Blue Notes (album) explained

Blue Notes
Type:	Album
Artist:	Johnny Hodges
Cover:	Blue Notes (album).jpg
Released:	1967
Recorded:	August 15 and 19, 1966 and October 24, 1966
Studio:	NYC
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Verve V/V6 8680
Producer:	Creed Taylor
Chronology:	Johnny Hodges
Prev Title:	Wild Bill Davis & Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City
Prev Year:	1966
Next Title:	Triple Play
Next Year:	1967

Blue Notes is an album by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges and orchestra featuring performances recorded in 1966 and released on the Verve label.^{[1] [2]}

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars with its review by Ken Dryden stating, "the veteran alto saxophonist is backed by an all-star group with arrangements by conductor Jimmy Jones. Hodges' gorgeous tone and effortless ability to swing are the cornerstones of the album, especially in a stunning, very slow performance of "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me" and the jaunty original by the leader, "L.B. Blues"".

Track listing

All compositions by Johnny Hodges except where noted.

1. "Blue Notes" – 2:50
2. "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me" (Jimmy McHugh, Clarence Gaskill) – 3:20
3. "Rent City" (V. Speddy) – 3:45
4. "Sometimes I'm Happy" (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 2:40
5. "Broad Walk" – 3:30
6. "L. B. Blues" – 4:00
7. "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" (Quincy Jones) – 3:30
8. "Say It Again" – 3:27
9. "Sneakin' Up on You" (Ted Daryll, Carl Taylor) – 5:30

Personnel

• Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
• Ernie Royal, Snooky Young – trumpet
• Tony Studd – bass trombone
• Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Frank Wess – alto saxophone, flute
• Jerome Richardson – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo
• Don Ashworth (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 & 8), Danny Bank (tracks 3, 4, 7 & 9) – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
• Hank Jones – piano
• Kenny Burrell (tracks 1 & 8), Eric Gale (tracks 2–7 & 9) – guitar
• Bob Cranshaw (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 & 8), George Duvivier (tracks 3, 4, 7 & 9) – bass
• Grady Tate – drums
• Joe Venuto – vibraphone, shakers (tracks 2–7 & 9)
• Jimmy Jones – arranger, conductor

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/verve-records/catalog-8600-series/#v-v6-8680 Verve Records Catalog: 8600 series
2. http://www.bsnpubs.com/new/verve.pdf Discography of the Verve, Clef and Norgran labels