Swing Master Johnny Hodges

Hodges had first recorded as a band leader in New York City on May 20, 1937, 'Peckin' with piano by Ellington and vocal by Buddy Clark among tracks documented that day:

Ellington contributed piano and backed Hodges' bands numerously throughout the decades to come, including Hodges' first recording of 'Passion Flower' in 1941, a title composed by Billy Strayhorn. 'Passion Flower' got rendered often for the next thirty years by Hodges with Ellington, appears on Hodges' album, 'Creamy' of 1955, and has been popular to cover ever since. Among numerous titles composed by Hodges, 'Going Out the Back Way' reached #10 on Billboard's R&B in 1944 [Music VF], recorded by Hodges and his orchestra with 'Passion Flower' in 1941. 'Castle Rock' by Al Sears banged the bell at #4 of Billboard's R&B in September of 1951, performed by Hodges and his orchestra. Leroy Lovett's 'A Pound of Blues' also reached #4 on Billboard's R&B, recorded by the Hodges orchestra.

'Passion Flower'   Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

3 July 1941 in Hollywood   Matrix 061347-1 issued on Bluebird 30-0817 in 1944

Trumpet: Ray Nance

Composition: Billy Strayhorn

'Goin' Out the Back Way'   Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

3 July 1941 in Hollywood   Matrix 061349-1 issued on Bluebird 30-0817 in 1944

Trumpet: Ray Nance

Composition: Hodges

Per above, Hodges concentrated on his own orchestra from 1951 to 1955 during which time his initial vinyl album appeared in 1952 per 'Collates' containing 'Castle Rock' gone down on 3 March 1951 and 'A Pound of Blues' following on 13 January 1952. Hodges returned to Ellington's operation in time for the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival that summer. Hodges hung with Ellington the remainder of his career. His last recording project as a leader arrived in March of 1970 to put away his album, 'Three Shades of Blue'. He continued with Ellington into April of 1970 to contribute to 'New Orleans Suite'. This was Ellington's eighth studio album and Hodges' final since he died between its first and last of two recording sessions. Giving his last performance at the Imperial Room in Toronto, Ontario, he died of heart attack at the dentist several days later on 11 May 1970. One may note Hodges' composure as he delivers titles in visual media below. This virtuosic performer of swing jazz had an even cooler stage presence than Ellington, rippling beautiful melodies while yet looking only distracted while passing time waiting for a bus.

'Collates'   Album by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

'Containing 'Castle Rock' and 'A Pound of Blues'

15 Jan 1951 / 3 March 1951 / 13 Jan 1952 / 17 Jan 1952   Clef Records MGC111

Trumpet: Emmett Berry   Trombone: Lawrence Brown

Alto sax: Hodges   Tenor sax: Al Sears

Clarinet / tenor sax: Barney Bigard  Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn / Leroy Lovett

Bass: Lloyd Trotman   Drums: Sonny Greer

'Creamy'   Album by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

8 Sep 1955 in NYC   Norgran MGN1045

Trumpet: Clark Terry   Trombone: Lawrence Brown

Alto sax: Hodges   Clarinet / tenor sax: Jimmy Hamilton   Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn   Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Sonny Greer

'Cherry'   Album by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

From the album 'Cue for Saxophone' recorded 14 April 1959 in NYC   Felsted FAJ7008

Trumpet: Harold "Shorty" Baker   Trombone: Quentin Jackson

Clarinet: Russell Procope   Alto sax: Hodges as Cue Porter

Piano: Billy Strayhorn   Bass: Al Hall   Drums: Oliver Jackson

Composition: Don Redman / Ray Gilbert

'All of Me'   Johnny Hodges w Ellington and His Orchestra

Filmed live 9 Oct 1959 at the Kongreßhaus in Zürich, Switzerland   LOC

Trumpet: Cat Anderson / Clark Terry / Andres Merenguito / Ray Nance

Trombone: Britt Woodman / Quentin Jackson / Booty Wood

Clarinet / various sax: Russell Procope / Jimmy Hamilton / Harry Carney

Alto sax: Hodges   Tenor sax: Paul Gonsalves

Piano: Ellington   Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Jimmy Johnson

Composition: Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons   1931

'Passion Flower'   Johnny Hodges w Ellington and His Orchestra

TV-Byen television broadcast on 23 Jan 1967 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Composition: Billy Strahorn

Medley: 'Black Butterfly' / 'Things Ain't What They Used to Be' / 'Laying On Mellow'

Johnny Hodges w Ellington and His Orchestra

Filmed live 25 Nov 1969 at Colston Hall in Bristol, England

 'Black Butterfly': Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Ben Carruthers   1936

'Things Ain't What They Used to Be': Mercer Ellington / Ted Persons   1942

'Laying On Mellow': David M. Ellingson

'Three Shades of Blue'   Johnny Hodges w Leon Thomas and Oliver Nelson

Johnny Hodges last name recordings

Album recorded 17 /19 March 1970 in NYC   Flying Dutchman FDS120

Trumpet: Ernie Royal / Marvin Stamm / Randy Brecker / Snooky Young

Trombone: Al Grey / Quentin Jackson / Garnett Brown / Tom Mitchell

Various reed: Bob Ashton / Jerome Richardson / Danny Bank / Jerry Dodgion / Joe Farrell

Alto sax: Hodges   Piano: Hank Jones   Bass: Ron Carter   Drums: Grady Tate

Arrangements / conducting: Oliver Nelson   Vocals: Leon Thomas

'Blues for New Orleans'   Johnny Hodges w Ellington and His Orchestra

From the album 'New Orleans Suite' recorded 27 April & 13 May 1970 in NYC

Hodges is missing from the 13 May session as he died on 11 May 1970

Trumpet: Harold "Money" Johnson / Cootie Williams / Mercer Ellington / Alan Rubin / Fred Stone

Trombone: Booty Wood / Julian Priester / Malcolm Taylor

 Clarinet / various sax: Russell Procope / Norris Turney / Harry Carney

Alto sax: Hodges   Tenor sax: Paul Gonsalves

Piano / arrangement: Ellington   Organ: Wild Bill Davis

Bass: Joe Benjamin   Drums: Rufus Jones

Composition: Ellington