Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges - Back to Back

New Vinyl 

Verve Acoustic Sounds Series 

602465124491

Wabash Blues
Basin Street Blues
Beale Street Blues
Weary Blues
St. Louis Blues
Loveless Blues
Royal Garden Blues

Several times in his career, star alto-saxophone soloist Johnny Hodges struck out on his own, only to return each time to Duke Ellington's band. Critic Michael Ullman suggested that the blues classics chosen for this program may have been neutral ground, where Ellington's playing could come to the fore and Hodges' irrepressible sensuality could have free rein. This is one of the very best small-group records Ellington ever made — a perfectly integrated set of music that truly swings the blues.

Verve Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered on 180g vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.