Johnny Hodges: Sax Player for Duke Ellington and Beyond

When you think of classic recordings by Duke Ellington’s big band, an important part of that sound in your head is Johnny Hodges on lead alto sax. Hodges joined Ellington in 1928, at the age of 21, already a jazz pro with a C.V. that included gigs with Sidney Bechet, Chick Webb, and others. Except for a few years in the early ʼ50s, Hodges stayed with the Ellington band until his death in 1970.

Born in 1907, Hodges grew up in Boston. That’s where he first heard Bechet play when he was 14. By then he was already mastering drums, piano, and soprano sax. He sometimes played soprano with Ellington in the early days, but by the mid-ʼ40s decided just to concentrate on alto. His sax playing has a distinctive character, full of vibrato and unabashedly lush, yet with the capacity to hop with high energy when needed.

All the time he was with the Duke, Hodges also played with other greats and produced dozens of solo and side projects. And that’s what we’ll cover here, or at least a small percentage of them. So, please enjoy these eight great tracks featuring Johnny Hodges.

1. Track: "What I'm Gotchere?"
Album:  In a Tender Mood
Label: Norgran/Columbia
Date: 1952

“Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra,” the LP’s front cover says. That’s how you know it was recorded between 1951 and 1955, the years Hodges had left the Ellington band to lead his own group. Columbia bought the rights from the original label, Norgran, and rereleased the record in 1956.

Among many interesting things about the tune “What I’m Gotchere?” is the fact that it was written by Hodges’ wife, Edith Cue. She composed a handful of blues-based tunes for her husband’s own projects as well as for Ellington (“Duke’s Jam,” for example). This is a great demonstration of Hodges’ lyric style, speaking with his instrument. The sweet trumpet sound is by Emmett Barry, and it’s worth sticking around for Lawrence Brown’s trombone work.

2. Track: "Madame Butterfly"
Album: Used to Be Duke
Label: Norgran/Columbia
Year: 1954

An endlessly astonishing aspect of Hodges’ output is the world-class quality of the people he worked with. On this track, we have no less than John Coltrane sitting in on tenor sax. The complex tune “Madam Butterfly” was co-written by Hodges and clarinetist/saxophonist Jimmy Hamilton.

The use of dynamics and syncopated accents is especially effective in this swinging track. At around 2:30, the two saxes, trumpet (Short Baker), and trombone (Brown) twist the melody around like a quadruple helix. Louie Bellson on drums holds things together with offhanded perfection.

The main phrases featuring Hodges and the lower saxes of Paul Gonsalves and Harry Carney, are exquisitely shaped, and they project like sculptural curly-cues against the blatting big-band horn sound that answers. All in all, this humorous number is a cross-stitch sampler of jazz instrument timbres.

Another great team-up in the Hodges archives is this one with post-bop/cool-jazz master Gerry Mulligan, who specialized in baritone sax. He was also a great composer and wrote half the tunes on the album. “18 Carrots for Rabbit” is one of his (the surreal title might have clued you in).

Although Mulligan’s playing is often described as “airy,” he solidifies his sound under the influence of Hodges’ driving style. The alto solo by Hodges starting at 0:35 establishes a high-energy voice that pulls long lines through the jagged tune. Mel Lewis’ brushwork on the snare is especially nice.

6. Track: “And Then Some”
Album: Blue Hodge
Label: Verve
Year: 1961

There’s a different flavor of driving energy on this track from Blue Hodge, an older, tighter, more Ellington-rooted style. What they used to call “jumpin’.” The record was the first of several that featured organist Wild Bill Davis.

In Hodges’ composition “And Then Some,” his sax acts as a grounding device below the flute of Les Spann (better known as a guitarist) and Davis’ vibrating organ chords. “And Then Some” opens side A, so you’ll find it easily on this full-album video: