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Johnny Hodges

To John Coltrane, Johnny Hodges was "the world's greatest saxophone player", and his gorgeous alto solos defined the Duke Ellington band for decades. Geoffrey Smith picks some highlights from a unique jazz career.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 2 Jun 2013 00:00

Music Played

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Ivie Anderson, v; Freddie Jenkins, Arthur Whetsol, Cootie Williams, t; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, valve tb; Barney Bigard, cl; ts; Johnny Hodges, as; Harry Carney, cl, bs; Fred Guy, bjo; Wellman Braud, b; Sonny Greer, d. 2 February 1932

    • Ken Burns Jazz: Duke Ellington.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501034 2 Tr. 8 (3.08).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Blue Goose

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, t; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl; Johnny Hodges, as, ss; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as: Duke Ellington, p; Fred Guy, g; Jimmie Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 28 May 1940

    • The Blanton – Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D1, Tr. 14 (3.21).
  • Johnny Hodges

    Squatty Roo

    Composer: Hodges Performers: Johnny Hodges, ss, as; Billy Strayhorn, p; Ray Nance, tp; Lawrence Brown, tb; Harry Carney, bs; Jimmy Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 3 July 1941

    • The Jeep is Jumpin’.
    • Proper.
    • 1330. Tr. 19 (2.26).
  • Johnny Hodges

    Passion Flower

    Composer: Strayhorn Performers: Johnny Hodges, ss, as; Billy Strayhorn, p; Ray Nance, tp; Lawrence Brown, tb; Harry Carney, bs; Jimmy Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 3 July 1941

    • The Jeep is Jumpin’.
    • Proper.
    • 1330. Tr. 20 (3.10).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    In a Mellotone

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, t; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl; Johnny Hodges, as, ss; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as: Duke Ellington, p; Fred Guy, g; Jimmie Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, d. 5 September 1940

    • The Blanton – Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D1, Tr. 22 (3.17).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Main Stem

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Duke Ellington, p; Rex Stewart, c; Wallace Jones, t; Ray Nance, t, vn; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, tb; Juan Tizol, vtb; Barney Bigard, cl, ts; Johnny Hodges, as; Otto Hardwick, as, cl; Ben Webster, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl, as; Billy Strayhorn, p, celeste; Fred Guy, g; Junior Raglin, b; Sonny Greer, d. 26 June 1942

    • The Blanton – Webster Band.
    • RCA.
    • 74321 13181 2. D3; Tr. 17 (2.47).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Magenta Haze

    Composer: Ellington Performers: Duke Ellington, p; Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Francis Williams, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, t; Ray Nance, tp; Lawrence Brown, Wilbur DeParis, Claude Jones, tb; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Russell Procope, as, cl; Johnny Hodges, as; Al Sears, ts; Harry Carney, bs, cl; Fred Guy, g; Oscar Pettiford, b; Sonny Greer, d. 23 October 1946

    • Jam a Ditty.
    • Naxos.
    • 8120813 (1); Tr. 2 (2.58).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Jeep's Blues

    Composer: Ellington, Hodges Performers: Duke Ellington, p; John Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, William Anderson, t; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, tb; Russell Procope, cl, as; Johnny Hodges, as; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Harry Carney, cl; bs; James Woode, b; Sam Woodyard, d. 7 July 1956

    • Ken Burns Jazz: Duke Ellington.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 501034 2. Tr. 19 (4.40).
  • Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges

    Wabash Blues

    Composer: Meinken, Ringle Performers: Duke Ellington, p; Johnny Hodges, as; Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, t; Les Spann, g; Al Hall, b; Jo Jones, d. 20 February 1959

    • Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges Play the Blues Back to Back.
    • Verve.
    • 521 404-2. Tr. 1 (6.25).
  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Blood Count

    Composer: Strayhorn Performers: Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams, t; Clark Terry, flhn; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, tb; Chuck Connors, btb; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Johnny Hodges, as; Russell Procope, as, cl; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Harry Carney, bs; Duke Ellington, p; Aaron Bell, b; Steve Little, d. 1967

    • And His Mother Called Him Bill.
    • RCA.
    • RCDJ-63458-2. D3, Tr. 14 (4.13).
  • Charlie Parker

    Funky Blues

    Composer: Hodges Performers: Charlie Shavers, tp; Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, as; Flip Philips, Ben Webster, ts; Oscar Peterson, p; Barney Kessel, g; Ray Brown, b; J.C. Heard, d. June 1952

    • Charlie Parker Plays the Blues.
    • Verve.
    • 5113912 1; Tr. 3 (13.29).

Broadcast

  • Sun 2 Jun 2013 00:00

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