(July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970)
AKA
"Rabbit," "Squatty Roo," "Jeep"
Born Cornelius John Hodges at birth, Hodges was an alto saxophonist and composer, best known for his work as lead alto saxophonist with Duke Ellington's big band.
Hodges grew up in Boston with Harry Carney (who would also become a long-term member of Duke Ellington’s big band). Hodges was mostly self-taught and initially played drums and piano before changing to the soprano saxophone as a teenager.
Hodges was mentored by soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet. Bechet gave Hodges formal lessons and even invited him to play with his band in New York. In 1928 Hodges joined Duke Ellington's orchestra which defined his career from that point on. Alongside his work with Ellington he had a large recorded output as a bandleader. For a full, interactive discography of Hodges' recordings, please click here.
Johnny Hodges was hugely influenced by Bechet, particularly in his high register playing, the use of a wide vibrato and the glissando. These clarinet techniques originated in the New Orleans playing style, handed down from Lorenzo Tio to Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Noone and of course Bechet, who as a clarinettist himself first applied them to the soprano saxophone. Hodges re-imagined these humble techniques and deployed them in a variety of musical settings to a high degree of emotional expression. He had total control of his immaculate tone, which he was known to discard in moments of fiery abandon when playing the blues, mimicing the range of expression of the human voice. Hodges had a unique sense of timing and rhythmic phrasing. He would start and finish his phrases perfectly in time, playing freely through the middle of his phrases. This unique and expressive approach to playing the beat was a big influence on Ben Webster and later John Coltrane, who redefined this approach in a more rigorous and harmonically adventurous setting. This approach has also been further stylized by modern day great Joe Lovano.
Hodges' influence on subsequent generations of alto saxophonists should not be be understated. He is cited by many of the saxophone greats of subsequent eras, including Buster Smith, Earl Bostic, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Lou Donaldson, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Criss, John Coltrane and many many more.
'It Was A Sound' is a book of 12 original compositions based on the playing style of Hodges for the beginner and intermediate player. It also features a biography of Hodges in 12 chapters. Discover the greatness of Hodges:
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