
Gerry Mulligan & Johnny Hodges - Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges
Gerry Mulligan - baritone saxophone [click here to see more products featuring Gerry Mulligan]
Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone [click here to see more vinyl featuring Johnny Hodges]
Claude Williamson - piano
Buddy Clark - bass
Mel Lewis – drums
Written by Gerry Mulligan (A1-2, B2), Judy Holliday (A2), Johnny Hodges (A3, B1, B3)
1 LP, Stoughton Old-Style Tip-On Gatefold Packaging
Original analog Master Tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record Color: Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12"
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Quality Record Pressings
Label : Verve Acoustic Sounds Series
Original Label : Verve
Recorded on November 17, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA
Remastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab
Reissue produced by Chad Kassem
Liner Notes by Nat Hentoff
Originally released in 1960
Reissued in 2025
Tracks:
Side A
1. Bunny
2. What's The Rush
3. Back Beat
Side B
1. What It's All About
2. 18 Carrots For Rabbit
3. Shady Side
Reviews:
“Gerry Mulligan's 1959 studio date with Johnny Hodges is one of the most satisfying sessions of his various meetings with different saxophonists for Verve, yet it was inexplicably the last to be made available on CD. With a hand-picked rhythm section consisting of pianist Claude Williamson, bassist Buddy Clark, and drummer Mel Lewis, and three originals contributed by each of the two leaders, everything gels nicely, though several tracks took more than three takes (in spite of liner note writer Nat Hentoff's assertions) to reach their final form. Mulligan contributed the gorgeous ballad "What's the Rush" (where he sat back to enjoy Hodges' solo and never plays his own horn), the easygoing swinger "Bunny," and the brisk cooker "18 Carrots (For Rabbit)," the latter which its composer would revisit with his Concert Jazz Band. The veteran alto saxophonist contributed the low-key ballad "Shady Side," the sassy blues "Back Beat" (later re-recorded by Hodges during a still unreleased 1960 studio meeting with Ben Webster), and "What It's All About," another potent blues. Throughout the date, the two saxophonists blend beautifully and complement one another's efforts, even though this was their only opportunity to record together in the studio. Sadly, no alternate takes or unissued numbers (at least two of which exist) have been added to this long anticipated reissue.” AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden
Ratings:
AllMusic : 4 / 5 ; Discogs: 4.45 / 5