Category: Wild Bill Davis

Portrait of Lawrence Brown, Pt. II (Podcast #19-014)

Lawrence Brown (1907-88) was a major voice in the Ellington orchestra. He played with Duke for 29 years, longer than any other trombonist in the orchestra. Continue reading →

“As a soloist, his taste his impeccable, but his greatest role is that of an accompanist. The old timers used to say, ‘Soloists are made, but accompanists are born’. Lawrence Brown is the accompanist par excellence. During the many years he was with us, records prove that his solo performances had the widest range from classical standard up to, around, and above the jet-swept contour of the vision we almost hear.”

-Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress

 

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Lawrence Brown’s interview for the Jazz Oral History Project can be found here.

 

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

(Under construction…..)

JH four classic albumsGlobe Trotter (CD: “Four Classic Albums” Avid Jazz AMSC999)

Recorded 15 January 1951, New York City

Emmett Berry – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Al Sears – tenor sax; Leroy Lovett – piano; Lloyd Trotman – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

duke 100Creole Blues  (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)

Recorded 14 July 1960, Los Angeles

Lawrence Brown – trombone; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass.

hodges the orchestraStardust (CD: “Johnny Hodges, soloist, Billy Strayhorn and The Orchestra” Verve 314 557 543-2)

Recorded 11/12 December 1961, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Bill Berry, Howard McGhee, Eddie “Moon” Mullens – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums

Great Paris ConcertRose of the Rio Grande  (CD: “The Great Paris Concert” Collectables 7818)

Recorded 1 February 1963, Paris

Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

recollectionsMinnie the Moocher (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Warner Bros. 7411628)

Recorded 13 December 1962, Chicago

Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)

Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Nat Woodard – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Eddie Johnson, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

I Left my Heart In San Francisco (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)

Recorded 27 April 1964, New York City

Cat Anderson, Rolf Ericson, Cootie Williams, Herbie Jones – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Major Holley – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

Everybody knows Johnny HodgesStompy Jones/Mood Indigo (CD: “Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges” GRP/Impulse! GRD-116)

Recorded 8 March 1965, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Ray Nance, Cat Anderson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Harold Ashby – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Richard Davis – bass; Gus Johnson (on “Stompy Jones”), Johnny Hodges, Jr. (on “Mood Indigo”) – drums.

A Beautiful Friendship (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)

Recorded Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Herbie Jones – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

hodges davis con saxRabbit Out of the Hat (CD: “Con Soul & Sax/Wild Bill is the Boss” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10283)

Recorded 17 January 1966, New York City

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Billy Butler – guitar; Bob Bushnell – bass; Joe Marshall – drums.

Rockville

— Our closing music —-

0000120517It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.

        

Portrait of Johnny Hodges, Pt. III (Podcast #19-002)

A sample of the many Ellington/Strayhorn compositions that featured the sublime alto sax of Johnny Hodges from his return to the orchestra in 1955 until his death in 1970.
Continue reading →

“You ever drink any cool, clean spring water? You can add things to it, make lemonade, beer, coffee, or what have you, but when you’re thirsty it’s hard to beat it just as it is. And it’s probably better for you than the kind hyped up with chlorine. Well, to me, Johnny [Hodges] was like that spring water – the real thing, unadulterated. He didn’t change either. Maybe he added ideas as he went along, but he was always true to himself.”

–Earl “Fatha” Hines

hodges

Johnny Hodges

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1963 Payroll ledger sheet for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Johnny Hodges (line 12) was the highest paid member of the band.

Click here for a link to hear Johnny Hodges interview by Willis Conover

 

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

  1. at newport

    Jeep’s Blues (CD: “Ellington at Newport 1956 (Complete)” Columbia Legacy C2K 64932)

    Recorded 07 July, 1956 Live at The Newport Jazz Festival Newport, RI

    Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Willie Cook, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

such sweet thunder

Half the Fun / The Star-Crossed Lovers (LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)

Recorded 24 April 1957, New York City

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson(t); Clark Terry(t,fl); Ray Nance – violin; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

anatomy

Flirtibird (CD: “Anatomy of a Murder” Columbia/Legacy CK 65569)

Recorded early June 1959 in Los Angeles

Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Gerald Wilson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Jimmy Johnson – drums.

 

recollectionsThe Midnight Sun Will Never Set / Goodbye (CD: “Recollections Of The Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz ‎– 7 90043-2)

 

private collection vol 8Rondolet (CD: “Duke Ellington ‎– The Private Collection, Volume Eight Studio Sessions” Saja Records ‎– 7 91232-2)

 

cool rockHi, June (CD: “Cool Rock” LaserLight Digital ‎– 15 782)

greatest jazz concert in the worldBlood Count (LP: “The Greatest Jazz Concert In The World” Pablo Records ‎– 2625 704)

 

molther bill

Snibor (CD: “…And his Mother called him Bill” RCA 6287)

Recorded 28 August 1967, New York City

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpets; Clark Terry – flugelhorn; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper – trombones; Chuck Connors – bass trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Steve Little – drums.

 

new orleans suite

Blues for New Orleans (CD: “New Orleans Suite,” Warner Bros. 7411644)

Recorded 27 April, 1970 New York City

Cootie Williams, Al Rubin, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone – trumpets; Booty Wood, Julian Priester, Malcolm Taylor – trombones; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.

— Our closing music —-

0000120517

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.

Portrait of Johnny Hodges, Pt. II (Podcast #19-001)

A look at some of the outside projects done by Johnny Hodges during his second tenure with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Continue reading →

“I don’t suppose there is anybody in the business who can do more with a melody than Johnny Hodges.”

–Wild Bill Davis

hodges strayhorn

Johnny Hodges and Billy Strayhorn

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

 

hodges verve mosaicStraight Back (CD: “The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions 1956-61” Mosaic MD6-200)

Recorded 7 April 1959, New York City

Harold “Shorty” Baker – trumpet; Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Ben Webster – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Les Spann – guitar; Ray Brown – bass; Jo Jones – drums.

oliver nelsonEchoes of Harlem/ Black, Brown and Beautiful (CD: Oliver Nelson “Black, Brown and Beautiful” )

Recorded 17/19 March 1970, New York City

Ernie Royal, Snooky Young, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker – trumpets; Al Grey, Garnett Brown, Quentin Jackson, Thomas Mitchell – trombones; Johnny Hodges, Danny Bank, Frank Wess, Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Bob Ashton – reeds; Hank Jones – piano; Ron Carter – bass; Grady Tate – drums.

hodges buenos airesWanderlust (CD: Johnny Hodges “Buenos Aires Blues” Lone Hill Jazz ‎– LHJ10373)

Recorded 26 May 1963, New York City

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Lalo Schifrin – piano; Barry Galbraith – guitar; George Duvivier – bass; Dave Baker – drums.

hodges jazz mastersSquatty Roo (CD: “Johnny Hodges, Verve Jazz Masters 35” Verve 314 521 857-2)

Recorded 20 February 1959, New York City

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet; Junior Mance – piano; Les Spann – guitar; Sam Jones – bass; Lex Humphries – drums.

hodges jazz mastersBack Beat (CD: “Johnny Hodges, Verve Jazz Masters 35” Verve 314 521 857-2)

Recorded 17 November 1959, Los Angeles

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Gerry Mulligan – baritone sax; Claude Williamson – piano; Buddy Clark – bass; Mel Lewis – drums.

welk

In a Sentimental Mood (CD: “Johnny Hodges with Lawrence Welk’s Orchestra” Ranwood Records 8246)

Recorded 21 December 1965, Los Angeles

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Lawrence Welk orchestra – musicians uncredited.

hodges davis con saxRabbit Out of the Hat (CD: “Con Soul & Sax/Wild Bill is the Boss” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10283)

Recorded 17 January 1966, New York City

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Billy Butler – guitar; Bob Bushnell – bass; Joe Marshall – drums.

hodges mess of bluesStolen Sweets (CD: “Mess of Blues” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10285)

Recorded 3/4 September 1963, New York City

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Kenny Burrell – guitar; Osie Johnson – drums.

hodges jazz mastersDon’t Sleep in The Subway (CD: “Johnny Hodges, Verve Jazz Masters 35” Verve 314 521 857-2)

Recorded 17, 18, 21 August 1967, Los Angeles

Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ernie Royal, Snooky Young – trumpet; Bill Berry – trumpet, vibraphone; Tony Studd – bass trombone; Jerome Richardson, Frank Wess – flute, clarinet, alto sax; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor sax; Danny Bank – baritone sax, clarinet; Hank Jones – piano; Everett Barksdale – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Grady Tate – drums; Jimmy Jones – arranger, conductor

mercerBroadway Babe (CD: Mercer Ellington “Stepping Into Swing Society” Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 531)

Recorded 20 July 1958, New York City

Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Clark Terry – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Skeeter Best – guitar; Wendell Marshall -bass; Joe Marshall – drums.

hodges the orchestraThe Gal From Joe’s/ Your Love Has Faded (CD: “Johnny Hodges, soloist, Billy Strayhorn and The Orchestra” Verve 314 557 543-2)

Recorded 11/12 December 1961, New York City

Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Ed Mullens, Bill Berry – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Chuck Connors – trombones; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Jimmy Jones – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

hines once upon a timeOnce Upon a Time (CD: Earl Hines “Once Upon a Time” Impulse! A-9108)

Recorded 10/11 January 1966, New York City

Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Bill Berry – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope – alto sax; Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby – tenor sax; Earl “Fatha” Hines – piano; Aaron Bell -bass; Elvin Jones – drums.

 

— Our closing music —-

0000120517

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.