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Johnny Hodges

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Johnny Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, born in 1907 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in Boston. His first instruments were drums and piano, which he largely taught himself. As a teenager he switched to the soprano saxophone. At fourteen he played for Sidney Bechet, who was impressed and gave him lessons. In 1924 he left for New York, where he played with Chick Webb, among others.

Music and breakthrough

In 1928 Hodges joined Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he stayed, with a short interruption, until his death. He led the saxophone section there and became one of the orchestra's most recognisable voices. Ellington wrote pieces especially for him, such as Jeep's Blues and Confab with Rab, named after his nicknames Jeep and Rabbit. His saxophone is also central in Prelude to a Kiss, I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) and Passion Flower. From 1951 to 1955 he had a band of his own, in which John Coltrane played, among others. He then returned to Ellington.

Influence

Hodges had a pure, warm tone and played sparingly, in both the blues and ballads. He used a broad vibrato and glided smoothly from one note to the next. Benny Goodman called him the greatest alto saxophonist he had ever heard, and Coltrane saw him as his first model. He died in 1970. Ellington said afterwards that his orchestra would never sound the same again.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Isfahan (1967) by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra. Notice how Hodges makes his melody sing, with long notes and soft, gliding transitions between the pitches.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists