The most delightful piano/trumpet duo recording I've heard since Ruby Braff and Ellis Larkins met up in the Vanguard Studio back in the 1950s.
Pennies From Heaven is Hodgkins and Raphael's second album together. The previous one, Live at Pizza Express (2018), included American guitarist Wayne Wilkinson making it a trio album - I reviewed it HERE.
The sparks flew on that first album, Just as they did for Braff and Larkins back in the day. This time around, even without the safety net of a third player the flame shines brighter than ever. It's in safe hands.
Hodgkins, of course, is a well respected figure on the UK jazz scene, not just as a fine, middle of the road, trumpet player and bandleader but also as a major mover and shaker away from the stage via his work organising the Parliamentary jazz awards and other jazz related projects.
If his sound is brasher than Braff's that could be put down to the latter's preference for cornet as opposed to Hodgkins' choice of trumpet. At the end of the day he proves there can be beauty in brashness.
Raphael, whilst the perfect foil, is from the more modern end of the mainstream spectrum quoting her influences as including Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell and Bill Evans. Recognised as an American Steinway ambassador, Leonore has played at major clubs and festivals across the US and abroad. Despite the absence of bass and drums, her solos have the ability to swing and the intricate patterns woven behind and alongside Chris make for an album to warm a cold winter's evening or cool a hot summer's day. Sublime. Lance
Rosetta; Exactly Like You; Prelude to a Kiss; It's Only a Paper Moon; There is no Greater Love; Sweet Lorraine; Ladie be Good; Pennies From Heaven; Do Nothing Till You Hear From me; Blue Room; Heartbeat Blues (comp. Hodgkins & Raphael)
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