Alto saxist Owen Broder continues to create albums in tribute to
famed Ellingtonian Johnny Hodges, but this time focusing on two landmark small group albums Hodges was featured on, Back to Back and Side By Side. He’s joined by like minded members Riley Mulherkar/tp, Carmen Staaf/p, Barry Stephenson/b and Bryan Carteras Broder swoons on WC Handy pieces “Wabash Blues and “St. Louis Blues” and swings well on the bouncy “Stompy Jones” and “Used to Be Duke”. Mulherker gives a nice Roy Eldridge feel throughout, blowing well on “Shady Side” and Staaf is rich in stride as Broder coos on “The Star-Crossed Lovers”. Well cooked Rabbit.