Artist: Johnny Hodges
Genre(s):
Blues
Jazz
Discography:
Three Shades Of Blue
Year: 1970
Tracks: 10
Triple Play
Year: 1967
Tracks: 13
Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis (CD 1)
Year: 1966
Tracks: 10
Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges
Year: 1964
Tracks: 16
Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and Orchestra
Year: 1961
Tracks: 11
Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis (CD 2)
Year: 1961
Tracks: 13
St. Louis Blues
Year: 1960
Tracks: 15
Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges: Side By Side
Year: 1959
Tracks: 9
Jazz Masters 35
Year:
Tracks: 15
Possessor of the well-nigh beautiful front ever heard in wind, altoist Johnny Hodges formed his style early on and had little reason to change it through the decades. Although he could stomp with the best sway players and was masterly on the vapours, Hodges' delectable acting on ballads has ne'er been topped. He played drums and forte-piano former on forward switching to treble adolphe Sax when he was 14. Hodges was taught and divine by Sidney Bechet, although he presently put-upon alto as his main ax; he would regretfully drop soprano all told later on 1940. His early experiences included playacting with Lloyd Scott, Chick Webb, Luckey Roberts, and Willie "The Lion" Smith (1924), and he besides had the chance to work with Bechet. However, Johnny Hodges' substantial vocation began in 1928 when he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra. He promptly became one of the virtually crucial solo stars in the banding and a real pacemaker on alto; Benny Carter was his just close equal in the thirties. Hodges was featured on a unnumbered telephone number of performances with Ellington and as well had many chances to lead recording dates with Ellington's sidemen. Whether it was "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," "Come Sunday," or "Mania Flower," Hodges was an indispensable phallus of Ellington's orchestra in the mid-thirties and '40s. It was consequently a jolt, in 1951, when he distinct to allow for Duke Ellington and lead a band of his have. Hodges had a quick score in "Castle Rock" (which ironically showcased Al Sears' tenor and had no actual contribution by the alto saxist), but his jazz band concluded up struggling and breaking up in 1955. Hodges' reelect to Duke Ellington was a joyous occasion and he never real left hand once over again. In the sixties, Hodges teamed up with organist Wild Bill Davis on some roger Huntington Sessions, in the lead to Davis connexion Ellington for a time in 1969. Johnny Hodges, whose unchanging fashion constantly managed to sound wise, was still with Duke Ellington when he short died in 1970.
