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Artist
Johnny Hodges & His Orchestra
12+ albums
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about
Johnny Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played alto lead in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges also participated on soprano saxophone, but declined to play soprano after 1940. Along with Benny Carter, Hodges is considered one of the definitive alto saxophonists of the big band era. After beginning his career as a teenager in Boston, Hodges began traveling to New York and played with Lloyd Scott, Sidney Bechet, Luckey Roberts, and Chick Webb. When Ellington wanted to expand his band in 1928, Ellington's clarinetist, Barney Bigard, recommended Hodges. His playing became one of the defining voices of Ellington's orchestra. From 1951 to 1955, Hodges left to lead his own band but returned shortly before Ellington's triumphant return to fame: the orchestra's performance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
