I don’t know of many honking saxophonists who could match the pureness of Floyd “Candy” Johnson’s tone.
You won’t find a more gorgeous rendition of the ballad “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” than the one on Johnson’s “Candy’s Mood: The Definitive Black and Blue Sessions.” And Johnson’s saxophone notes float through the melody of “Frankie and Johnny.”
But Johnson retained the sweetness in his tone even as he was barreling through tunes such as “Candy’s Mood” and “Freight Train.” Organist Milt Buckner urged him on, particularly on “Freight Train,” laying down an ever quickening stream of thick, juicy riffs until Johnson’s frenzied notes sound as if they’re racing the train. The album’s also notable because it’s such a great showcase for bluesman Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, who played with subtlety on the ballads and with fire on the R&B-flavored romps.
(Jazz Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older jazz albums worth checking out.)
