music very smooth and upbeat. I enjoyed listening to it and with approximately 100 tunes, a great value. Great background music for friend and family fun. Ageless.