Eddie Johnson

Eddie Johnson died on April 7, 2010. In the three decades between then and the making of this album, he recorded sparsely - once more under his own for Delmark, with appearances on only a few other discs. Until his health betrayed him, he played regularly with the group on this recording, in a style that carried an authentic blast from the past. He was among the last exemplars of the swing tenor sound, in which every note carries its own inflection, each phrase a distinct imagery, the whole solo rippling and cresting with the limitless nuance of human speech. For this recording Eddie assembled a stellar group of Chicago veterans; Paul Serrano - trumpet, John Young - piano, Eddie de Haas - bass and George Hughes - drums.