Review by Scott Yanow
Claude Hopkins is best-known for being a powerful stride pianist who led a big band in the 1930s; he is also known for his solo records of 1969-72. Barely on records at all from 1941-59, Hopkins cut three albums for Swingville from 1960-63; the second and third are reissued in full on this 1999 CD. The most surprising aspect to these combo dates is that Hopkins hardly strides at all and comes across as a Teddy Wilson-inspired swing pianist. Much of the time he is in the background, with the success of the sessions really due to the fine playing of the horns. Trombonist Vic Dickenson and tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson play at the high level one would expect on the Swing Time set, with the main revelation being the obscure trumpeter Bobby Johnson, a veteran of Erskine Hawkins' Orchestra, who holds his own with the stars. Hopkins' "Crying My Heart Out for You" from this date is well worth reviving again. The music from the other Swingville album, Let's Jam, gives tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate an opportunity to play his underrated clarinet on "Late Evening" and has several opportunities for the largely forgotten swing trumpeter Joe Thomas to show how lyrical a soloist he was. This CD is recommended even if Hopkins' role is much more minor than expected.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-time-mw0000666904
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Reseña de Scott Yanow
Claude Hopkins es conocido principalmente por ser un poderoso pianista de stride que lideró una big band en la década de 1930; también es famoso por sus discos en solitario de 1969-72. Apenas grabó entre 1941 y 1959, pero entre 1960 y 1963 Hopkins grabó tres álbumes para Swingville; el segundo y el tercero se reeditan íntegramente en este CD de 1999. Lo más sorprendente de estas grabaciones en combo es que Hopkins apenas toca el stride y se presenta como un pianista de swing inspirado en Teddy Wilson. La mayor parte del tiempo permanece en segundo plano, y el éxito de las sesiones se debe realmente a la excelente interpretación de los instrumentos de viento. El trombonista Vic Dickenson y el saxofonista tenor Budd Johnson tocan al alto nivel que cabría esperar en el conjunto Swing Time, siendo la principal revelación el desconocido trompetista Bobby Johnson, un veterano de la Orquesta de Erskine Hawkins, que está a la altura de las estrellas. Vale la pena recuperar «Crying My Heart Out for You» de Hopkins, de esta fecha. La música del otro álbum de Swingville, Let's Jam, da al saxofonista tenor Buddy Tate la oportunidad de tocar su clarinete, infravalorado, en «Late Evening», y ofrece varias oportunidades al trompetista de swing Joe Thomas, en gran parte olvidado, para demostrar lo lírico que era como solista. Este CD es recomendable, aunque el papel de Hopkins sea mucho más secundario de lo esperado.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-time-mw0000666904
1 - I Cried For You - 5:42
2 - Somebody Loves Me - 6:14
3 - Stormy Weather - 6:16
4 - Love Me Or Leave Me - 4:45
5 - Mitzi - 5:02
6 - Crying My Heart Out For You - 4:25
7 - On The Sunny Side Of The Street - 5:50
8 - Offbeat Blues - 5:00
9 - I Surrender, Dear - 4:21
10 - I Apologize - 3:47
11 - Late Evening - 6:34
12 - The Way You Look Tonight - 5:14
13 - (I Would Do) Anything For You - 3:59
14 - Safari Stomp - 5:45
Credits:
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Clarinet – Buddy Tate (tracks: 11)
Drums – Ferdinand Everett (tracks: 1 to 7), J.C. Heard (tracks: 8 to 14)
Piano – Claude Hopkins
Recorded By, Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Supervised By – Don Schlitten (tracks: 1 to 7), Esmond Edwards (tracks: 8 to 14)
Tenor Saxophone – Budd Johnson (tracks: 1 to 7), Buddy Tate (tracks: 8 to 10, 12 to 14)
Trombone – Vic Dickenson (tracks: 1 to 7)
Trumpet – Bobby Johnson (27) (tracks: 1 to 7), Joe Thomas (4) (tracks: 8 to 14)
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; May 22, 1963 (#1-7) and February 21, 1961 (#8-14)
#1-7 originally released as Claude Hopkins - Swing Time! (Prestige/Swingville 2041)
#8-14 as Claude Hopkins With Buddy Tate & Joe Thomas (4) - Let's Jam (Prestige/Swingville 2020)
Label: Prestige – PRCD-24215-2
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing
https://www.discogs.com/release/15061231-Claude-Hopkins-Swing-Time?srsltid=AfmBOop9QTkaWg_2YQ9EvNSlONQuynTM1ioK9Co6R7jzf8Mh3urfBKUP
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