Duke Ellington - Isfahan

[@DrewZaremba]

What humility!!!! For the bandleader to hold the chart for his lead alto!! What friendship, camaraderie, and humility! Wow. Don't know too many conductors who would do that for an ensemble. Speaks to how great a man Duke was.

[@vova47]

Just a piece of show biz. Johnny didn't read from this chart and didn't need it! He knew this piece like he owned it.

[@edwardj.mcdonnelliiicfa6323]

Great insight. Proves the Duke was a noble man.

[@edwardj.mcdonnelliiicfa6323]

@@vova47 B.S. Like a public speaker reading from a manuscript, Mr Hodges is glancing at the score; grabbing notes; and, looking up.

[@SaxJockey]

​@@vova47 That look at 3:35 adds to the drama ❤.

[@woah6958]

I don't think he was relying too heavily on the score, it would be really disconcerting trying to read music that somebody is holding in the air: nobody could keep it still enough.

[@MrOmidAmirian]

im a persian and a man from esfahan /// its powerful romantic and its from heart of esfahan

[@davidemura4444]

Hell mate I want that stand too

[@Banis1234]

But then you'll need a conductor to hold your sheet as well... :'D

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Duke holding the chart for Johnny! Classic! What a tune, and what a performance!

[@jeanhodgson8623]

Johnny wasn't reading from that hand-held chart. He wore glasses when reading: I saw it in a live performance.

[@vova47]

@@jeanhodgson8623 Very true!

[@edwardj.mcdonnelliiicfa6323]

@@jeanhodgson8623 Then . . . ¿why is Mr Hodges looking over to the score throughout his soloes? 🤔

[@girarddunn7903]

I’m 69 yrs old, have an alto sax, don’t know a thing about reading music, play by ear, Hodges is great on his sax. With much practice I will be also.

[@niklunoe]

The piece was written solely by Billy Strayhorn (1915-67), who actually completed it several months before he ever sat foot in the Middle East - which, however, he did when travelling with Duke Ellington and the Orchestra on the tour organized by the US State Department (from September through November 1963). Strayhorn originally called his composition “Elf” but later, when in 1966 it was included as movement No 3 at the recording of Strayhorn’s and Ellington’s joint “Far East Suite,” it was retitled “Isfahan.” (In a similar vein, “The Star-Crossed Lovers,” Strayhorn’s most famous contribution to his and Ellington’s Shakespearian “Such Sweet Thunder” suite, was originally called “Pretty Girl,” and not at all inspired by the tragedy of Romeo & Juliet.) More details about this can be found in Walter van de Leur’s excellent book Something To Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. (Oxford University Press 2002, pp. 167ff.)

[@cliffordschloss8088]

You're a true resource for the rest of us. Thank you

[@jeanhodgson8623]

That is interesting, because this piece does not evoke Iran at all. It stands alone as a fine piece, with a superb arrangement and Johnny's inimitable alto saxophone.

[@rubencagnata-davidecagnata1808]

Thank you so much, really very interesting.

[@48sufi]

Isfahan is a city in Iran though. I always read and heard that after Duke travelled to Iran he composed this piece as a tribute to that beautiful city. I'm baffled. It would be unusual to name a tune after a lesser know city of the world for no reason. Its like if someone composed a tune and called it Oshkosh for no reason. Doesn't make sense.

[@48sufi]

ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.com/2021/08/Isfahan.html

[@miphka66]

Not only is Duke the only person in the known universe who could get away with holding the music like that (on TV no less), but he's the only one who look so hip doing it. And you just know that he and Strayhorn probably finished copying the parts about 30 seconds before they went on the air. Duke is the King, long live the King!

[@royalhartigan]

as always, duke, john, and the ellington orchestra artists give us light and hope in the darkness of life's poisons and hands of fate, in spirit and music, forever.....................

[@furtherdefinitions]

Johnny Hodges, along with Benny Carter is my biggewst influence on the saxophone. An absolutely gorgeous tone that modern players just don't have.

[@edwardj.mcdonnelliiicfa6323]

There is a transcendental quality to it.

[@hezigler]

Hodges was also playing a special custom-built version of the Buescher 400 alto saxophone. It combined the body of a 400 model with the neck of an Aristocrat model. The too he had an unusual embouchure too.

[@douglascanjanidearaujo1172]

Wow. ​@@hezigler

[@s.egberink5357]

What a brilliant performance, absolutely love it. How it perfectly encaptures the time I had in Isfahan, the atmosphere... I miss those days.

[@ruthdixon7807]

this lusciously harmonised piece was a perfect showcase for johnny hodges' liquid alto sax.

[@williamfox6144]

Just an incredible performance! No words can Express the beauty of that score!

[@TheYannibgood]

Johnny (Rabbit) Hodges was gifted with, one of the finest tones of any jazz artist on any instrument. My opinion of course.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Sublime stop time at 2:02 - a pause for eternity - with the entire band keeping it intact.

[@bluesborn]

Rabbit's playing always hits me like a rush of warm air on a cold and rainy day.

[@bme7491]

Can I please go back to that era? please please please. Those first and last five notes are heaven.

[@andrea22213]

No.

[@t33nyplaysp0p]

Ya, let's go back to the era were all these geniuses were persecuted and harassed for their skin color...nope.

[@AyyyGabagool]

lol

[@henridelagardere264]

@@t33nyplaysp0p Duke, Strays and Rabbit were persecuted and harassed for their skin color?

[@Coderedpirate]

Henri de Lagardère yes, incredibly so actually. Though it was the golden age of jazz, racism and discrimination were still very prominent, no matter how famous you were

[@bluesborn]

These cats are as hip as it gets.Ellington is for the ages and Hodges is one of the greatest soloists(on any instrument)that has ever lived. Truly sublime artistry.

[@luverofmany3981]

WOW .... i haven't heard much jazz - im really just now digging into it, but this is definitely the smoothest sound i've heard so far.... absolutely gorgeous , and now my private lessons teacher wants me to transcribe it ... wish me luck!

[@niklunoe]

This performance is probably from February 20, 1964, and recorded in London, England, by the BBC. If that is correct, the “cast of cats” (cf. Ellington’s and Stanley Dance’s own expression “dramatis felidae” in Ellington’s autobiography “Music Is My Mistress,” published 1973) are: Cootie Williams, Rolf Ericson (Swedish musician and admirer of Ellington, one of the few white players to occasionally join the Ellington organization), Herbie Jones and Cat Anderson, trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors and Buster Cooper, trombones; Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet and tenor saxophone), Russell Procope (alto sax and clarinet), Paul Gonsalves (tenor sax) and Harru Carney (baritone sax); Ernie Shepard (bass), Sam Woodyard (drums). Plus of course the maestro on piano, and Johnny Hodges, soloist, on alto. For more details, cf. Klaus Stratemann, Duke Ellington: Day by Day and Film by Film. (Copenhagen 1992: JazzMedia). Page 479f.

[@SymaPilot]

I am so pleased that this video was uploaded and is still available to view. I have listened to it off and on many times over the last few years. To me it is more atmospheric than any of the formal audio recordings of Isfahan by Hodges on various CDs that I own.

[@librarybob1958]

One of the most beautiful pieces Duke ever composed. Johnny Hodges' solo is, as ever, poetry without words.

[@rileytanner4476]

Billy Strayhorn wrote it!

[@hommefriday]

You people who transcribe are doing so much to bring this music to us listeners. By trying to play your transcribed music, we part-time players can for a few bars can feel what these wonderful musicians were communicating to us.Right from the start, jazz was subjected to "ethnic cleansing" - and now you are making it available to so many, many more - thank you

[@Mr-ep2qi]

One of the best videos ever thank u

[@mohsenz2050]

You should listen to this piece while you walking through the street in Isfahan. What a feeling would be that.(:

[@ImanSpaargaren]

what a tune, what a performance! I love it madly!

[@Aprilhojazz]

This piece of music is wonderful. So dreamy. Thanks for introducing it to me. Music should have soul, induce reverie and an ability to bring you to dancing. I'm a lucky person to hear such good music and feel connected.

[@jazzernauts]

I love that Duke is holding the music for him, and love the light cue EpicFU !

[@darylnd]

Love it!!! The California All-State Jr. High School Jazz Band will perform this next month, with my daughter on bass trombone. Thanks for posting!!

[@Lanearndt]

My God those trombones are just so perfectly blended!!

[@kurtarmbruster]

Fascinating glimpse into Duke's work habits! He'd probably just finished the music in time for the performance, and has to resort to holding it up for his old friend Rabbit. Lovely piece--lovely musicians. God love the Duke and his men!

[@rezatavakoli4734]

Spectacular performance!

[@mokojono]

Duke Ellington is incredible, anyone who plays with him, is so.... incredible* I love it and I will love until the rest of my life* Thank God this exists, love it, love it, love it****

[@saeedbidar4655]

Woooow... awesome performance...

[@KevTheYoungMusicGeru]

"Johnny Hodges!" I love the way Duke announces him

[@alipe34]

Une merveille !

[@smiles784]

This is so intoxicating in good way❣️

[@albysax65]

Music by a genius, written specifically for extraordinary musicians, dedicated to unforgettable city: Ishfahan. I visited this town 10 years ago, even then it wasn't more the place described by Strayhorn and I prefere do not think about how it has become today. Anyway, maybe the places can chage, but the voice of Jonny Hoges's Alto Sax will be a World Heritage thing ... forever.

[@mochawitch]

PURE heaven my dears...musical silk...yeah!

[@apollodesign]

We're actually performing this song in the senior jazz band at my highschool - though I don't play because there's no guitar part - but from what I've gathered from numerous profs and teachers is that yeah, this is a performance that was recorded right after their visit to Isfahan during a tour that was cut short because of the assassination of Kennedy. Interesting song, and I never get tired of sitting back and enjoying the smooth richness of this tune!

[@ABrandsma]

Thanks for posting this, I had seen it many years ago and it's a great thing that one can watch gems like this every minute of the day now thanks to KZbin. I'm an Alto player myself, (Doubling Bass-sax and Clarinet), Hodges is the hero. Bennie Carter was great, as was Willie Smith during his Lunceford years, but nobody could beat the Jeep when he was jumpin'.

[@TheGlitch-X]

that guys having soo much fun jus standing there holding the noes

[@hassankhajeh4563]

Thanks to all maker, players, leadership.... Great

[@Bird_Coltrane_Monk_Dizzy1113]

Thank you Mr. Hodges for the nicest sounding saxophone ever recorded. 🙏🏼

[@davisc1926]

Eventhough you're absolutely right, it almost seems like an understatement when you look at his body of work during his lifetime.

[@wellingtonsilva1508]

Thanks for posting... this video shows how Duke really liked the Hodges´s sound..... Really was a Greeeeeeeeat sound, best lyric sax sound....

[@bablockboss9372]

Elegant waves from past to present days

[@potatochiptree]

This is the most beautiful thing.

[@himynameississy]

I think this is one of duke's best

[@KareemPilot]

Duke and Billy Strayhorn were just so incredible. There;s nothing else to say, they were astonishing composers and arrangers with Duke's unique players as their instrument

[@poshspice007]

Fantastically done.

[@robertocasijazz]

Bellissimo!!! Roberto.

[@CHARLESBONASERA]

This is music to live by!!

[@shanemchavez]

wow, that is like the tastiest milk shake I ever had.

[@zinwah]

sublime in every way!Masterful

[@MrDlm44]

Hodges played a VITO model 35. It was the same as the LeBlanc Rationale except that it didn't have adjusting screws for all the keys. This sax had a high F# which was new at the time, and had a unique design that allowed all kinds of alternative fingerings.

[@darzil007]

all the duke,s beautiful melodies was written by billy what a genius he was,, r i p

[@mirolomusik]

in der letzten woche verbrachte ich einige tage in esfahan, tage, wie ein wunder, ein klang aus kinderstimmen auf dem naqsch-e dschahan, aus dem rauschen des wassers des zayandeh rud, aus der nacht selbst und ihrem lachen… nun höre ich es wieder und bin glücklich. isfahan ist die hälfte der welt. ist die andere hälfte die musik?

[@sleeplessblake]

this is just - incredible - cut me in half. Im stunned.

[@schragemusik6604]

いい味出してるねぇ、ジャニー。

[@Bigss360]

beautiful

[@williamnicholas6599]

Thanks for sharing a mostly forgotten, but beautiful piece - wonderful that its in film.

[@jonathanzielke2280]

beautiful!!

[@Largo64]

Hodges had the sweetest sound ever on the alto sax.

[@iMoDZzGamingZz]

Larry Gott i feel like that should go to paul desmond, no?

[@arthursid1129]

I've always wanted to go to Isfahan.I wanted to get to Damascus too. Suppose I'll just have to keep waiting.

[@mohammadreza7265]

Arthur Sid I'm from Tehran , you must to going there , isfahan is so beautiful and have a really friendly people.

[@mochawitch]

sublime

[@mgitano]

so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@352BrickCityNiggaTV]

excellence in music

[@maedehhajiakbari8014]

I’m speechless 🙌🏼

[@slowdevil]

I love this record.

[@katleholebomoholo9780]

slowdevil Me too😇

[@simonbakker49]

Wonderfull...

[@francolombardi8051]

meraviglioso

[@IndependentGeorge76]

the strayhorn-ellington collaboration meant that on a lot of tracks strayhorn may have written the original piece, but being credited to Ellington was like being creditted to 'The Ellington Organisation', of which he was an integral part. he could never have written so freely, and for such top class musicians without his assocation with Duke, which gave him that opportunity. So although some say his pieces were wrongly creditted to Duke, really that was part of the deal.

[@amirfarshadashrafi3141]

great song

[@guyleclairemusic]

Awesome! Great!

[@waltzplace]

Overwhelmed in emotion right about now.... :¬)> Thanks For posting!!!!!!!!!

[@SouthernerByChoice]

Incomparable.

[@deepkeel65]

One of my favorite alto players. Awesome tone, glissandos, vibrato. Instead of "The Rabbit" they could have called him "The Great Stone Face", except that was already taken (Buster Keaton). Did Hodges EVER smile?

[@thelkharris]

I saw some users wrote about Duke holding the music. They have music stands. I bet the producer asked Duke to hold the sheet music, because he wanted him on camera--despite not having a piano part.

[@philpoop2692]

It’s possible, but those standfronts aren’t adjustable. It would have been very awkward and inelegant to stand there hunched over looking to the floor, when the attention should be out towards the audience.

[@yonimiller]

How subtle is this piece of music?!?!

[@maartenmoesen]

He wrote heaven on earth.

[@ghdtjdqhd]

NOW THIS IS MUSIC!!!

[@OneoftheImmortals]

Sublime.

[@blucinemafilms]

@mileskiley2 Possibly its a gesture of honoring Johnny Hodges another legend in his own right. ...

[@balboolak]

Wow.Isfahan is my city :D

[@tarzan73875]

what a tone

[@DYNODRUM]

I,think the Duke and Jonny made a Parody of this and both are trying not to crack up ,

[@jSeyedzadeh]

@YamaKazoo Yes, a city with a great historical background.

[@johnwhite2576]

Such tone and control. The duke had lead alto and tenor sax men that coudl stand up to ANY of the greats, when you add cat, etc great band.

[@FluxCiscoDjango]

¡Fabuloso!

[@elliottcrib]

@theghettohouse LOL ... no kidding, the greatest music stand of all time! And Johnny's "Haunting" lush tone ... yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mileskiley2]

@blucinemafilms. Yeah that makes sense, good call. A sign of respect.

[@KareemPilot]

classic album, Ellington/Strayhorn = greatness

[@JeraldRJ1]

I know Duke is writing music in Heaven.

[@TheTunerida]

I am from isfahan!!

[@mdwaas]

It's part of Duke's "Far East Suite." And he named it Isfahan because that's what he felt like.

[@aperionproject]

This is it right here. That damn melody, goddamn if that ain't something. This whole composition and performance knocks me out. Jeeze, those harmonies, and the way they all play! Damn! Anytime I think I'm achieving subtly and nuance I need to listen to this.

[@edwardconway27]

johnny fucking hodges on sax.

[@nimavalley2721]

Isfahan created by Duck Ellington when he was in Iran .City of Isfahan is one of Iran,s historical city with magnificent architecture . this piece should called ,, Middle East Suite ,, not , Far East Suite ,,

[@The_Ex_Boxing_Nerd]

it was supposed to be called the near east suite, but someone messed it up

[@santinocervantes2454]

Johnny Hodges solos 🔛🔝

[@studbagl]

I agree with hremdldw. Ecspecially because Johnny Hodges is my favorite alto player.