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Art Hodes: Up In Volly's Room
ByThe opening two tracks are duets with bassist Truck Parham, and both accentuate Hodes' blues-tinged harmonic language. The first is a slow take on the usually upbeat "St. Louis Blues" that shows off Hodes' easygoing and highly syncopated piano chops. The second, "You Gotta Gimme Some," is a more swinging example of his distinctive, striding left hand coupled with a lilting, melodic right hand. But the main attraction on this album is the give and take between Hodes and the undervalued but highly-able veteran clarinetist, Volly DeFaut (whose own claim to fame was recording with Jelly Roll Morton in the 1920s). Throughout the session, DeFaut demonstrates an unhurried pace even on such romps as "Struttin' With Some Barbecue," where DeFaut parses his lines with a breath of anticipation that leaves room to appreciate Hodes' splendid comping.
The most dominant influence on Up In Volly's Room is the spirit of early Louis Armstrong. Although not matching Armstrong's power, these musicians find a lifetime of creativity in his musical language. Hodes' melancholic medley of two Armstrong classics, "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" and "Sleepy Time Down South" is tenderly realized, but the influence extends throughout track after track. Most notably, Hodes, DeFaut, and the other musicians (no spring chickens among them) exude a real energy that equals any music that was being played at the time these sessions were recorded. For a musical form many considered passé, Up In Volly's Room was alive with vibrant creativity.
Track Listing
St. Louis Blues; You Gotta Gimme Some; Struttin' With Some Barbecue; Tin Roof Blues; After You've Gone; Jackass Blues; Basin Street Blues; Volly's Room; I Know That You Know; Sobbin' Blues; Ode To Louis Armstrong; Ja Da; Panama Rag.
Personnel
Art Hodes
pianoArt Hodes: piano; Volly DeFaut: clarinet; Truck Parham: bass; Barrett Deems: drums; Nappy Trottier: trumpet; George Brunis: trombone.
Album information
Title: Up In Volly's Room | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Delmark Records
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