Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges – Back to Back (AS Verve Vinyl LP)

Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges’ Back to Back on 180g LP. Remastered from the Original Analog Tapes by Bernie Grundman, Pressed at QRP and Housed in a Stoughton Gatefold Jacket.

This is among the finest Ellington small group sides. The predominantly blues repertoire is the perfect setting for Sweets and Hodges to open out, with Duke getting a simpler, but no less forceful rhythm section backing than he did in his own band, notes Jazzwise. Hodges does some of the most soulful playing of his career here.

Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve’s vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets.

Musicians:
Harry Edison, trumpet
Johnny Hodges, alto saxphone
Duke Ellington, piano
Leslie Spann, guitar
Al Hall, bass
Sam Jones, bass
Jo Jones, drums

1. Wabash Blues
2. Basin Street Blues
3. Beale Street Blues
4. Weary Blues
5. St. Louis Blues
6. Loveless Blues
7. Royal Garden Blues