{"title":"Johnny Hodges","description":"\u003cp\u003eBorn John Cornelius Hodges in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 25 July 1907, Johnny Hodges became one of the most influential alto saxophonists in jazz history, known for a tone so beautiful Duke Ellington said it sometimes brought tears to the eyes. Self-taught on drums and piano before taking up soprano saxophone at 14, he met Sidney Bechet in Boston in 1922 and received lessons from the master, developing his early sound whilst also taking up alto saxophone. After playing in Boston and moving to New York in 1924, he worked with Lloyd Scott, Luckey Roberts, and Chick Webb before joining Duke Ellington's Orchestra in November 1928 on Barney Bigard's recommendation. His first recording with Ellington came on 25 June 1928, and he immediately became one of the band's top soloists, known for his lush, sensuous tone and mastery of portamento, gliding from note to note like a slide trombone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHodges became the most featured soloist in Ellington's orchestra for four decades, playing lead alto in the saxophone section and inspiring countless compositions including \"Jeep's Blues\", \"The Jeep Is Jumpin'\", \"Confab with Rab\", and \"Hodge Podge\", which he co-wrote. Ellington showcased his ballad mastery on \"Warm Valley\", \"Passion Flower\", \"In a Sentimental Mood\", and Billy Strayhorn's \"Blood Count\". From 1951 to 1955 he led his own small group, scoring a hit with \"Castle Rock\" and recording for Norgran and Verve, but returned to Ellington in August 1955 shortly before the orchestra's triumphant 1956 Newport Jazz Festival performance. His influence was profound: Benny Goodman called him the greatest alto saxophonist, Charlie Parker called him \"the Lily Pons of his instrument\", and John Coltrane considered him his first model. He died suddenly of a heart attack on 11 May 1970, aged 62.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"duke-ellington-and-johnny-hodges-side-by-side-1971-japanese-verve-gatefold-lp","title":"Duke Ellington And Johnny Hodges - Side By Side (1971 Japanese Verve Gatefold LP)","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"1214\" data-start=\"1061\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSleeve\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObi:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e None\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur grading system explained \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/dpbg4u-d1.myshopify.com\/pages\/secondhand-grading-guide\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ehere\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhoto is of the actual item.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuke Ellington And Johnny Hodges - \u003cem\u003eSide By Side\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP - 1971 Japanese Verve Gatefold Reissue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reunion of Duke Ellington with his longtime alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges resulted in this intimate session showcasing both musicians' enduring artistry. Originally recorded for Verve and reissued in Japan in 1971 by Polydor K.K. in gatefold format, \u003cem\u003eSide By Side\u003c\/em\u003e features nine tracks blending Ellington originals with standards, the duo's decades-long musical partnership evident in their intuitive interaction. Hodges' warm, singing alto saxophone tone—one of the most distinctive and influential sounds in jazz history—finds perfect complement in Ellington's elegant piano work, their collaboration demonstrating that even masters can achieve new insights through familiar partnership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHodges spent most of his career in Ellington's orchestra (1928-1970, with a five-year absence 1951-1955), his alto saxophone becoming an essential voice in the Ellington sound. This smaller group setting allows both musicians' individual voices to shine while maintaining the rapport built over decades of collaboration. Tracks like \"Stompy Jones\" showcase swinging, uptempo material, while ballads like \"Just A Memory\" and \"Let's Fall In Love\" demonstrate Hodges' legendary ability to make his horn sing with human expressiveness. Ellington's piano work provides both rhythmic support and melodic counterpoint, his harmonic sophistication evident throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43173802770491,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0630\/3203\/3339\/files\/IMG_5879.jpg?v=1769577024"}],"url":"https:\/\/lushliferecords.com.au\/collections\/johnny-hodges.oembed","provider":"Lush Life Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}