Subtitled ‘The Johnny Hodges/Wild Bill Davis Project’, these four individual CDs (one is a double) corral eight original albums – Blue Hodge (1961), Mess Of Blues (1963), Blue Rabbit (1964), Joe's Blues (1965), Wings And Things (1965), Con-Soul & Sax (1965), Blue Pyramid (1965) and In Atlantic City (1966), plus assorted extras which were originally released on both Verve and RCA-Victor. To list the full personnel and recording dates would take up most of this page, save to say many of the supporting cast have Ducal connections while the repertoire is frequently Ellingtonian (‘Love You Madly’, ‘Creole Love Call’, ‘Satin Doll’, ‘The Jeep Is Jumpin'’, ‘In A Mellow Tone’ etc) augmented with a bunch of Hodges originals, some co-composed with Wild Bill and to balance things out a large handful of familiar American Songbook standards. Johnny Hodges was never out of his depth whether locking horns with Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Parker or Ben Webster. Which brings me to the point that the ongoing preoccupation with Bird at one end of the spectrum and Ornette and Dolphy at the other has meant that outside of Ducal circles someone as unique as Johnny Hodges has been unfairly overshadowed. Hopefully these releases will refocus on the man's true greatness. Possessed with the purest of tones, which may well be sweet but by no means cloying or syrupy, Hodges was never wasteful, making every note meaningful while constructing logical, emotionally charged improvisations. His partner in crime here is Wild Bill Davis, the precursor of the organ/guitar/combo (and an influence on a young Jimmy Smith), an earlier association with Louis Jordan instilled in Wild Bill the know-how as to excite audiences without resorting to vulgarity. An added bonus is the stellar line-up of guitarists on parade (especially Grant Green) who prove themselves essential to the overall enjoyment of these finely crafted sessions.