Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Art Hodes: Joy to the Jazz World (1987)

Parkwood Records - PW108

Here's Not on CD's first Christmas music post of 2018. This was a gift from a friend who knows I like Christmas music. It's in great shape. 

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hodes "is regarded by many critics as the greatest white blues pianist, and he was also a noted jazz writer, historian, and teacher."

Though this is a Christmas record, I think I could listen to it anytime because of what Hodes does with these tunes. Some reviews:

"The best album of its sort I've ever heard...one of the Top Ten LPs of the year! --Coda Magazine (1989)

“The Christmas tunes are beautifully executed and jazzed up. Hodes manages to turn 'Silent Night' into a softly swinging quasi-blues, and even “Jingle Bells” works. -- The Penguin Guide to Jazz (1989)

"From the delicate and introspective balladry of "Silent Night" and the bluesy fills of "White Christmas" to the lively, stride-filled accents of "Jingle Bells" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (Washington Post, 1987)

Grado ZF2/Paratrace > Technics SL-7 > Hagerman Cornet3> harman/kardon CDR2