Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis - Mess of Blues + Blue Rabbit

2016

2 albums on 1 CD + 9 Bonus tracks

In the 1960s altoist Johnny Hodges took a brief time off from Duke Ellington's orchestra to record eight albums with organist Wild Bill Davis. For this, their third collaboration, the duo welcome guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Joe Wilder and either Osie Johnson or Ed Shaughnessy on drums. Hodges plays typically beautifully on such numbers as "I Cried for You," "Lost in Meditation" and "Stolen Sweets" and, although no real surprises occur (and the playing time at around a half-hour is quite brief), the performances are up to par.

Scott Yanow

One of altoist Johnny Hodges' many solo records in the 1960s away from Duke Ellington's Orchestra, this out-of-print LP features him in two separate but similar settings. The great saxophonist is joined by either Wild Bill Davis or (on four of the nine songs) the obscure organist Ray Jackson, either Kenny Burrell or Mundell Lowe on guitar, Wendell Marshall, Jack Lesberg or Richard Davis on bass, and Bobby Donaldson or Osie Johnson on drums. The music is fairly typical for a Hodges date, with four Ellington standards, some blues and some basic originals. In a few spots, the organists really do a good job of filling in for the Ellington Orchestra. Tasty and swinging music.
Scott Yanow