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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Back To Back is an oddity in the Duke Ellington canon, a small-band record that includes 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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Although Hodges made a series of memorable recordings with fellow Ellingtonians in the 1930's and 40's, none of these collaborations quite reached the stature of this excellent record.
"Back to Back" features an allstar band that included former Basie sidemen Harry "Sweet's" Edison (one of the greatest trumpeter's to emerge during the Swing Era) and the superb Jo Jones on drums. A rarity for Ellington, extra spice is supplied by the addition Les Spann's wry guitar. The combination gels as is this was a regular outfit.
Any fan thinking that he will give this disc a miss given the familiar material will be making a grave error as these classic compositions by the likes of vintage composers such as W.C. Handy are thoroughly re-worked. Try "Wabash Blues" - the standout track on the CD with the latin introduction. Hodges is imperious and Edison is the perfect foil having an almost Miles Davis like sparseness in his playing. However, the revelation for me when I first heard this record was Ellington's piano playing, his choice of unusual intervals revealing just how under-rated he was as a soloist. Listening to Ellington, it is clear that there could be no Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols nor Andrew Hill without the elder-statesman. Each piano solo is a masterpiece, the improvisations being skillfully carved from the original structure until he has sculptures something wholly original.
Ellington and Hodges' best work may be considered to be with the former's orchestra, but "Back to back" remains for this reviewer a faultless CD that deserves to be considered amongst the top ten jazz albums of all time. Each time you listen to it, there are new gems to consider.
More than essential.
"Back to Back" features an allstar band that included former Basie sidemen Harry "Sweet's" Edison (one of the greatest trumpeter's to emerge during the Swing Era) and the superb Jo Jones on drums. A rarity for Ellington, extra spice is supplied by the addition Les Spann's wry guitar. The combination gels as is this was a regular outfit.
Any fan thinking that he will give this disc a miss given the familiar material will be making a grave error as these classic compositions by the likes of vintage composers such as W.C. Handy are thoroughly re-worked. Try "Wabash Blues" - the standout track on the CD with the latin introduction. Hodges is imperious and Edison is the perfect foil having an almost Miles Davis like sparseness in his playing. However, the revelation for me when I first heard this record was Ellington's piano playing, his choice of unusual intervals revealing just how under-rated he was as a soloist. Listening to Ellington, it is clear that there could be no Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols nor Andrew Hill without the elder-statesman. Each piano solo is a masterpiece, the improvisations being skillfully carved from the original structure until he has sculptures something wholly original.
Ellington and Hodges' best work may be considered to be with the former's orchestra, but "Back to back" remains for this reviewer a faultless CD that deserves to be considered amongst the top ten jazz albums of all time. Each time you listen to it, there are new gems to consider.
More than essential.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a really nice recording. The band master had a love hate love relationship with his star saxophonist (or perhaps the reverse was true), but between them they produced a really mellow sound.
I'm still new to jazz records, trying to find my way. I seem to have hit lucky with this one. I bought this because the word "blues" appeared in the title, and that's a genre I'm far more familiar with. I know blues when I hear it... this is Jazz with just a touch of blues-ness and it really hits the spot. I found myself smiling all the way through and its difficult to not have some part of your body twitch in time.
The technical quality of the recording is superb it sounds like it as recorded yesterday and the fidelity is precise. It does tend to have that early stereo recording shtick with any given instrument being far over on one side or the other of the audio image. That being said the CD producers have tried to faithfully recreate the record. To add to the feel you get the original line notes and some extra info from people who really seem to be in the know.
Really recommended bargain
I'm still new to jazz records, trying to find my way. I seem to have hit lucky with this one. I bought this because the word "blues" appeared in the title, and that's a genre I'm far more familiar with. I know blues when I hear it... this is Jazz with just a touch of blues-ness and it really hits the spot. I found myself smiling all the way through and its difficult to not have some part of your body twitch in time.
The technical quality of the recording is superb it sounds like it as recorded yesterday and the fidelity is precise. It does tend to have that early stereo recording shtick with any given instrument being far over on one side or the other of the audio image. That being said the CD producers have tried to faithfully recreate the record. To add to the feel you get the original line notes and some extra info from people who really seem to be in the know.
Really recommended bargain
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I cannot add a lot to what has already been said by previous reviewers of this CD.
The basically simple chord progressions of the blues are easily mastered by these superb musicians who were, of course, used to playing more complex material. It must have been a "doddle" to them so they proceeded to put their own, very individual stamp on the tunes which sound like never before.
An important "minus point" however is the sound which, although cristal clear bringing out all the instruments perfectly, is spoilt for me at least,by the primitive (1959) stereo with trumpet way over to the left and sax way over to the right. The rhythm section seems "split" with very little sound in the middle. Maybe OK through speakers but definitely not headphones! This is a common fault in early stereo recordings. Surely today's remix engineers could take care of this.
The basically simple chord progressions of the blues are easily mastered by these superb musicians who were, of course, used to playing more complex material. It must have been a "doddle" to them so they proceeded to put their own, very individual stamp on the tunes which sound like never before.
An important "minus point" however is the sound which, although cristal clear bringing out all the instruments perfectly, is spoilt for me at least,by the primitive (1959) stereo with trumpet way over to the left and sax way over to the right. The rhythm section seems "split" with very little sound in the middle. Maybe OK through speakers but definitely not headphones! This is a common fault in early stereo recordings. Surely today's remix engineers could take care of this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Complete Recordings?
I've had an LP copy of "Side by Side" for 50 years, so this seemed a good opportunity to buy these favourite tracks, plus "Back to Back", in CD format. Read more
Published 5 months ago by OldCove99
One of the all times grats
This turned me on to Jazz on first hearing as a young lad of eighteen ....just a few years ago.It is an absolute joy
with all men playing excellently. Read more
with all men playing excellently. Read more
Published 20 months ago by R. R. Thompson
A GREAT IDEA - RUINED
After reading so many enthusiastic reviews I wonder if this CD is the same EMI LP I purchased in the early 60's. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2010 by W. BUTLER
A faultless CD
Coming to this CD as a committed Johnny Hodges fan I expected him to stand out as the star of the performance. He stood out all right - alongside the rest of the front line. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by Mr. E. Penn
Brilliantly mellow jazz-blues recordings
This was one of my earliest Duke Ellington purchases when Verve first remastered it in 24bit and it remains a favourite. Read more
Published on 13 May 2009 by Fiction Fan
Immaculate blues
Previous reviewers have already said everything that needs to be said, so I'll keep this short. This is a small group recording with Jo Jones on drums Les Spann on Guitar, Johnny... Read more
Published on 10 May 2008 by S J Buck
One of the great Jazz records - a must in all collections.
This is a classic album and should be in every collection if you want to concider it complete. The players are the great soloists from Ellington`s band and play some of the... Read more
Published on 21 July 2000 by R. G. S. Cox
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