Johnny Hodges

[Bobby G]

For many years a member of Duke Ellington's band, Johnny Hodges is one of my favourite alto players. He combines a wonderful 'singing' quality in his sound with a lot of blues (as you'd expect from the Duke's band) to form a beautifully emotional style. Technically fabulous - his note bends are a marvel - yet accessible enough for anyone who is unsure about where their entry to the world of jazz may be.

I'd recommend the Live at Newport album from the 50's by the Ellington band; not only do you get Johnny's searingly lyrical solo on Jeep's Blues (possibly my all-time favourite bit of alto), you get Paul Gonsalves' legendary 27 (count 'em) choruses on tenor during Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue - just marvel at the way he and the band pile on the tension and how the audience reacts to it.

 

[tengu01]

Hear hear!!!

There is something amazingly lyrical about the way he plays and DAMN he can bend a note and really make it sing.

For me, he falls into the same camp as Paul Desmond: an alto player whose lines and phrases are so logical and musical, they just flow from one to the next. I always just get carried along with their solos because they seem to be logical extensions of the tune.

 

[Paul_Dennis]

I loved Paul Desmond's very self deprecating comment about himself....he said he was famous for being the world's slowest alto player.

I think the point is well taken....it's all about musicality and tone and not about technical virtuosity and playing at breakneck speed.

Alan Barnes, whom I heard last week, made a joke about when his father bought him his Selmer alto in the early 70's, when he was a teenager. He remarked there was a beaten up old musician in the shop (happened to be his bass player!) who remarked...'so you think you're a sax player sonny? You'd better go out and buy yoursewlves a Johnny Hodges record!'

There's a lovely tribute to Johnny Hodges on Barnes latest CD on which he plays a beautiful version of 'Day Dream'.

Talking of Hodges....someone else with an unerring sense of the music and gorgeous tone is Benny Carter.

 

[Greywolf]

you get Paul Gonsalves' legendary 27 (count 'em) choruses on tenor during Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue

That is just awesome. I play it over and over again.

 

[Bobby G]

If you read the sleeve notes on that album, they changed the running order. At the concert, Jeeps Blues was used to calm the audience down after the Paul Gonsalves 27-chorus excitement. Didn't really work, did it, they are going frantic! Hodges is really flying on that one.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I love this Johnny Hodges lick (turnaround from I Got It Bad)


[Attachment: hodges.mov (359.51kb)]

 

[Bobby G]

4-CD box set on Proper Records, all Johnny Hodges, from the 30's to the 50's. 94 tracks. 8 quid. Sorted. Thanks Sellanby in South Harrow. Good shop for pre-owned cd's and records.

There's a whole cd's worth of what I can only describe as pre-bebop small ensemble tunes, some with vocals, from the mid/late 30's. Kind of small-band swing, so it's easy to pick out each line and hear the harmonies. Typically, along with the bass, drums and piano (sometimes guitar too) there are three or four horns out front, one or two saxes with trumpet and trombone (quite often that soft, singing style of bone-playing which I like). The sound is surprisingly good, better than a lot of the early bebop - some of those Bird recordings sojnd pretty bad and I'm no hi-fi buff - very full and warm, plus you get *that* alto sound and *those* note bends. Beautiful and uplifting stuff.

On a previous thread about the vintage tone, specifically from the 30's, someone commented 'why would you want to sound like that'. Well, these CD's are why. Hodges' sound and playing still stands up for me, and if I could get anywhere near it I'd be well happy.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Dylan]

I've just come across a marvellous Johnny Hodges anecdote.

He was once asked in an interview - what was going through his mind during those amazing lyrical solos with Duke Ellington

He replied that he was counting the number of fire exits in the theatre :laugh:

 

[frank_johnson]

Having not heard him for many years, I listened to "What's New?" yesterday and had a meltdown. Russ Freeman (pno) , Bob Magnusson (bass) & Frank Butler (drums) complete the dream team!!
Much better than watching Wolves play.
Sorry Bob! Did not want this to appear on Johnny Hodges. My computer skills fall under Special Needs!!
Frank

 

[howell68]

There's a story that a man was stabbed to death in the middle of a Hodges solo during an Ellington gig and Hodges didn't miss a beat. Think he had a repuatation of being somewhat aloof....

 

[visionari1]

Johnny Hodges (think his nick name was "the lizard") another of my favourites, its the sound and slur that affect people , not just fellow sax players. If you could bottle that you'ed make some money!!!
Thanks for that quick time link, Pete, isn't it great with this technology, I can be sitting here in rural new Zealand, and pick up my sax and play along following the quick time prompt, absolutley brilliant.....

 

[Bobby G]

I never heard of his nickname being the Lizard, I've heard Rabbit or Jeep.

A rose by any other name etc...


Cheers, Bob

 

[phil_edwards]

For me, he's the greatest ever. Nothing else to add.

regards, Phil

try this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeO4i3nciH8

 

[Linky Lee]

I really like Johnny's sound, one of the few alto players that really gets my mouth salivating... well not really but since downloading a 'best of' Johnny Hodges it's given me some great material to transcribe!

Endless hours of frustration followed by marvelous hours of joy. The frustration obviously isn't endless then.

 

[Bobby G]

Phil Edwards wrote:
For me, he's the greatest ever. Nothing else to add.

regards, Phil

try this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeO4i3nciH8

I've just watched this clip (again), it's another classic from Bob Erwig. Somewhere along the line the Great Concert of 1966 in Paris is mentioned. Is this an Ellington concert, and is it available on CD?

Cheers, Bob