@MusikMajor No one like Johnny Hodges, a man from a different era and musical sensibility. But there will be other singular creators with their own unique voice.
Johnny Hodges could play his *ss off!!! A little stubborn, always wanted to be out in front . . . but Ellington knew how to harvest that arrogance and turn it into a good thing. So sad that he died of a heart attack in his dentists office in 1970. The only other altoist that had a very similar sound was Norris Turney who succeeded him.
3 dislikes? OK, what 3 people let their 2 year old kids play on the computer, because you would need to be an unaware toddler to cast a vote like that.
The horns are Rolf Ericson trumpet, Lawrence Brown trombone, Paul Gonsalves tenor sax and Harry Carney on the baritone. Would love to hear the complete video with all of them taking solos!
On the contrary, Stan Getz, is still the most COMPLETE jazz saxophonist of all time and you can make a case that he is in the same spot with Hodges as far as ballads go, but again, this is only my opinion.
Apparently his reason being so good at tone was that he took lessons from some guy (forgot the name of him) everyday for 6 hours. 1 day would be devoted to each note. He would sit in there for 4-5 hours coming up with different ways to play the note while the instructor made beans (true story. no joke :P).
all hail a god of the saxophone, it feels wrong to even mention the name of another sax player in the comments. Just close your eyes and let this guy take you somewhere outside of yourself, this is what the best music does.
@JH5251 Kenny WHO ....... Listen dude that lil long haired pale wet spot on the bedsheet, could not even stand in Johnny's shadow.
And if one day, Kenny accidentaly finds himself passing trough Johnny's shadow, he'd better kneel down in shame and apologize for ever picking up an instrument.
Its the same as someone comparing Richard Clayderman with The Duke, thats just another reason to shoot a man on sight
@xraylax Are you kidding me? Did i compare in any way the talents of Johnny Hodges to Kenny G? Of course Johnny is incomparable to Kenny G, I was just commenting on something that has little of no meaning to his playing style.
Its like saying Obama uses the same hand motion when making a speach as Bush, but am i really comparing them?
Frankly I find Paul desmond's tone sterile and mechanical, no blues and little soul. a cold technician with a light swing. He does not belong in the same conversation as Hodges.
@TheViewFromSugarHill It's supposed to sound like that... like a dry martini. You have no idea how difficult it is to get such a classy tone like his.
I'm a rock guitarist who was supposed to be a jazzer - my grandfather was a tenor player and my uncle is trumpet - they couldn't have known I would stray.. Ah, well.
I still enjoy tenor and it'll always sound just like a warm and friendly human voice to my ears. Beautiful.
Hodges was great no doubt. But he was born here on earth. Paul Desmond was born in heaven and floated down to earth to fill the world with the most beautiful heavenly alto sax tone bar none. Together all sax players, be honest and bow to Paul.
This comes from hours and hours of long-tones, vibrato studies, tonguing.... all the real, hard yards. Not only were these guys great improvisers with gorgeous tones, they had to be able to sightread, often sight-transpose, as good as most of us read the morning paper.
It was an era of musicianship that is lost on the britneys, john mayors, and kenny gees of today...
@violinoscar john mayer's musicianship and lyrical writing is among some of the greatest song writers and composers in my opinion. However the rest that you mentioned can die for all i care
Oh, should that be on his tombstone "Greatest sax player in history... but played out the side of his mouth a little". When you are that good you can do what you want, bit like Tolkein starting sentences with And!
Why does everyone have to get so anal about this stuff. It's fucking great music, just enjoy it for what it is. And just because this is great music doesn't mean there's no good music or musicians around today, that's just narrow minded bollocks.
Johnny Hodges playing I Got It Bad And That Aint Good! Bending notes,sounding as blue as he can be.Bravo. Jazz Video Guy A while ago You Tube had posted Duke at the Newport Jazz Festival,with Johnny playing the great Billy Strayhorn tune Passion Flower,I was wondering if their is away you can get that footage released again. Keep Up The EXCELLENT WORK I'll be looking for great new viedos from you.
Hodges normally played to the right side of his mouth. as to the squeeks, his reed was probably a little dry or maybe a little too much pressure from playing for a long concert... or both haha
looks to me like he's having trouble with his left front teeth - he's playing way to the right- perhaps that's why he's squeaking so much - the joys of getting old.
hodges is one of the best alto players for people to start to emulate style and lines. Him and Desmond are my first choices for students. All of their lines are so melodic. It may sound weird but simplicity is hard for most people to do. It impresses me more when someone has the maturity to not have the ego to play everything in 16th notes doing arpeggios every bar. True masters can make the simple sound sublime.
This is a very interesting video. Hodges, of course is fantastic - one of the most easily recognized tones that ever played the instrument - a wonderful showcase of his talent. What strikes me as more interesting - we don't see the entire Ellington band here. There's always been rumors that at some gigs, not all of the musicians would show up after over-celebrating life. I wonder if this is an example of that? About half the traditional ensemble in place in a combo-style setting. Interesting!
I don't have my records and reference books at hand (they're in my jazz bar in Thailand!), but I believe this is from a tv show in Italy. Duke sometimes picked just a handful of his star soloists for such occations. The Italian tv recordings also appear on cd or lp.
gorgeous, inspirational footage. so interesting to hear/see Duke and Hodges in this small group setting...so transparent and airy, orchestrationally speaking...yet with all the Duke depth/grit/soul/lyricisim...and on and on...it's all there. Somehow he and Hodges seem to contain the essence of it all. Thank you Jazz Video Guy!!
There will never be another alto player like Hodges. Many have tried to duplicate that tone, myself included. It will never be done. There is Babe Ruth, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Hodges. The greatest of all time.
I know the feeling of goosebumps from Johnny Hodges when he showed up at an instrument factory I worked at in Elkhart, Indiana. Only to find out I assembled his alto when it was new and later tested it when he returned it years later for some adjustments. Got to play the horn, but Johnny Hodges I'm not. He then showed me how it should be played. What a memorable day. A class gentleman as well as a great musician of the time.
Tell us more about your time at the Selmer factory. What model was Johnny playing?Another sweet sax player of the time was Freddy Gardner. Leebm29 at yhoo dot c
I have no idea what sax Johnny preferred but the one I built that he ended up with was a Buescher 400 made in the Vincent Bach plant owned by Selmer in Elkhart. That was somewhere around the late '60's.
He first played Conn, but the Buescher Aristocrat became his main horn for years, then later a 400, then near the end of his life, a Vito, He could have played any horn and it would sound gorgeous.
This was the ´golden era when Jazz was governed by personalities with their ownsound. These unique personaliities listen to theír inner urges , inner voices and inners´selves . This is one of one of the elements that made jazz n those days So unique. Nowadays jazz musicians tend to be governed by the next intrument manunfacture in the corner. Great Stuff Here
This man's tone is exquisite, and was meant to compliment Duke's story telling playing technique on the piano. Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsales, and Ben Weber all were artisans of their craft, and Duke Ellington could not have been a pioneer of jazz without their poignant as well as powerful contribution. This is a treat, thank you for posting such a find.
I was very young coming to NYC for the 1st time from a small city in Canada. Bop shirts were all the rage, and I purchased one to go with my zoot suit! Paul was getting a kick out this kid all agog over his music. He was a very kind person!
Well, I see now that you did change your description, and I didn't even notice. My apologies. Hey, if you think Hodges had the most gorgeous tone in jazz, cool. But expect a guy like me to argue, because it's the day after Christmas and I have a day off work. Right now I'm listening to Bill Evans' Riverside stuff, and, wow. I am as passionate about jazz as you are, and I appreciate all of the incredible clips - and I have no idea how you've found some of them.
And, thanks for posting this. It is, indeed, beautiful. "Hodges and Ellington Play the Blues Back to Back" was the first jazz CD I ever owned (a gift from my father), and the most beautiful thing on THAT CD was the Harry Edison solo on "St. Louis Blues." I was 13 years old and a jazz fan for life, from then on.
Happens that I also have that Back To Back CD. If I had to choose which in my collection is my favorite CD that's the one I'd pick.
Lately I came across an article devoted to Back To Back, written by Whitney Balliet - appeared in the New Yorker magazine decades ago...He praised the work wholeheartedly.
Anyone know the other personnel? Obviously, Duke on piano, Lawrence Brown on trombone, I believe Paul Gonsalves and Harry Carney tenor and bari, but who's on trumpet, bass, and drums?
Rolf Ericson, trumpet; Lawrence Brown, trombone; Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, reeds; Duke Ellington, piano; Gilbert Rovère, bass; Sam Woodyard, drums.
Rolf of course! Didn't get a clear shot of his face, but earlier I thought it was a rather unlikely Doc Severinsen.
I used to feel that there was no jazz altoist who wasn't heavily influenced by Johnny, Benny Carter, Bird, or all 3. Johnny's sound was unique, but Benny's was equally pure.
I saw the Elligton band around 1964 in London and Paul had been drinking and was in no condition to play. Ellington had to go to Ronnie Scott's club and get the services of Tubby Hayes. He played the show and at one stage Johnny Hodges leaned over and congratulated him on a solo. We saw Paul and the Duke at the stage door after the show and Paul was still hungover!
glene 37 - Wow! You nailed me! Yes, I recorded a lot back when and did a date with Serge and Ralph Burns in the early '50s. Thanks for the comment - I've put the horn away for the duration....
wow, I like this very much !!
MsLudilo 2 months ago
Man, he was good. I've loved listening to him since college. Do you folks think we'll ever hear something like this again?
MusikMajor 3 months ago
@MusikMajor No one like Johnny Hodges, a man from a different era and musical sensibility. But there will be other singular creators with their own unique voice.
JazzVideoGuy 3 months ago 4
Ooooh wow, I feel like I'm about to melt. This is so amazing.
MultipleNerdgasms 4 months ago
@MultipleNerdgasms He's so SMOOTH.
JazzVideoGuy 4 months ago
@JazzVideoGuy Agreed. :D
MultipleNerdgasms 4 months ago
Johnny Hodges could play his *ss off!!! A little stubborn, always wanted to be out in front . . . but Ellington knew how to harvest that arrogance and turn it into a good thing. So sad that he died of a heart attack in his dentists office in 1970. The only other altoist that had a very similar sound was Norris Turney who succeeded him.
sdh74 5 months ago
@sdh74 Norris had a wonderful sound, but only one Johnny Hodges. No other player has ever been able to equal that sound on alto.
JazzVideoGuy 5 months ago
@sdh74 With a tone like that, he needs to be out front.
thatguywithasaxofone 2 weeks ago
3 dislikes? OK, what 3 people let their 2 year old kids play on the computer, because you would need to be an unaware toddler to cast a vote like that.
saxismyaxe 5 months ago
Superbe !! Et chaque fois que j'entends ce son UNIQUE, je pleure...
tangojules 5 months ago
The horns are Rolf Ericson trumpet, Lawrence Brown trombone, Paul Gonsalves tenor sax and Harry Carney on the baritone. Would love to hear the complete video with all of them taking solos!
prittsel 7 months ago
ahhh geniuses =)
chozie7 8 months ago
Some great chords from the piano player?
organham 8 months ago
@organham That's Duke Ellington on piano.
WindyCityJazz 8 months ago
@WindyCityJazz
Thanks!!I should have known that!!
organham 8 months ago
THIS IS TO MUCH!!!
17205513 9 months ago
Brother Johnny Hodges could moan a while.
hremdldw 9 months ago
WOOW!!! blew me away
earthchild100 10 months ago
es grande !!!!!!! johnny hodges eessss elll mejooorrr
musettensamble 11 months ago
LE meilleur saxophoniste au monde.
franckmilo62 11 months ago
I don't mind any negative words about Hodges...I love This.
back in 1984 I found an old vynl rcrd in grandads basement of Hodges....
Many a good night with my girlfreind in 94( ever since) listening to that record:) Thanks Grandaddy. and to Mr. Hodges.:),
morjohnny540 11 months ago
Comment removed
morjohnny540 11 months ago
On the contrary, Stan Getz, is still the most COMPLETE jazz saxophonist of all time and you can make a case that he is in the same spot with Hodges as far as ballads go, but again, this is only my opinion.
1979saxman 11 months ago
Apparently his reason being so good at tone was that he took lessons from some guy (forgot the name of him) everyday for 6 hours. 1 day would be devoted to each note. He would sit in there for 4-5 hours coming up with different ways to play the note while the instructor made beans (true story. no joke :P).
Wiggified 11 months ago
Benny Carter only competition? You forget Willie Smith of the Lunceford Band.
Mackermilk 1 year ago
unreal dynamics johnny, duke the whole band, story telling playing man..thanks for posting.
outjazzer 1 year ago
In the pantheon of saxaphone gods, Johnny Hodges stands tall. VERY tall.
deepkeel65 1 year ago
all hail a god of the saxophone, it feels wrong to even mention the name of another sax player in the comments. Just close your eyes and let this guy take you somewhere outside of yourself, this is what the best music does.
antoniodcz 1 year ago
This is not only long tones.....:)
This is genes.....
Some people can practice and practice and it's all for nothing.
Many people today thinking "I can everything it's only practice" it's not :)
soundofmyass 1 year ago
obviously you've not listened to very much desmond. that of course takes nothing from hodges who without doubt is in a league of his own
mpcguy 1 year ago
My favorite old time jazz player!!!
AltoSax250 1 year ago
Did you ever think these classic players often did not read music???
From the ears, into the heart, out through the fingers and the breathe.
tompethic 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I never knew that Hodges used the Kenny G embouchure......
JH5251 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i never knew that hodges has the kenny g embouchure.....
JH5251 1 year ago
i never knew that hodges has the kenny g embouchere.....
JH5251 1 year ago
@JH5251 Kenny WHO ....... Listen dude that lil long haired pale wet spot on the bedsheet, could not even stand in Johnny's shadow.
And if one day, Kenny accidentaly finds himself passing trough Johnny's shadow, he'd better kneel down in shame and apologize for ever picking up an instrument.
Its the same as someone comparing Richard Clayderman with The Duke, thats just another reason to shoot a man on sight
xraylax 1 year ago 6
@xraylax Are you kidding me? Did i compare in any way the talents of Johnny Hodges to Kenny G? Of course Johnny is incomparable to Kenny G, I was just commenting on something that has little of no meaning to his playing style.
Its like saying Obama uses the same hand motion when making a speach as Bush, but am i really comparing them?
JH5251 1 year ago
@JH5251 OK ....... You may continue on living ;-))
xraylax 1 year ago
woaahhh!
what a great bunch of musicians!!
tubetwang 1 year ago
brilliant jazz guy thanks
m1ck57 1 year ago
Che grande Johnny Hodges!!!!
Roberto.
robertocasijazz 1 year ago
The bass player is the french Jazz legend Gilbert "bibi" Rovere and this is a concert that was recorded in italy in 1964
albebop 1 year ago
No one greater that the Rabbit on any instrument in the history of Jazz!!!!!!!!!!!!
sinatrasessions1 1 year ago
I want to take an educated guess at the personnel here.
Bass should be Jeff Castleman, which places the recording somewhere from late 1967 to 1969.
Drums: Sam Woodyard
Trombone: Lawrence Brown
Trumpet: Rolf Ericson
Tenor Sax: Paul Gonsalves
Baritone Sax: Harry Carney
And then Hodges and Ellington comprise the remainder of the octet.
bminorscales 1 year ago
@bminorscales You know your musicians, That's impressive!
sinatrasessions1 1 year ago
this riff right here....this riff right here!!!!....damp as a swabbed stamp. Post that on your mind, definitely slow on those grinds! HowL!!!!
desmesnae 1 year ago
Love Johnny but I always dug the record where Lawrence Brown rode out at the end, sad they never did that live with Ellington.
millsbrothers 1 year ago
johnny hodges was like da best saxophone player
RjThaGreat510 1 year ago
Magisterial....??????
kevinherbert 1 year ago
that's the purest I can't get started. I've ever heard
undapar1 1 year ago
I'm speechless by this man's talent.
I have a question, does anybody know why he played with his sax tilted to the right? (an homage to Lester Young, perhaps?).
Have you noticed that Phil Woods does that, too?
Is it a reference to Prez somehow, or is it just more comfortable that way?
hombrequemiralaluna 1 year ago
@hombrequemiralaluna no. everyone has his preferences he just
liked it that way best. For myself i like to
play towards "the earth" if u know what i
mean :-)
playbeautiful9 1 year ago
@hombrequemiralaluna Hodges was on the scene way before Preze so Im guessing he dug the sound he got that way.
millsbrothers 1 year ago
@hombrequemiralaluna It's more comfortable. It feels awkward to hold it directly in front of you.
tanbark813 1 year ago
Does anybody know the name of the first tune that they play in this video?
UncleLlama1 1 year ago
It's a portion of C Jam Blues
archlordXd0 1 year ago
Frankly I find Paul desmond's tone sterile and mechanical, no blues and little soul. a cold technician with a light swing. He does not belong in the same conversation as Hodges.
So there!
TheViewFromSugarHill 2 years ago
I find Desmond's tone & feel understated & vibrant....bursting with the kind of promise only white boys knew of then....
kevinherbert 1 year ago
racist!
Lester457 1 year ago
@TheViewFromSugarHill It's supposed to sound like that... like a dry martini. You have no idea how difficult it is to get such a classy tone like his.
HiMyNameis0BLANK0 1 year ago
Superbe on ne se lasse pas d'écouter et de réécouter
Merci
Ulysse Correia
Ulysse7Correia 2 years ago
Sunny side of the street
Felken09 2 years ago
What is the song Johnny Hodges plays before "I got it bad"?
xochi85 2 years ago
When he hits that high note in the second song, it almost lifts me up from my chair!
Filmore87458 2 years ago
God I wish my sound was so pure and beautiful like his
archlordXd0 2 years ago
i like that sound
ajeddou123 2 years ago
First time I've listened to this lovely player.
I'm a rock guitarist who was supposed to be a jazzer - my grandfather was a tenor player and my uncle is trumpet - they couldn't have known I would stray.. Ah, well.
I still enjoy tenor and it'll always sound just like a warm and friendly human voice to my ears. Beautiful.
Thank you for this.
K3KCT 2 years ago
Smooth Jazz
swinginkatz 2 years ago
Smooth.
aartvegan 2 years ago
Wow and WOW! Great post. Watch Johnny's mastery, you can hardly see his fingers move he's got them so under control.
JazzJams251 2 years ago
Hodges' unsurpassed! The trumpet player is Rolf Ericson, born in Stockholm, Sweden. Thanks
knulla08 2 years ago
What a sound! Soooo smooth and full-bodied. That saxophone is just an extension of his body..truly his voice and divinely inspired. Sheer heaven:-)
Thank you for this post.
2dasimmons 2 years ago
can some1 plz name all the tunes played in order?
ownagemonkeyz 2 years ago
First they played C Jam Blues, then Sunny Side of The Street (0:43) and I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (4:52)
LefkowitzBrown 2 years ago 3
@LefkowitzBrown thanks :)
babajazzdev 1 year ago
A Master! Wonderful.
saxtek 2 years ago
Hodges was great no doubt. But he was born here on earth. Paul Desmond was born in heaven and floated down to earth to fill the world with the most beautiful heavenly alto sax tone bar none. Together all sax players, be honest and bow to Paul.
joeylittle 2 years ago
@joeylittle I think Charlie Parker and early Lee Konitz is the best alto music ever!
claptonfan1000000 2 years ago
drums : Sam Woodyard perhaps the best drummer for orchestras after Jo Jones (Basie) and Chick Webb of course.
Hodges the best alto jazz of Jazz History in my opinion.
PM290455 2 years ago 2
He always play with the right side of his mouth cos he was that good he keeps his gum in the left side :-)
scottiehypnosis01 2 years ago
I did hear, he try to play a bum note one time but couldnt do it hehehe
scottiehypnosis01 2 years ago
Effortless. Sweet as jasmine.
beachking04 2 years ago
nice! though is he playing using only the right side of his mouth?
evzboh 2 years ago
on piano the great Duke Ellington
abreuferreira1 2 years ago
BTW, the horn in this video is a Buescher Aristocrat.
furtherdefinitions 2 years ago
violinoscar
I have to agree what you said about sightreading. And the way they could sight-transpose, as good as most of us read the morning paper.
The best of them skipped the morning paper, though!
newkbean 2 years ago
only criticism is that it's 2 short
homer5678 2 years ago
This comes from hours and hours of long-tones, vibrato studies, tonguing.... all the real, hard yards. Not only were these guys great improvisers with gorgeous tones, they had to be able to sightread, often sight-transpose, as good as most of us read the morning paper.
It was an era of musicianship that is lost on the britneys, john mayors, and kenny gees of today...
violinoscar 2 years ago 30
This is not only long tones.....:)
This is genes.....
Some people can practice and practice and it's all for nothing.
Many people today thinking "I can everything it's only practice" it's not :)
We can't everything.
soundofmyass 1 year ago
@violinoscar Kenny G makes me vomit. (I hope that's not too rude.)
madamerotten 1 year ago
@violinoscar john mayer's musicianship and lyrical writing is among some of the greatest song writers and composers in my opinion. However the rest that you mentioned can die for all i care
DJAdori 1 year ago
"pwiiiiiiiiinggggggggggg......blu.. blu...bluuuu...bluuuuuuu...."
yonimiller 2 years ago
and morgan freeman on piano haha
hiimtim1233 2 years ago
michael phelps on bass
gerbschmitt 2 years ago 2
MASTERFUL
Philmoeslim 2 years ago
or did my stupid computer just jump ahead a beat?? Who cares--this is fabulous!
guidoman 2 years ago
I'd rather see it unedited!!! Sorry.
guidoman 2 years ago
Who gives a shit how he played. Who else could get a tone like that on Alto?
samventura 2 years ago 16
@samventura I'm still trying.
You gotta love Rabbit. He was the best.
chas63 1 year ago 5
not trying to bad on hodges but is it just me or does he have a bad habit of playing on one side of his mouth
TheKelevra21 2 years ago
alot of people do that, and it works for some people
stubert311 2 years ago
Oh, should that be on his tombstone "Greatest sax player in history... but played out the side of his mouth a little". When you are that good you can do what you want, bit like Tolkein starting sentences with And!
therightstuff360 2 years ago 2
I agree. When you're that effing good no-one should dare to criticize.
btw. There is no reason to say that a sentence cannot begin with 'and'.
avril2 2 years ago
Agreed, as long as it is an independent clause, a sentence can begin with "and"
homer5678 2 years ago
Este tipo si que es un groso!!!!!
(This guy is wonderful!!!)
andresitorobles 2 years ago 3
Why does everyone have to get so anal about this stuff. It's fucking great music, just enjoy it for what it is. And just because this is great music doesn't mean there's no good music or musicians around today, that's just narrow minded bollocks.
hoopoe222 2 years ago 3
Sure. Besides...life so sweet on the sunny side...
aerofredywr 2 years ago
Johnny Hodges playing I Got It Bad And That Aint Good! Bending notes,sounding as blue as he can be.Bravo. Jazz Video Guy A while ago You Tube had posted Duke at the Newport Jazz Festival,with Johnny playing the great Billy Strayhorn tune Passion Flower,I was wondering if their is away you can get that footage released again. Keep Up The EXCELLENT WORK I'll be looking for great new viedos from you.
hremdldw 2 years ago
genius this man this music
this is real music not like today crapp music
carlo976 2 years ago
Hodges normally played to the right side of his mouth. as to the squeeks, his reed was probably a little dry or maybe a little too much pressure from playing for a long concert... or both haha
Tyle423 2 years ago
looks to me like he's having trouble with his left front teeth - he's playing way to the right- perhaps that's why he's squeaking so much - the joys of getting old.
mitjazz 2 years ago
most sax players play on the right . What squeeks?
Leebm29 2 years ago
listen
mitjazz 2 years ago
On the sunny side of the street. My first solo transcription. It doesn't get better than this.
Hodges. Hodges. Hodges.
miguelmalla 2 years ago 2
who's in the rhythm section?
Jhd0358 2 years ago
hodges is one of the best alto players for people to start to emulate style and lines. Him and Desmond are my first choices for students. All of their lines are so melodic. It may sound weird but simplicity is hard for most people to do. It impresses me more when someone has the maturity to not have the ego to play everything in 16th notes doing arpeggios every bar. True masters can make the simple sound sublime.
BushidoSax 2 years ago 6
I totally agree with you there, now this is music.
TheSouljazzmaster 2 years ago 2
I didn't know about the connection with Sidnet Bechet, but now that you mention it, there's definitely some of Bechet's influence there.
When was this performance?
BardCoennius 2 years ago
This is a very interesting video. Hodges, of course is fantastic - one of the most easily recognized tones that ever played the instrument - a wonderful showcase of his talent. What strikes me as more interesting - we don't see the entire Ellington band here. There's always been rumors that at some gigs, not all of the musicians would show up after over-celebrating life. I wonder if this is an example of that? About half the traditional ensemble in place in a combo-style setting. Interesting!
clskmstg 2 years ago 2
I don't have my records and reference books at hand (they're in my jazz bar in Thailand!), but I believe this is from a tv show in Italy. Duke sometimes picked just a handful of his star soloists for such occations. The Italian tv recordings also appear on cd or lp.
paulbgo 2 years ago
Beautiful sound
and beautiful work!!
AHKAHNEH 2 years ago
This is just a wonderful piece of music.
plowe06 2 years ago
Fantastic!! That's the best! He was an Artist. Expresiv! Marvelous! His sax speak!!!
andresitorobles 2 years ago
Agreed. "The most beautiful tones ever heard in jazz".
TuXedoJunXion 2 years ago 3
Two words sum this performance up: "Pure Magic".
Thank you for sharing this treasure.
Corrie121 2 years ago
great music
fromBulgaria 2 years ago
This music is ALIVE! Thank u video guy
msdouris 2 years ago
j'adore le JAZZ, Johnny Hodges, i'll remember him,beautiful music,so beautiful
dannpenn 2 years ago
I just got funked like a white turtle on a Thursday morning listening to this crazy funk rhythm
Coolbeanz33 2 years ago
gorgeous, inspirational footage. so interesting to hear/see Duke and Hodges in this small group setting...so transparent and airy, orchestrationally speaking...yet with all the Duke depth/grit/soul/lyricisim...and on and on...it's all there. Somehow he and Hodges seem to contain the essence of it all. Thank you Jazz Video Guy!!
knurock 2 years ago
Sheer beauty. Lets not forget the great backing by the Ellington band, and Duke in particular.
attabuoy 2 years ago
go grand dad.. go!!!
nebulaun9 2 years ago
Yea maybe,
on tenor I think Coleman Hawkins has even better ballad tone.
Zzzurf 2 years ago
There will never be another alto player like Hodges. Many have tried to duplicate that tone, myself included. It will never be done. There is Babe Ruth, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Hodges. The greatest of all time.
FrankySnot 2 years ago 6
Great film. The Duke plays some weird harmonies but they always sound right (but different!)
conditionalchoice 3 years ago
wow,
listen to
"Gerry Mulligan meets Johnny hodges"
so great.
odeu 3 years ago
Insuperable este gran jazzmen
selvatick87 3 years ago
I remember when I saw Johnny hodges' horn I think it was in DC. I got goosebumps...it was almost as beautiful to look at as to hear
marcolinsax 3 years ago
his sax is in washington D.C.?
034667 3 years ago
I know the feeling of goosebumps from Johnny Hodges when he showed up at an instrument factory I worked at in Elkhart, Indiana. Only to find out I assembled his alto when it was new and later tested it when he returned it years later for some adjustments. Got to play the horn, but Johnny Hodges I'm not. He then showed me how it should be played. What a memorable day. A class gentleman as well as a great musician of the time.
tortoisedave 2 years ago 15
Incredible.
JazzVideoGuy 2 years ago
Tell us more about your time at the Selmer factory. What model was Johnny playing?Another sweet sax player of the time was Freddy Gardner. Leebm29 at yhoo dot c
Leebm29 2 years ago
Would love to know more about the instrument he played - which model was his favorite?
Are there any other stories you got?
therightstuff360 2 years ago
I have no idea what sax Johnny preferred but the one I built that he ended up with was a Buescher 400 made in the Vincent Bach plant owned by Selmer in Elkhart. That was somewhere around the late '60's.
tortoisedave 2 years ago
He first played Conn, but the Buescher Aristocrat became his main horn for years, then later a 400, then near the end of his life, a Vito, He could have played any horn and it would sound gorgeous.
furtherdefinitions 2 years ago
H Couf.
It won't help you though. It was the player, not the horn.
There are no stories. He went to work, played and went home again.
Beautiful player, boring man.
Sorry
avril2 2 years ago
@tortoisedave
Which factory was that?
There were so many in Elkhart over the years.
A great musician indeed.
avril2 1 year ago
The sweetest sax this side of heaven, thanks for posting.
ilistenalot 3 years ago 2
JohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodgesJohnnyHodges Remember that name!!!!
LuizPagan 3 years ago 5
bravo!
artemisahalicarnaso 3 years ago 2
Cool. Knus Stella
CubaseStella 3 years ago
This was the ´golden era when Jazz was governed by personalities with their ownsound. These unique personaliities listen to theír inner urges , inner voices and inners´selves . This is one of one of the elements that made jazz n those days So unique. Nowadays jazz musicians tend to be governed by the next intrument manunfacture in the corner. Great Stuff Here
KOKOYAMS 3 years ago
What a superb Christmas offering! Where do you find this stuf?!?! I love you JazzVideoGuy.
rosavito1 3 years ago 3
Where did I find this? An angel named Marla. And Roavito, I love you, too.
JazzVideoGuy 3 years ago
FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for J-Hodges and Ellington
Happy Holidays my amazing jazz video guy
Ciao Fabrizio ( from Rome)
vhjk60 3 years ago
This man's tone is exquisite, and was meant to compliment Duke's story telling playing technique on the piano. Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsales, and Ben Weber all were artisans of their craft, and Duke Ellington could not have been a pioneer of jazz without their poignant as well as powerful contribution. This is a treat, thank you for posting such a find.
jazzytds 3 years ago
I was very young coming to NYC for the 1st time from a small city in Canada. Bop shirts were all the rage, and I purchased one to go with my zoot suit! Paul was getting a kick out this kid all agog over his music. He was a very kind person!
cilcsster 3 years ago
happy holydays my friend, and good luck!sincerily...kristian del castillo
kristiandelcastillo 3 years ago
Well, I see now that you did change your description, and I didn't even notice. My apologies. Hey, if you think Hodges had the most gorgeous tone in jazz, cool. But expect a guy like me to argue, because it's the day after Christmas and I have a day off work. Right now I'm listening to Bill Evans' Riverside stuff, and, wow. I am as passionate about jazz as you are, and I appreciate all of the incredible clips - and I have no idea how you've found some of them.
kenjames64 3 years ago
I just reread what you wrote, and you said: "ONE of the most beautiful tones...." Please disregard everything I wrote prior to this. Happy Holidays.
kenjames64 3 years ago
And, thanks for posting this. It is, indeed, beautiful. "Hodges and Ellington Play the Blues Back to Back" was the first jazz CD I ever owned (a gift from my father), and the most beautiful thing on THAT CD was the Harry Edison solo on "St. Louis Blues." I was 13 years old and a jazz fan for life, from then on.
kenjames64 3 years ago
Happens that I also have that Back To Back CD. If I had to choose which in my collection is my favorite CD that's the one I'd pick.
Lately I came across an article devoted to Back To Back, written by Whitney Balliet - appeared in the New Yorker magazine decades ago...He praised the work wholeheartedly.
lt059 3 years ago
I guess my point is: avoid superlatives. Hodges has brought me to tears, but he was not the MOST BEAUTIFUL TONE EVER HEARD IN JAZZ ;)
kenjames64 3 years ago
Noted. I changed the description, accordingly.
JazzVideoGuy 3 years ago
Hodges, yep. gorgeous tone - gliss, vibrato and all - but "the most beautiful tone ever heard in jazz"? How about:
Stan Getz (ts). "Desifanado"
Chet Baker (tp): "My Funny Valentine"
Bill Evans (p): June '61 at VV.
Scott LaFaro (b): from the same date as above.
John Coltrane (ts): "Blue in Green"
Paul Desmond (as): "The One I Love" or "Blue Rondo a la Turk"
Louis Armstrong (tp): "West End Blues"
Billie Holliday (v): "They Can't Take That Away from Me."
Coleman Hawkins: "Body and Soul"
kenjames64 3 years ago
Priceless! Pure Artistry!
CSERIOS 3 years ago
Anyone know the other personnel? Obviously, Duke on piano, Lawrence Brown on trombone, I believe Paul Gonsalves and Harry Carney tenor and bari, but who's on trumpet, bass, and drums?
mert401 3 years ago
Rolf Ericson, trumpet; Lawrence Brown, trombone; Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, reeds; Duke Ellington, piano; Gilbert Rovère, bass; Sam Woodyard, drums.
JazzVideoGuy 3 years ago
Rolf of course! Didn't get a clear shot of his face, but earlier I thought it was a rather unlikely Doc Severinsen.
I used to feel that there was no jazz altoist who wasn't heavily influenced by Johnny, Benny Carter, Bird, or all 3. Johnny's sound was unique, but Benny's was equally pure.
mert401 3 years ago
Paul Gonsalves brought me a drink in Birdland back in the 50s!
cilcsster 3 years ago
You are a most lucky person. Can you share any memories of Paul?
JazzVideoGuy 3 years ago
I saw the Elligton band around 1964 in London and Paul had been drinking and was in no condition to play. Ellington had to go to Ronnie Scott's club and get the services of Tubby Hayes. He played the show and at one stage Johnny Hodges leaned over and congratulated him on a solo. We saw Paul and the Duke at the stage door after the show and Paul was still hungover!
4205lr 3 years ago 2
I sat in on trombone with Paul Gonsalves on Sabby Lewis' band at the Savoy in Boston in the late '40s before he went with Duke. Great talent!
mert401 3 years ago 2
Are you by any chance Mert Goodspeed, who appears on some of my early Serge Chaloff sides?
You sounded very good then; do you still play?
glene37 3 years ago 2
glene 37 - Wow! You nailed me! Yes, I recorded a lot back when and did a date with Serge and Ralph Burns in the early '50s. Thanks for the comment - I've put the horn away for the duration....
mert401 3 years ago 2
Beautiful. So much soul.
What year was this?
RussPaladino 3 years ago
March 22, 1964
JazzVideoGuy 3 years ago
Cool. I was 5 days old :-)
RussPaladino 3 years ago
I think it was in San Remo, Italy.
joemaranzano 2 years ago