Johnny Hodges - Live At Storyville - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

During the mid to late 1960s, along side his tenure with the great Duke Ellington Band, legendary Alto Saxophone pioneer Johnny Hodges was often found recording and gigging with the likewise legendary Hammond Organ pioneer Wild Bill Davis. There always seemed to be a kinship between these two gentlemen that was deeply rooted in the blues, and this album serves as a testament to that kinship. InchBlue PyramidInch focuses on the blues and a blue feeling, even when the structure of the song is not exactly that 12 bar form. The mood of this semi-commercial, Creed Taylor-produced tour-de-force immediately takes us into that deeply rhythmic yet forlorn vibe, whereby we can virtually taste the drip of succulent soul, portrayed by Hodges/Davis, Incorporated. Ellington rehearsal pianist and oft-accompanist Jimmy Jones provides the arrangements, while Ellingtonians Lawrence Brown and Jimmy Hamilton furnish us with just enough Ducal familiarity to reassure us we are home, in spite of the Inch60's rockingInch treatments of the tunes. We even get a taste of Johnny Hodges' son, Johnny Brother Hodges on drums. The selections range from Ellington to Hodges and Davis originals, and this septet captures the essence of swinging and singing.

Johnny Hodges - The Clef & Norgran Albums 1951-54 - It's a snapshot of a particular and intriguing phase of Johnny Hodges' career. - Johnny Hodges was a jazz alto saxophonist, who enjoyed a performing and recording career that lasted from the 1920s through to his death in 1970. Best-known for his work with Duke Ellington, he had a pure tone and economy of melody on both the blues and ballads that won him admiration from musicians of all eras and styles, and made him ubiquitous on recording sessions across the spectrum of jazz. He occasionally led his own bands, and this 41-track 2-CD collection focuses on albums he made in a concentrated period in the mid-1950s with his small orchestra for the Clef and Norgran labels, owned by renowned impresario and producer Norman Granz, which were forerunners of Verve. It features the titles from the albums. InchJohnny Hodges CollatesInch, InchJohnny Hodges Collates No. 2Inch, InchSwing With Johnny HodgesInch, InchMemories of EllingtonInch, InchCastle RockInch, InchThe BluesInch and InchIn A Tender MoodInch, with some of the titles appearing on more than one album. A number of the titles were also released as singles, and two of them InchCastle Rock Inch and InchA Pound Of BluesInch, were US R&B hits. It naturally features some notable musicians of the era, including Al Sears, Leroy Lovett, Billy Strayhorn, Al McGibbon, Sonny Greer, Emmett Berry, Lloyd Trotman, Flip Phillips, Red Callender, Ray Brown, J.C. Heard and others. It's a snapshot of a particular and intriguing phase of Johnny Hodges' career, and a great showcase for his understated virtuosity as a jazz musician and leader.

Johnny Hodges - In Concert [COMPACT DISCS] date 05/15/2023