Search - Artist/Band: Johnny Hodges

• Name: Johnny Hodges
• Birthday: 07/25/1907
• Birth Place: Cambridge, MA
• Died: 05/11/1970
• Decades Active: 1920,1930,1940,1950,1960,1970
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Swing, Mainstream Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Early R&B
• Moods: Elegant, Intimate, Organic, Amiable/Good-Natured, Sensual, Stylish, Confident, Refined/Mannered

Title	Release
Buenos Aires Blues	06/02/2009
Johnny Hodges [BD Jazz]	05/11/2007
Con-Soul and Jazz/Wild Bill Is the Boss	05/07/2007
Masters of Jazz	10/03/2006
1952-1954 WA	06/20/2006
1951-1952	10/18/2005
A Gentle Breeze	07/12/2005
Vol. 2: With and Without Duke Ellington 1943/1952	05/10/2005
Johnny's Blues	02/28/2005
Johnny Hodges & Friends WA	01/10/2005
Complete 1937-1940 Small Group Sessions V. 1	11/19/2004
Johnny Hodges, Vol. 2: 1939-1940	11/19/2004
The Complete 1941-1954 Small Group Sessions, Vol. 2: 1950	11/19/2004
Vol. 1: 1945-1950	11/19/2004
The Complete 1941-1954 Small Group Sessions, Vol. 3: 1951-1952	11/16/2004
Vol. 4: 1952-1953	11/16/2004
Vol. 5: 1954	11/16/2004
Jam Session, Vol. 2: Let's Split	07/06/2004
A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing WA	2003
Castle Rock [Proper] WA	2003
Day Dream	2003
Hodge Podge [Proper]	2003
Hop, Skip and Jump	12/04/2002
Collates, Vol. 1	12/02/2002
Collates, Vol. 2	12/02/2002
Rabbit's Blues	11/27/2002
1950-1951	10/02/2002
1945-1950 WA	02/05/2002
Alto Sax Story: 1937-1950	06/05/2001
Hodge Podge: The Best of the Duke's Men, Vol. 1	07/18/2000
Who Struck John?: The Best of the Duke's Men, Vol. 2	07/18/2000
Johnny Hodges and his Strings Play the Prettiest Gershwin WA	08/25/1998
Planet Jazz	08/25/1998
Story 1929/1946	01/13/1998
On the Way Up 1965-1967	1997
His Best Recordings	11/19/1996
Jeep's Blues	01/23/1996
Passion Flower 1940-46 WA	06/13/1995
Classic Solos (1928-1942)	11/23/1994
Passion Flower	1994
Verve Jazz Masters 35 WA	1994
Caravan: With the Duke Ellington All-Stars and the Billy Strayhorn All-Stars	09/25/1992
Jazz Tribute No. 1, Vol. 1-2: 1965-1966 WA	1979
Three Shades of Blue	1970
Triple Play	1967
Stride Right	01/14/1966
Johnny Hodges with Lawrence Welk's Orchestra WA	1966
Mess of Blues	1966
Everybody Knows WA	1965
Joe's Blues	1965
Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra	06/1962
Blue Hodges	01/1962
Masters of Jazz, Vol. 9 WA	1961
Blues a Plenty	04/05/1958
Duke's in Bed WA	09/01/1956
Castle Rock	1955
Hodge Podge [Epic]	1955
Used to Be Duke WA	1954
Compact Jazz: Johnny Hodges & Wild Bill Davis
Rarities & Private Recordings
The Complete Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra (1937-1938)
The Fabulous Ellingtonians

Possessor of the most beautiful tone ever heard in jazz, 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 swing players and was masterful on the blues, Hodges' luscious playing on ballads has never been topped. He played drums and piano early on before switching to soprano sax when he was 14. Hodges was taught and inspired by Sidney Bechet, although he soon used alto as his main ax; he would regretfully drop soprano altogether after 1940. His early experiences included playing with Lloyd Scott, Chick Webb, Luckey Roberts, and Willie "The Lion" Smith (1924), and he also had the opportunity to work with Bechet. However, Johnny Hodges' real career began in 1928 when he joined Duke Ellington's orchestra. He quickly became one of the most important solo stars in the band and a real pacesetter on alto; Benny Carter was his only close competition in the 1930s. Hodges was featured on a countless number of performances with Ellington and also 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 "Passion Flower," Hodges was an indispensable member of Ellington's orchestra in the 1930s and '40s. It was therefore a shock, in 1951, when he decided to leave Duke Ellington and lead a band of his own. Hodges had a quick hit in "Castle Rock" (which ironically showcased Al Sears' tenor and had no real contribution by the altoist), but his combo ended up struggling and breaking up in 1955. Hodges' return to Duke Ellington was a joyous occasion and he never really left again. In the 1960s, Hodges teamed up with organist Wild Bill Davis on some sessions, leading to Davis joining Ellington for a time in 1969. Johnny Hodges, whose unchanging style always managed to sound fresh, was still with Duke Ellington when he suddenly died in 1970. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide