Johnny Hodges & Earl Hines - Swing's Our Thing [1967] (vinyl>flac)

Re-upped from the old Crypt and as far as I know still no CD reissue.

Review by Sinclair Traill, Jazz Journal, March, 1969:

“Another fine album in the Hodges-Hines series, even if it is in some ways a trifle more uneven than the previous two. It is mostly imbued with a great sense of purpose, but there are places where the inspiration flags a little. The questionable Moose doesn't amount to much and although Buster Cooper's approach to Over The Rainbow is distinctly original, it doesn't quite catch on somehow. Buster sounds much better on Bustin' a virile vehicle for his ejaculatory trombone written by Jimmy Hamilton, and plays a noteworthy augmentative chorus behind Hodges on Doll Valley. This 32 bar original by Tom Whaley has some fine tenor from Hamilton and an easy going turn from Hines. Two good themes by Cat, who has the knack of writing catchy tunes, are Night Train (a slow blues) and Do It Yourself. Both tracks swing mightily and Hines shows of his amazing interdigitory skill on the latter. He plays great clusters of notes, but nothing impedes the drive and tremendous power of his playing. Pity this great track is so short. The interpretation of Mean To Me is novel and quite original, particularly from Hodges. Cat, who eschews his 'screamers' throughout the whole album, plays a thoughtful, muted solo and Hines again shows his extraordinary powers of invention.
The lively Cannery Walk and the melodious Trinidad were both penned by Hines, the former in honour of 'The Cannery' the new San Francisco showplace where Earl will work for five months a year on a lifetime contract. Open Ears (by Hodges) is another blues with solos all round. Cat struts his stuff with easy relaxation and Hines is again all over the keyboard in an astounding display of piano playing.
A most professional album by a set of the world's best jazz masters.”
Sinclair Traill, Jazz Journal, March, 1969

Although the review mentions three Hines-Hodges collaborations, I’m only aware of two, at least for Verve – this and ‘Stride Right’. The latter is available on CD.

Thanks to chu - the third album is 'Once Upon A Time' recorded for Impulse.

01 - Open Ears
02 - Mean To Me
03 - Doll Valley
04 - Can A Moose Crochet
05 - One Night In Trinidad
06 - Night Train To Memphis
07 - Bustin' With Buster
08 - Over The Rainbow
09 - Do It Yourself
10 - The Cannery Walk

Cat Anderson (tp) Buster Cooper (tb) Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts) Johnny Hodges (as) Earl Hines (p) Jeff Castleman (b) Sam Woodyard (d)).
San Francisco, November 13 & 14, 1967.