1937 and Hawkins at his arguable best. In fact I'd go so far as to say Stardust is on a par with his legendary recording of Body and Soul recorded two years later. Heresy I know but I find this duo recording much more lyrical than the arpeggio-ridden Body and Soul brilliant as it is.
Recorded in Holland, Johnson had played in Europe for most of the 1930s until, in 1941 he was arrested by the Nazis. He was interned until 1944 when he was repatriated to the USA. He proves to have been a sympathetic partner for Hawkins with shades of the earlier Armstrong/Hines couplings and the future Braff/Larkins collaborations.
The Vocalion label issued many earlier sides and is, I think, still around having had a number of name changes over the years including Okeh and Coral. Curious that the label spells Stardust as Star Dust - two words. Lance
No comments :
Post a Comment