Recorded in 1976 and 1978
First, a quick note for those unfamiliar with this wonderful pianist: His name is pronounced Ho-deez. It rhymes with roadies.
Unlike Mike Wofford in the previous post, Art Hodes' pianistic approach is firmly rooted in the soil of early jazz and blues. But it's also vital and convincing music.
Each of the performances on this disc are dedicated to legendary jazz figures with whom the compositions are associated. So, for example, Hodes performs "Jackass Blues" in honor of King Oliver, "Struttin' with Some Barbeque" for Louis Armstrong, "Apex Blues" for Jimmy Noone, etc.
One oddity: These recordings were originally made for the tiny Euphonic Records label in 1976 and 1978. But, aside from a handful of cuts, the music remained unreleased until Delmark issued this CD in 2001. Hodes died in 1993. Even so, I'm sure he would be pleased to know that this music is finally available. It's more proof that the best and most personal music can transcend style and soar beyond the context in which it was originally created.
More Art Hodes
Hodes' I Remember Bessie is another disc of powerful performances compiled from the Euphonic Records archive. Delmark issued it in 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment