Customer Reviews

With Lawrence Welk Orchestra

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No one would believe how great thiscombination is. Johnny has a "PoPs"accompaniment that makes his talentshine. This C/D is a sensationalsurprise...

Having grown up during the Lawrence Welk years and with his music considered a bad joke in the jazz world (Stan Kenton stated that he made Guy Lombardo sound progressive), I was astounded to find that he left his "rickity, tick, tick" beat behind while recording with Johnny Hodges. The resulting album is good music by anyone's standard. Of course my uncle who thought Lawrence Welk was a "great" musician, would not have thought much of this album. That's his loss.

No, this is no joke (though the Stan Freeberg parody breaks me up to this day). But only non-musicians would dare put down the musicianship of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra (I didn't say "music"). The arrangements are at times less than "fresh," but the Rabbit is the feature, not Lawrence, and Jeep makes the most of his turns. It would have been nice to have heard him do a few more of Duke's tunes, but tunes like Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" allow him to show off that singularly smooth, velvety sound (no one could make a saxophone sound like a violin like Hodges, his portamentos all but erasing distinctions between individual notes).

This one should please Hodges' fans and not disappoint Lawrence's regulars in the least. In fact, if Lawrence had had the good sense to go with Duke's bass player--Jimmy Woode or Jeff Castleman or Joe Benjamin--the album might merit a high 5.

As for the bass player employed on the date (or whatever it is that produces quasi-musical sounds vaguely suggestive of a double-bass), the less said (or heard) the better.

This would seem to be the true Odd Couple record, but Lawrence Welk's reputation for the hokey (gained during his TV broadcasts of the 50's) notwithstanding, he was a perfectionist as a band leader. The lush, perfect orchesteral renditions and Jeep's smooth, heartfelt playing make a heavenly match. Beautiful music played "inside the box" of pop arrangements, this is "crossover" music that should appeal to jazz fans and old-timers alike. No, don't worry, no polkas here.

I grew up watching Lawrence Welk&always enjoyed His Conducting.Johnny Hodges has a Cool Tone on Sax.I first got Hip to Him while Listening to Duke ELlington&wanted to further Explore His Catelog&I'm glad I did.these Two Greats truly work well together here.

CD ARRIVED IN PERFECT CONDITION . SERVICE WAS AVERAGE . THIS IS AN ENJOYABLE CD TO LISTEN TO . JOHNNY HODGES ,ON HIS SAX. , PUTS THAT SPECIAL TOUCH TO THE LAWRENCE WELK ORCHESTRA . YOU CAN'T GO WRONG IN BUYING THIS CD .

I remember the "Lawrence Welk Show" well-my grandmother used to watch it every Saturday night. While Welk and his orchestra may not fall under the category of "jazz", this collaboration with Johnny Hodges is a perfect fit. Hodges sax is jazzy and rich. Welk's orcestra is sparkling (I guess that's why they called "chapagne music").

Charlie Parker also made a rather mellow recording with strings. It just goes to show the versatile nature of American jazz.