The Guide To Classic Recorded Jazz - Plot & Excerpts
Volume 5 consists of the two suites discussed earlier. Volume 6 consists of live tracks from yet another California dance gig for the Air Force, on the night after the one featured on Volume 2. This set is somewhat more pulled together, although Hodges's presence is still missed. The band does some interesting things, like "Such Sweet Thunder" and "Blues To Be There," which is from the "Newport Jazz Festival Suite." Volume 7 is something of a grab bag, full of tracks from several 1957 and 1962 studio sessions, with Gonsalves again prominent. His chase choruses with Clark Terry on "Circle of Fourths'' are very exciting. Volume 8 contains some very unusual studio things, all but one of which date from the mid-1960s, including three tunes with the drums playing heavy-handed rock/funk rhythms, which make the tracks sound dated. The good news on this one is all the Johnny Hodges there is to hear, especially "Banquet Scene" from "Timon of Athens" and the oddly titled "Rod La Rocque." Volume 9 would be worth having if only for the informal "Sophisticated Lady" by Hodges and the rhythm section.
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