Perdido - Johnny Hodges

 

Moon Indigo

Perdido

Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

Cover Photo: Phil Stern

Norgran Records MG N-1091

1957

Johnny Hodges - Alto Saxophone 

Arthur Clarke - Tenor Saxophone

Harold Baker - Trumpet

Lawrence Brown - Trombone

Leroy Lovett - Piano

John Williams - Bass

Louis Bellson - Drums

From the back cover: It seems entirely appropriate that "Perdido," one of the most durable songs ever to come out of jazz, was written by trombonist Jaun Tirol when he was a member of the Duke Ellington organization º and it is the title selection of this album featuring Johnny Hodges, likewise for years an important figure in Ellingotonia. Aside from its devilish doomed title (there's a lilt in just saying the word!) "Perdido" has won favor among jazzmen as a song peculiarly adaptable for a swinging improvisation; musicians, in a word, enjoy playing "Perdido." And this enjoyment is transmitted to the listener in the form of existing jazz – played, in this instance, with an inordinate amount of musicianship. To further the net of Ellingotonia, the Hodges and is composed largely of one time prefers under the Ellington banner. Also included here is an Ellington song, the wistfully enduring "Mood Indigo." Hodges himself contributed tow selections, "Squatty Too" and Blues For Basie." As though to add still a mother reflection father Ellington spirit, Hodges' band accompanies a former Ellington vocalist, Al Hibbler, on a pari of love songs, "This Is My Night To Love" and "This Love Of Mine."

Although John Cornelius "Rabbit" Hodges started out in his native Massachusetts as a sopranos saxophonist modeled after the celebrated Sidney Bechet, he turned later to the alto and became a winging soloist with the Duke Ellington orchestra, the possessor of a uniquely sweet, full-bodied tone on his instrument. "His," as one critic expressed it, "was the band's elegant voice." One of Hodge's attributes was the so-called "coop pitch," in which his horn travelled around interesting melodic lines. A winner of Esquire, Down Beat and Metronome awards, Hodges has for a number of years been a model himself for saxophone students trying to emulate his smooth, infections sound.

Perdido

Mood Indigo

Squatty Roo

Rose Room

Blues For Basie

For This Is My Night To Love

This Love Of Mine