The Jim Self & John Chiodini Duo: Hangin' Out, Basset Hound Records

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    Jonathan Widran
    Apr 26, 2022

Aside from the splendid, irresistibly infectious chemistry legendary tuba master Jim Self and guitarist John Chiodini create on their third dual album Hangin’ Out, the one can’t miss quirky takeaway everyone can enjoy is adding a new hip musical term to their vocabulary: FLUBA! 

It’s a super low bass toned tuba sized flugelhorn that was designed and assembled by Robb Stewart upon a concept by Self, who plays it on three of the collection’s most engaging tracks that showcase the great variety of rhythmic possibilities of the horn/guitar combo – Chick Corea’s lively classic waltz “Spain,” a wildly funked out, discofied jam through Stevie Wonder’s always infectious “Sir Duke” and Cy Coleman’s “I Walk a Little Faster,” which kicks into swingin’, high struttin’ gear after a tender, lyrical flugelhorn intro section by guest artist Ron Stout. 

That’s the other conceit that sets Hangin’ Out apart from Self and Chiodini’s first two duo projects – inviting their fellow musicians from The David Angel Ensemble to create dynamic trio excursions on several tunes, including the high spirited “Another Thing” (featuring the whimsical yet emotional sax flow of Tom Peterson’s silky tenor) and the smoky, sultry “Everything Happens to Me” (driven by David Angel’s soulful bari sax). Beyond the challenging originals like Self’s multi-movement (classical to jazz waltz and beyond) “Modal I Tease” and Chiodini’s bright and bouncy title track, the duo chooses a fascinating array of material to apply their uniquely textured sparkle to, from the Jobim classics “Dindi” and “Felicidade” to Freddie Hubbard’s “Up Jumped Spring” and Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are. 

Both legends in their respective worlds – please look up their histories online – Self and Chiodini are so locked in that they got together even during the pandemic lockdown to organically develop the music that would evolve magnificently into a celebration of Hangin’ Out. 

Tracks

Hangin’ Out; Spain; Lydian Afternoon; Dindi; Sir Duke; Another Thing; Felicidade; Everything Happens to Me; Up Jumped Spring; I Walk a Little Faster; Modal 1 Tease; Just the Way You Are; It Could Happen to You.

By Jack Bowers
May 2, 2022

The Jim Self / John Chiodini Duo: Hangin' Out

Hangin' Out is the third album by the unlikely duo of Jim Self on tuba and John Chiodini on guitar. This time around, they hang out on five of the thirteen numbers with special guests—trombonist Scott Whitfield, tenor saxophonist Tom Peterson, baritone saxophonist David Angel and flugelhorn player Ron Stout, each of whom has a feature number before joining the leaders for a full-fledged jam on the lyrical finale, Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen's enduring standard, "It Could Happen to You," taken at a breezy tempo that suits everyone well.

To add more variety, Self plays the fluba—basically a tuba-sized flugelhorn—on five tracks, Chiodini classical (acoustic) guitar on two: Chick Corea's "Spain" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi." Angel's appearance (on Matt Dennis/Tom Adair's plaintive ballad, "Everything Happens to Me") is especially pleasing, as the legendary West Coast bandleader seldom performs on albums, his or anyone else's, and he is a remarkably engaging player. And that is not to say that Whitfield (on his "Lydian Afternoon"), Peterson (his "Another Thing") or Stout (Cy Coleman's "I Walk a Little Faster") are anything less than that.

As for Self and Chiodini, who have eight numbers to themselves, they blend about as well as a tuba (or fluba) and guitar possibly could. Self surmounts the tuba's limited range to fashion several gruff yet effective solos, while Chiodini comps with assurance and solos impressively in every framework. Chiodini wrote the opening swinger, "Hangin' Out," Self the elaborate jazz waltz, "Modal 1 Tease." Completing the program are Jobim's "Felicidade," Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke," Freddie Hubbard's "Up Jumped Spring" and Billy Joel's pop hit, "Just the Way You Are."

Anyone who can make a tuba and guitar duo interesting—even with occasional help—deserves a suitable commendation. In this case, it is four stars for an improbable pairing that works surprisingly well thanks to superb musicianship and a readiness to share the spotlight with talented companions.