John Cornelius 'Johnny' Hodges
(25. Juli 1906 - 11. Mai 1970) war einer der wichtigsten
Alt-Saxophonisten des klassischen Jazz, vor allem
des Swing. Hodges trat 1928 dem Orchester Duke
Ellingtons bei und blieb dort, abgesehen von einer
kurzen Unterbrechung in den 1950er Jahren, bis
zu seinem Tode.
John Cornelius 'Johnny' Hodges (25 July 1907–11
May 1970) was an American alto saxophonist and
lead player of Duke Ellington's saxophone section,
born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He spent 38
years with Ellington, leaving to lead his own
band from 1951 to 1955 and returning soon before
Ellington's triumphant performance at the 1956
Newport Jazz Festival. Hodges started playing
with Lloyd Scott, Sidney Bechet, Lucky Roberts
and Chick Webb. When Ellington wanted to expand
his band in 1928, Ellington's clarinet player
Barney Bigard recommended Hodges, who was featured
on both alto and soprano sax. His unique sound
became the identifying voice of the Ellington
orchestra.
