Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Things Ain't What They Used to Be

In the early 1960s five jazz films were commissioned by a corporate sponsor -- one of which featured the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

This piece features Johnny Hodges on alto sax.

Personnel:
Ray Nance, Shorty Baker, Cat Anderson, Bill Berry, Ed Mullens (t), Lawrence Brown, Leon Cox, Chuck Connors (tb), Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges (as), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Jimmy Hamilton (cl, ts), Harry Carney (bars), Duke Ellington (p), Aaron Bell (b), Sam Woodyard (d). NYC, Jan 9, 1962.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• jazz
• duke
• ellington
• cat
• anderson
• harry
• carney
• johnny
• hodges
• paul
• gonsalves

[BurgSprinta]

Johnny Hodges is great. This composition is great. Things really ain't what they used to be. Its almost impossible to find great music like this these days.

[bubba9166]

My man Johnny doesn't even break a sweat. What a horn player he was.

[MrPopLoli]

Those who lived in Baltimore Maryland in the 50s & 60s might find this song very familiar. It was the opening theme music for the "Harley Show" a late night radio jazz show sponsored by The Harley Sandwich Shops from 1952 until sometime in the 70s.

[SaxJockey]

Superb ALL American Sound - Hodges, Ellington & Orchestra, Alto Sax (Buescher) and Mouthpiece (Otto Link Tone Edge - probably). A winning (and irreplaceable) combination!

[SaxJockey]

@bubba9166

I find this with most of Johnny's performances on video - cool personified.

[SaxJockey]

@BurgSprinta

I'm with you on this one!

[MusicFreddy]

@Easleytee hiromi

[123must]

Beautiful !

Thanks

[jwright123456789]

@Easleytee How about Meldhau, Metheny, Corea, Redman, McBride?

[JazzmanZL]

the person who disliked this should be shot. this band swings so frickin hard!!!!

[Easleytee]

Name a contemporary Jazz musician equal to the following: Ellington Armstrong Holiday Vaughn Bechet Hawkins Young Tatum Webb Parker Fitzgerald Monk To name but a few.