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

5 comments:

  1. Would like to hear more of this! Great post

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  2. It’s a real winner — and not rare or pricey.

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  3. I just came across your Not on CD site while searching for Art Hodes music. This is fantastic. You inspired me to run over to Discogs and buy this album.
    Can't wait to hear the rest! Thank you.

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    1. Awesome.

      Art Hodes has a number of solo piano records that are similarly fantastic yet inexpensive.

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