Altoist
Johnny Hodges and organist
Wild Bill Davis teamed up successfully on quite a few albums in the 1960s. This set, reissued on CD, was their final one and quite possibly their most rewarding. With solo work provided not only by the co-leaders but trombonist
Lawrence Brown, obscure tenor
Bob Brown, and guitarist Dickie Thompson (drummer
Bobby Durham helps out in support), this is a particularly interesting unit. Unlike most of their other collaborations, this outing by
Hodges and
Davis sticks mostly to better-known material, including a previously unissued version of
Duke Ellington's "Squeeze Me But Please Don't Tease Me" and four
Hodges originals. Highlights include "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Taffy," "Good Queen Bess," and "In a Mellotone." This release is recommended as a strong (and swinging) example of
Johnny Hodges outside of
the Duke Ellington Orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow