Rabbit and the Swee' Pea
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 03/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD collects a Felsted LP produced by Stanley Dance under pianist Billy Strayhorn's name ("Cue for Saxophone," 1959), and another by master alto player Johnny Hodges originally on Verve ("Soloist," 1961). The Verve item has been reissued before on CD and is one of the best on that label featuring Hodges. THE GAL FROM JOE'S, I GOT IT BAD, and I'M JUST A LUCKY SO AND SO all receive near-definitive treatments here, with Hodges's creamy alto front and center. In fact, this entire set, except for STARDUST, which is a feature for trombonist Lawrence Brown, shines the solo spotlight almost exclusively on Rabbit, and he performs to perfection.
The Felsed material was from a septet date and also has Shorty Baker on trumpet (excellent on the up-tempo blues WATCH YOUR CUE, muted), Butter Jackson on trombone, Hodges, Strayhorn, and Russell Procope on clarinet (a stand-out on CHERRY and the theme statement of ROSE ROOM). CUE'S BLUE NOW is a long, slow blues that gives everyone a solo taste. Having both these LPs available on one CD should make any Hodges-Strayhorn/Ellington fan happy. The sound is also excellent (the Verve set had superb sound going all the way back to its release on LP: crystal clear and dynamic)."