not a single Ellington composition and only one Ellington musician, co-leader and alto sax king Johnny Hodges. The repertoire consists of seven classic blues pieces...
not a single Ellington composition and only one Ellington musician, co-leader and alto sax king Johnny Hodges. The repertoire consists of seven classic blues pieces...
not a single Ellington composition and only one Ellington musician, co-leader and alto sax king Johnny Hodges. The repertoire consists of seven classic blues pieces, including three from the pen of W.C. Handy, and the results of this informal 1959 session are nothing short of remarkable. The other major solo voice is Harry "Sweets" Edison, a Count Basie-band veteran who seems particularly inspired on this day. His embrace of the melody on "Basin Street Blues" shows great tenderness laced with simply perfect blues-based accents. Hodges offers a virtual lesson in how to build solos from the ground up, nuzzling the nostalgic melodies at first before adding colourful embellishments. Meanwhile, Ellington's spare improvisations and clever comping offer bold chord choices and typically idiosyncratic timing without overwhelming the basic structure and feeling of the blues. No question, a record of old standards and easygoing statements can be just as powerful as any other.--Marc Greilsamer
Advantages: Superb playing and well-written music, cliche free Disadvantages: Nothing
...I've been reluctant to write about this CD, since I generally can't string together two words about it. However, it is hands down my favourite DukeEllington CD, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you all! 'Such Sweet Thunder' is dedicated to the Stratford, Ontario Shakespearean Festival, and all the pieces are based on Shakepeare characters or sonnets. This has absolutely no reflection in the music though, so it's best just to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Track Listing (HUGE, bear with me)
1. Such Sweet Thunder, 2. Sonnet for Caesar, 3. Sonnet to Hank Cinq, 4. Lady Mac, 5. Sonnet in Search of a Moor, 6. The Telecasters, 7. Up And Down, 8. Sonnet for Sister Kate, 9. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 10. Madness in Great Ones, 11. Half the Fun, 12. Circle of Fourths, BONUS TRACKS: 13. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 14. Circle of Fourths, 15...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: He is Johnny Cash Disadvantages: I am not Johnny Cash
...or something. (1)
Ok this album released in 1996 was Johnny Cash’s first with American recordings and Rick Rubin at the helm producing it. For most of the album the backing band are Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and this album sounds exactly like you would expect collaboration between Johnny Cash and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to sound like (2). In an interview at the time Johnny Cash mentioned that Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers seem to have a unique musical language of their own, which he was impressed by, this is high praise indeed, I have never had Johnny Cash comment on my musical style or abilities boo hooo. However I am Glad That Johnny Cash never witnessed my version of A Boy Named Sue(3).
The album comes with extensive sleeve notes written by the Man (4) himself in which he explains the songs selected for this project and he...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Duchess is one of the best Genesis tracks. Disadvantages: Some nasty synth-pop and bland tracks
...The three remaining members of Genesis hit the 1980s by starting to write synth-pop songs. Their prog-rock roots hadn't entirely disappeared though. leaving some of the material on this album neither pop nor prog and suffering as a result. Initially they created a suite of songs about "Duke", and then split up the suite and added other tracks, keeping the title for the entire album.
Opening with a joyful fanfare, "Behind The Lines" sounds like it is going to be another good Genesis instrumental, however after a couple of minutes it decends into a rather mundane song with only an occasional glimpse of how it started. Luckily the Genesis magic hasn't completely gone just yet as "Duchess" is a glorious track. I love those drum machine sounds and swirling synths. The whole track has a raising-hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck energy. This is...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 06.07.2007
Compare Back To Back (Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges Play The Blues) - Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges to other similar Jazz & Blues
Similar products and search queries by other users
Back To Johnny, Back Back Johnny, Back To Back Johnny, Back To Duke Johnny, Back To Ellington Johnny, Back Back Duke Johnny, Back Back Ellington Johnny, Back To Back Duke Johnny, Back To Back Ellington Johnny, Back To Duke Ellington Johnny, Back Back Duke Ellington Johnny, Back To Back Duke Ellington Johnny
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Back To Back (Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges Play The Blues) - Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges? Click here
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
07.07.2001
06.07.2007
