Duke Ellington and his orchestra in concert 1969 Solo for Johnny Hodges .

Duke Ellington and his orchestra in concert 1969 Solo for Johnny Hodges . This is the year before he died . The songs Black Butterfly Things ain't what they used to be . and Laying on mellow .

[@doublenmusic]

His tone makes me want to cry, definitely one of the most expressive alto players ever

[@royheinrich123]

doesn't get much better than Jonny Hodges and Duke playing... ....no amps, electric, or visual distractions...just 1 band..

[@strongfoundationbuilder9209]

Thank you ! Johnny Hodges is my Father. He met my Mother in Washington DC. My birth certificate ssys Father unknown. My Father were married to someone else. He had to keep a secret. So his wife would not know I'm his son

[@GVernon]

Smooth as melted butter...

[@philpryor7524]

There is nothing sweeter or more pure in jazz ballad playing, all top class...

[@michaelhayes690]

So warm. Perfect. Ellington wrote for everyone in the band and made them sound better. And the dynamics with acoustic instruments is what makes all the older jazz players sound better regardless of instrument and Ellington controlled that cool heat. Thanks.

[@geerowr.6666]

BILLY STRAYHORN was quoted as saying the same thing.

[@gessed]

One of the great alto players in jazz.

[@claudevinyard5160]

Saw the Duke at the Blue Note, Chicago 1950.

[@brandonjimenez9992]

God damn , how old are you

[@two9parkave]

Timeless, pure, it is amazing how music from this master has the ability to calm and soothe the listener. Thanks for posting.

[@peterbrandtpedersen3145]

Timeless! that's the word

[@martinbates6417]

Fantastic. I have many albums by JH but was too young to see him live, or the Duke, so wonderful to see this footage.

[@olebirgerpedersen]

I was born in 39 but as I grew up my favourit was Charlie Parker, First later I discovered Johnny Hodgers and to dayI love his music and his wondefully sound

[@catsinhouse]

Live was almost surreal to see Duke and the orchestra in concert. Just perfection.

[@joelgauthier9208]

Un son merveilleux, le plus beau de tous les saxophonistes altos. Une inspiration constante et une puissance incroyable. Quand à l'inspiration, c'est du sublime ! Le plus grand et de loin.

[@jonathanclark7623]

Johnny Hodges could say more with one note than others could with 64 bars

[@mickcarlon8147]

What a gift to the world Duke and Rabbit (and Harry) (and Cootie) are!

[@emmanuelmassarotti5535]

Best big band. Without Hodges it was not the same

[@budway1942]

I bought a 'JH album in Singapore in 1971 ,prompted by an Amrican guy called Jimmy Seiber my best man ..loved him and Johhny ever since,

[@CharlyParker55]

Maravilloso. Johnny Hodges, uno de mis músicos preferidos. Duke Ellington genio absoluto del jazz, la orquesta perfecta. Todos buenos músicos.

[@bjarnepetersen2507]

It is so beautiful I sit with tears in my eyes. when one then thinks of him only hvde 1 year left.

[@ottohardwick5323]

Gosh, he actually smiles at one point in this clip!

[@alexdesslin]

classieux, simplement les meilleurs parmi les meilleurs...

[@louisghestin3771]

Des moments de bonheur quand je les voyais sur scène, du rêve

[@user-vj3bi5ub2s]

à moi c'est la même chose. Les deux Giants sont patfaits.

[@marcellomentasimonsennico5670]

I have read more than once that, in concerts, after another amazing solo, Hodges would look at Duke and rub his fingers, as if demanding salary increase. This is widely confirmed here after "Black Butterfly".

[@brotzmannsax]

Wow, nice catch, I always knew the tension between them, but never caught it in all the shows I've watched. Sort of sad to see really, especially the best band known for their polish and professionalism.

[@brotzmannsax]

Wow, nice catch, I've always heard of the tension between them but never saw that in all the shows I've watched. Sad to see really, especially for the best band know for their polish and professionalism.

[@AgaPadar]

@@brotzmannsax Wouldn't say it's sad. Hodges had a good, long-lasting and steady paying career with Ellington. The Duke put much of the royalties he got through his compositions into the band to have them play day by day and night by night, even when big bands were more or less out of fashion. An unhappy Johnny Hodges would not have stayed 1928 to 1970, apart a few years trying to be a bandleader himself. And imagine you are working for a boss who features you in his own compositions as Prelude to a Kiss, Star-Crossed Lovers, Day Dream, I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good), Isfahan and so many more. Hodges and the Duke were a match made in heaven, and them knew it.

[@brotherrabbit8539]

And then he smiled, or at least what passes for a smile from Hodges.

[@marcellomentasimonsennico5670]

@@brotherrabbit8539 Are you really Brother Hodges, Son of Johnny???? What an Honor!!!!!

[@darylmichael7]

America has lost its love for this classic music. Shame.

[@Dsippuk]

Yes, I‘m sad about it too….

[@willygmusic7860]

Wow it really puts time into perspective when you realize thag he was born in 1899. Imagine being alive to see someone who was alive in that century.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

I thought Johnny Hodges was born in 1906 and died in 1970 at or above 64yrs. young. Thanks for the information. He IS smooth, cool and calm. Johnny HAS HAD a swift staccato 👅. This IS JAZZ; this IS SMOOTH; this is the true essence of the phrase "Smooth Jazz". Lohvissimo.

[@keananok]

@@wyndhleodumegwu253 lol Willy is wrong? He was definitely born in 1906

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

@@keananok Thanks for the affirmation

[@davekonrad4712]

Love the concert from the late '80s on KBLX, Berkeley,ca! That is all they put out, 24/7!!

[@bolsesolheim7469]

johnny has been my favourite Alt Saxophone musician fo r most of my life!

[@brynjarhoff-lr6hw]

I have written about this artist before,but I can not stopp saying Fantastic Bravissimo BRAVO!!!

[@Blomhert]

Marvelous coörporation of two musical giants

[@d.vannimmen]

Super Johny Hodges.

[@williamhabel1643]

always wonderful

[@sturesoderstrom7825]

What a suggestive and swinging the blues, for so many years, timeess.

[@eddietheblasian2043]

Only the right notes, master level!!!

[@bblegacy]

Well yeah... :) I mean who needs all the B.S. of a lot of pointless notes (that are mostly dissonances) out of nowhere, which I swear a lot of people use only to show other people that they know what they are or let everyone know they studied music in some chord factory and can do it, but have no idea WHEN to use any of it or HOW, which is RIGHT for the moment. And the same goes for a lot of writers, perhaps even moreso. Jazz is far more sophisticated than just using any note you want just because you supposedly can ...because some teacher or textbook says a particular note is "usable" on a D7(b9) chord.

[@bblegacy]

I love how at about 50 seconds into it to get things going, JH and the band quote a couple bars of Black and Tan Fantasy ... from 1927.

[@GillesAtayi]

Wonderful ❤

[@hojoinhisarcher]

Is that really show business? That man makes it look 🙂so 🙂damn🙂 easy!

[@CyndiMariaJesse]

........Oh yes!! 😘💕🎶🎷 Thank you, God bless you & Merry Christmas!🎄🌿🕊

[@thejazzsingers]

For you also the best X

[@johndavies8956]

That title "Things ain't what they used to be" is so true of that bygone era.

[@Joe_J-MT_Boy]

If you understand anything about the construction of a sax you will immediately sense that Mr. Hodges flat knows how to manipulate and get the most out of his reed. The texture and character of is melodies are palpable.

[@charlesbarry2485]

The greatest Alto player before Charlie Parker. He belonged to the cool school like Paul Desmond in terms of tone and sound.

[@SELMER1947]

Absolutely disagree, Johnny Hodges had nothing to do with "cool school" he was the alto giant with Benny Carter 20 years before the cool movement came ! His warm sound and his vibrato, like Ben Webster, another Duke's man has nothing to see with cool movement...

[@charlesbarry2485]

@@SELMER1947 You misunderstood my statement. I mean in terms of sound. He came before the cool school. This I know. His mentor was Sidney Bechet.

[@SELMER1947]

@@charlesbarry2485 Even in terms of sound, cool school had no vibrato, no inflexions, no glissando, no sense of blues like Hodges and Bechet had... Guys like Desmond, Mulligan, Getz, Sims, Pepper etc...had nothing in common with Bechet !

[@emmanuelmassarotti5535]

@@SELMER1947 the others are their sons with, in between, the bird who changed the rules, then post bop would be patronized by lester young and cool came on the stage

[@hezigler]

@SELMER B.Action Getz was most definitely a deciple of Lester Young. A New Yorker BTW.

[@ginguenga]

wowowowowow

[@BennyGoodman1977]

The best sax Alto ever....

[@eramelajulianjr6875]

VERY GOOD

[@giulioferro8550]

IL DUCA, ha un Orchestra UNICA per le Colonne Sonore da FILM il Suo Swing JAZZ e' ECCEZIONALE !!

[@gabrielleauguste5946]

JADOOOOOORE : SON PHRASÉ MUSICAL . CELA SORT DE L'ORDINAIRE. 😍😍😍😍💥💥💥💥🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊

[@tomlehr861]

First time listening to him

[@alaintissier9799]

Look at how Paul Gonzalves digs Hodges solo in the first tune. Full admiration.

[@yeahyeahyeah7955]

Glorious. Thanks for posting.

[@yolandarodriguez3578]

nothing so fine....

[@davekonrad4712]

Excellent!

[@rogeriosousa9474]

maravilhoso demais! amo jazz no âmago de minha alma

[@jorgeluizferraz3041]

Eu sou fanático por está Orquestra de Jazz e por Duke Ellington , que coisa linda !

[@AmadeuCarvalho-ug7hn]

One of the masters hei🤩

[@jiyujizai]

Good.

[@patrickvk8868]

Prachtige sax solo!

[@davidcastella4991]

Every BODY Going On.... SWINGING.... WALKING WHIT IT..... 👏🌀🦎🦎🦎🌀🤙

[@denisewright1967]

I like that.muic

[@claudiocoelholeal7228]

Sencacional ! Que emissão, um genio numa banda de outro genio. Acho que foi uma das ulltimas apresentações de Hodges, que morreria no começo de 1970. Mas ele e Duke seguem cada vez mais vivos !!!

[@stevel6895]

Hodges - July 25, 1907 - May 11, 1970 was just shy of his 63 birthday. I saw Dukes band in 1971 without Hodges obviously, but it was still one of the best musical experiences of my life. It was Hodges's playing that inspired me to take up the alto sax at 14, I'm still playing today 53 years later.

[@user-bt1wj8ou3f]

Hodges had a beautiful sound that Charlie Parker rebelled from. Parker was looking for more from his own playing. More being beyond swing that was prevalent during the 30s and early 40s. When Parker found and mastered cromanticism he never looked back. B-bop has reigned ever since.

[@user-vj3bi5ub2s]

a bit more.. His manner gives sensitivity and more ease to every Duke's composition. Very lucky and harmonized couple of big artists.

[@ruudbergamin4361]

Many alto-players have tried to imitate the sound and style of Hodges. Nobody succeeded.

[@samre234]

Such great tone, JH and Eric Dolphy, alto tone,,,

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!! Thank you!!!! 1Nation4Life

[@omroman1]

BELLEZA,

[@gynack]

I was never keen on the lush ballads that Ellington too often (for me) played. I suppose Hodges played brilliantly but they were still lush, sentimental ballads. Hodges was at his best for me on the Blues. the album Back to Back teams him up with Harry Edison on trumpet and the Duke on piano playing all Blues numbers in a small group. An absolutely great album, really a "must listen".

[@johnlindsay3324]

spring, spring, Spring

[@budway1942]

no tatoos,,no crap,,just talent,

[@ohmorieiichi7470]

ジョニー節。もう、最高。 流石の職人芸。憎い、憎い。 秋葉原の大森栄一より eiichi ohmori akihabara from tokyo japan

[@davidcastella4991]

RE 🧡DAN DO LA! 🌀👏👏🐝🐝🦎🤙🤙

[@jasonandpreslynnfick573]

A year before he perished...

[@cornelispeters6626]

Àltijd uniek en interessant gebléven tot aan zijn dood.

[@nickwills1212]

Yes! The​ big​ 'debate'​ between​ them​ was​over​ what​ share​ of​ the​ credit​ (and​ more​ important​ly​ the​ money!)​ for​ certain compositions should​ go​ to​ Rabbit.​ His​improvisation​s​ on​ a​ basic​ Ellington​ theme​before​ publishing probably​ (or​ certainly?)​deserve​d​ more, especially​ when​ Irving​ Mills​ often​ share​d​ publishing​ credit​ and​ he​ wasn't even​ a​ musician! I'd​ feel​ aggrieved​ too!

[@user-pn9yc7ut8y]

Jeahhhhhjehaaa Babe Feeling ist mine

[@gumersindodominguez2248]

Dificil de igualar, bueno igualar imposible. Son excelencias y ese sabor almibarado del saxo?

[@bojeurling3213]

This was Your last performance ? Many thanks-

[@jiyujizai]

💙🌱😀🌸

[@begopereiraalvarez3585]

Simplemente, JAZZ, ¡...

[@user-qb2xc2fn7y]

う～ん、渋い！(Cool！)

[@Jae77]

2:00 he stopped playing but the phrase kept going?

[@abhishekputtawallu6171]

The same note was being played by the orchestra In harmony

[@elliotwoo6127]

That's how good he is LMAOOO

[@eziochiarelli2175]

Wonderful. Where had that concert occurred? it should be in November 1969...

[@shalomccs]

The Tijuana brass was the group name.

[@user-pn9yc7ut8y]

Jehea

[@djthemoretaiwan]

Victor Gaskin on bass

[@user-pn9yc7ut8y]

Black Mann hat's im Blut gg

[@babakmardani1317]

Hey baby!

[@patrickvk8868]

In het snellere tempo improvisaties telkens niet onderbreken - meer afronden een verhaal vertellen 😔

[@hremdldw]

Quote from Clark Terry , if The Musicians were upset with Duke maybe they should have written more for themselves . Barney Bigard , Cootie Williams , Hodges all had warmup licks Duke turned into full blown Orchestrated Composition s , they didn't Duke got a lick from those great Musicians and did something with it instead of it just being a warmup

[@triston226]

10:45

[@christianduval6506]

Digital et les

[@LMikey123]

Is it just me or does the soloist not look Identical to Duke?

[@tamaracolvernutting-rodrig1077]

How strange, was just thinking the same as I watched!

[@vidalfah7541]

Noblesse oblige devant le duc la courtoisie s'impose

[@frog7530]

Big mouth? anyone....