JOHNNY HODGES - Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra (1962-1999) RM | Digipak | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges recorded frequently for Verve in the 1950s and 1960s, although nearly all of the musicians on this CD are from the Ellington orchestra and the arrangements are by Billy Strayhorn. Hodges is never less than superb throughout this reissue, while Lawrence Brown, Harry Carney and non-Ellingtonians Howard McGhee on trumpet and pianist Jimmy Jones also deserve praise. Strayhorn's exotic chart of "Azure" and emotional scoring of "Your Love Has Faded" are especially striking. Recommended. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Don't Get Around Much Anymore 3'00
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
2     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3'35
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
3     The Gal from Joe's 2'27
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
4     Your Love Has Faded 3'00
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn
5     I'm Just a Lucky So and So 3'20
Mack David / Duke Ellington
6     Jeep's Blues 3'18
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges
7     Day Dream 3'56
Duke Ellington / John Latouche / Billy Strayhorn
8     Juice A-Plenty 3'18
Johnny Hodges
9     Azure 2'33
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
10     Tailor Made 3'35
Johnny Hodges / Ed Mullens / Eddie Mullens
11     Stardust 4'25
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy Strayhorn
Bass – Aaron Bell
Bass Clarinet, Bass Saxophone – Harry Carney
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Russell Procope
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Liner Notes – Stanley Dance
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Producer – Creed Taylor
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson
Trombone [Bass] – Chuck Connors
Trumpet – Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Ed Mullens, Shorty Baker (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 11), Howard McGhee