Includes 16-page booklet with recording details, extensive notes and rare photos.
The music here defies fad and fashion. Johnny Hodges and his alto sax speak with trademark elegance and eloquence part and parcel of having been with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in its most celebrated days.
The sides included come from three of Hodges classic albums: Ellingtonia 56, Dukes in Bed and The Big Sound, and the formations range from large combo units to the full-fledged Ellington band (without Duke). Rich, rocking, blue-boned relaxation is the mood, and this set of Hodges-guided numbers is full of his inimitable swing and ever present touches of warmth and humour.
Tracklist
Total time: 132:29 min.
CD 1
01. Hi' Ya (Hodges-Strayhorn) 3:09
02. Snibor (Billy Strayhorn) 7:15
03. Texas Blues (Hodges-Strayhorn) 11:46
04. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (Ahlert-Young) 3:28
05. A-Oodie-Oobie (Johnny Hodges) 3:31
06. Meet Mr. Rabbit (Johnny Hodges) 7:14
07. Duke's in Bed (Duke Ellington) 2:53
08. Just Squeeze Me (Ellington-Gains) 3:06
09. Ballad for Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus Eaters (Billy Strayhorn) 3:21
10. Confab with Rab (Johnny Hodges) 3:16
11. It Had to Be You (Kahn-Jones) 3:06
12. Black and Tan Fantasy (Ellington-Miley) 6:18
13. Take the 'A' Train (Billy Strayhorn) 8:03
CD 2
01. The Happy One (Cat Anderson) 2:51
02. Night Walk (Cat Anderson) 3:13
03. You Got It Coming (Johnny Hodges) 6:01
04. Duke's Jam (Johnny Hodges) 6:24
05. Little Rabbit Blues (Johnny Hodges) 9:22
06. Johnny Comes Lately (Billy Strayhorn) 2:26
07. Gone and Crazy (Johnny Hodges) 3:12
08. Fast Segdoh (Johnny Hodges) 3:26
09. Don't Call Me, I'll Call You (Cat Anderson) 3:27
10. An Ordinary Thing (Cat Anderson) 3:19
11. Waiting for Duke (Cat Anderson) 3:57
12. Dust Bowl (Johnny Hodges) 4:24
13. Early Morning Rock (Johnny Hodges) 3:33
14. Viscount (Hodges-Ellington) 2:27
15. Digits (Clark Terry) 4:17
16. Bouquet of Roses (Hodges-Ellington) 3:21
Album details
Sources:
CD 1, tracks #1-4 & CD 2, #1-4, from "Ellingtonia '56" (Verve MGV-8155)
CD 1, tracks #5-13, from the album "Duke's in Bed" (Verve MGV-8203)
CD 2, tracks #5-16, from the album "The Big Sound" (Verve MGV-8271)
Personnel on CD 1:
Johnny Hodges Octet (#1-4)
Ray Nance (tp), Lawrence Brown (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on January 11, 1956
Johnny Hodges Nonet (#5-13)
Ray Nance (tp, vln, vcl), Clark Terry (tp), Quentin Jackson (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on September 1, 1956
Personnel on CD 2:
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra (#1-4)
Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Harold 'Shorty' Baker (tp), Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Russell Procope (cl, as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on January 12, 1956
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra (#5-8)
Ray Nance, Clark Terry (tp), Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Russell Procope (cl, as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on June 26, 1957
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra (#9-12)
Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Harold 'Shorty' Baker (tp), Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Russell Procope (cl, as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on September 3, 1957
Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra (#13-16)
Ray Nance (tp, vln), Clark Terry, Harold 'Shorty' Baker (tp), Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Russell Procope (cl, as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Recorded in New York City, on September 3, 1957
Original liner notes: Bill Simon, Nat Hentoff
New liner notes: Jordi Pujol
Original recordings produced by Norman Granz
This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol
Hi Fi / Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.Press reviews
"No surprises, but the sessions were as good as one might hope. Gathered here was the Ellington band with Billy Strayhorn at the piano. While it was not an Ellington record, the band brought its solid qualities in backing and the occasional solo to all the fine Hodges features. This was an integrated unit, not some detached studio band for Hodges to blow over, under, around, and through. It was wonderful Hodges and fine Ellington."
Bob Rush -Cadence
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"As Duke Ellington's altoist during 1928-51 and 1955-70, Johnny Hodges became world famous and beloved by jazz fans. His luscious tone and melodic style on ballads, blues and swing tunes was highly influential, making him the top altoist (along with Benny Carter) before the rise of Charlie Parker. Hodges led quite a few sessions of his own along the way,. During 1951-55 broke away from Ellington to lead his own combo, before returning for another 15 years.
While Mosaic previously released Hodges' solo recordings of the 1950s on two box sets, those are long out of print. Fresh Sound has come out with four reissues dating from that era. The two-CD set Johnny Hodges And The Ellington Men (FSR 573) has music from three Hodges albums: Ellingtonia '56, Duke's In Bed and The Big Sound. Hodges is heard with small groups and on a full album leading the Ellington Orchestra (with Strayhorn on piano). Not too surprisingly, many of the songs are from the Ellington book although there are also a fair number of heated riff pieces."
Scott Yanow (May, 2010)
-Los Angeles Jazz Scene
