'The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions 1956-1961'

 

There was a time when a person could get a job, and stay with the same company for the 30 or 40 years without so much as a care.  The same held true for many musicians who happened to be in the Duke Ellington band.

For Johnny Hodges, the Ellington band provided the alto sax legend’s bread and butter for much of his life.  First, there were the 22 years that he spent with Duke from 1928 to 1950, followed by five years out on his own and then a second stay with Ellington from 1955 to Johnny's death in 1970. 

Johnny was, without doubt, Duke Ellington’s most prominent soloist, and his far-reaching influence cannot be overstated.

'The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions 1956-1961' is a 6CD set that was released in 2001 on the Mosaic Records label, and is a limited edition of just 7,500 copies.  The set has 95 performances, including 30 previously unissued tracks.

On these recordings, Johnny's soulful, lyrical style is best displayed in the ballads and blues features, though his originals definitely deserve attention, too.  He clearly takes his share of solos, but he generously features his guests and associates from Duke's band.  The sidemen on these recordings are prominent musicians from the era, including: Roy Eldridge, Herb Ellis, Ben Webster, Jimmy Forrest, Les Spann, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Shorty Baker, Ray Brown, Billy Strayhorn, Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Jo Jones and Mel Lewis, plus many more.

This set has outstanding sonics with a wide soundstage, that are up to Mosaic's usual fine standards, and serve Johnny's signature sound (the key to his style) well.

For the freeload, what's your favorite solo album or side project from an artist known mainly as a core member of a band?