Two sessions behind two famous names
Side by Side brings together recordings from two New York sessions in 1958 and 1959. Johnny Hodges is their shared centre. Duke Ellington plays piano on only three of the nine tracks; Billy Strayhorn takes that role on the other six. Anyone expecting a single continuous meeting from the title will find a more varied story here.
The Ellington selections come from the sessions associated with Back to Back. For Side by Side, they were combined with the earlier Hodges recordings. Norman Granz thus brings together two lineups that place the same alto saxophonist among different musical neighbours. That change is part of the album’s character.
Ellington at the piano, Hodges at the centre
“Stompy Jones”, “Squeeze Me” and “Going Up” belong to the Ellington date. Harry “Sweets” Edison contributes trumpet, with Les Spann on guitar or flute, Al Hall on bass and Jo Jones on drums. The small-group setting offers a clear way to follow the answers passing between instruments.
In “Going Up”, listen for Spann’s flute. It introduces another colour to the relationship between piano and saxophone. Ellington’s musical world is present without the resources of a full orchestra. The choice and distribution of voices provide the space in which the group works.
Billy Strayhorn and the other part of the story
The earlier session teams Hodges with Roy Eldridge, Lawrence Brown and Ben Webster. Strayhorn plays piano and Wendell Marshall bass; Jo Jones remains on drums. Hodges and Jones are the two musicians heard throughout the album. Around them, the instrumental colours and relationships change.
“Just a Memory”, “Let’s Fall in Love” and “Ruint” offer entry points into this second setting. Follow Hodges first, then turn to the responses from the other players. The differences between sessions become easier to hear without having to memorise the personnel while listening.
This Acoustic Sounds Series edition
AVER 68105 is the single 180-gram, 33⅓ RPM LP in the Verve Acoustic Sounds Series. The publisher credits all-analog mastering by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab and pressing by Quality Record Pressings. The reissue has expanded gatefold packaging. These details belong to this edition; the separately released 45 RPM version and SACD have different production credits.
You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and dispatch from Hilden.
Musicians
Documented selection of participating musicians. Personnel may vary by track; this list does not claim to be complete.
| Name | Instrument / role |
|---|---|
| Duke Ellington | Piano |
| Johnny Hodges | Alto saxophone |
| Harry "Sweets" Edison | Trumpet |
| Les Spann | Guitar, Flute |
| Jo Jones | Drums |
| Roy Eldridge | Trumpet |
| Billy Strayhorn | Piano |
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