Castle Rock (album) explained

Castle Rock
Type:	Album
Artist:	Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
Cover:	Castle_Rock_(album).jpg
Released:	1955
Recorded:	January 15, February 28, March 3, 1951 and January 13, 1952 New York City
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	36:10
Label:	Norgran MGN 1048
Producer:	Norman Granz
Chronology:	Johnny Hodges
Prev Title:	Caravan
Prev Year:	1947-51
Next Title:	In a Tender Mood
Next Year:	1952

Castle Rock is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1951 and 1952 and released on the Norgran label.^{[1] [2]}

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars out of 5 and noted "Hodges was evidently trying to make somewhat of a break from his established sound with this recording, though the results are mixed. It's still worth acquiring, though there are a number of better recordings available under Hodges' name".

Track listing

All compositions by Johnny Hodges, except as indicated.

1. "Castle Rock" (Al Sears) - 2:40
2. "The Jeep Is Jumpin'" (Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges) - 2:45
3. "A Gentle Breeze" (Sears) - 3:10
4. "Globe Trotter" - 3:05
5. "Jeep's Blues" (Ellington, Hodges) - 2:55
6. "A Pound of Blues" (Leroy Lovett) - 3:05
7. "You Blew Out the Flame in My Heart" - 3:20
8. "Something to Pat Your Foot To" (Sears) - 2:50
9. "Blue Fantasia" - 3:10
10. "My Reward" (Ellington) - 3:10
11. "Sideways" (Lovett) - 3:00
12. "Wham" - 3:00

• Recorded in New York City on January 15, 1951 (tracks 7-10), January 15, 1951 (tracks 2 & 5), March 3, 1951 (tracks 1, 3 & 4) and January 13, 1952 (tracks 6, 11 & 12).

Personnel

• Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
• Emmett Berry, (tracks 1-6, 11 & 12), Nelson Williams (tracks 7-10) - trumpet
• Lawrence Brown - trombone
• Al Sears - tenor saxophone
  • Leroy Lovett (tracks 1-3 & 5-12), Billy Strayhorn (track 4) - piano Al McKibbon (tracks 7-10), Lloyd Trotman (tracks 1-6, 11 & 12) - bass
• Sonny Greer (tracks 1-5 & 7-10), Joe Marshall (tracks 6, 11 & 12) - drums

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/verve-records/norgran-records-catalog-1000-series/#mgn-1048 Norgran Records Catalog: 1000 series
2. http://www.bsnpubs.com/new/verve.pdf Discography of the Verve, Clef and Norgran labels