Music

Celebrating Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington’s Saxophonist Of Choice

Published

2 years ago

July 25, 2021

Born on July 25, 1907, Johnny Hodges was the saxophonist of choice for Duke Ellington. Hodges played with considerable authority when with a band. He also possessed a technical mastery of his instrument and an individualistic style. His use of vibrato was one-of-a-kind. At Hodges’s funeral, Ellington had this to say: “Never the world’s most highly animated showman or greatest stage personality, but a tone so beautiful it sometimes brought tears to the eyes – this was Johnny Hodges. This is Johnny Hodges.”

After learning to play both piano and drums, Hodges first played soprano sax before becoming a specialist with the alto saxophone. He went to New York while still in his teens where he played with a few bands.

Johnny joined Duke Ellington’s Orchestra in 1928, playing on his first record in March. From the very first moment, he became pivotal to the Ellington sound as well as co-writing some of Duke’s recordings. He toured Europe with Ellington in both 1933 and 1939, and three years later he played on the classic, “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.”

After playing on so many wonderful Ellington records, Hodges left in 1951 to work within a small group environment. His first session for Norgran was in January along with two other Ellingtonians, trombonist Lawrence Brown and Duke’s long serving drummer Sonny Greer. The album was called Castle Rock. (The title track was a hit single and the album was later reissued on Verve.) A month later, the same players recorded an album entitled Memories of Ellington that was eventually reissued as In A Mellow Tone by Verve.

Over the next decade or so, Hodges recorded for both Norgran and Verve. Among the highlights were Ellingtonia ’56, Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra and The Big Sound. He also worked with Ellington himself and recorded Duke Ellington And Johnny Hodges Play The Blues – Back To Back and Duke Ellington And Johnny Hodges Side by Side.

In the early 1960s, he rejoined Ellington’s band and was in the studio when Duke and Frank Sinatra recorded the album, Francis A And Edward K in December 1967. Among the songs they recorded was the beautiful “Indian Summer,” which featured a sumptuous Billy May arrangement. It is among the best songs Sinatra recorded for Reprise, and Hodges’s sax solo certainly had a lot to do with it. You can hear how much Sinatra likes it: When it ends, Sinatra is so enthralled that he’s half a second late in coming back to sing.

Listen to the best of Johnny Hodges on Apple Music and Spotify.

Christian Contemporary

Mosaic MSC “Your Love Will Never Modification (Live)” Now Launched …

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2023

FlipsideMediaET

Tampa Bay Music News Contemporary Christian Artists

Today (Sept 22), Mosaic MSC releases a live version of ” Your Love Will Never Change.” The accompanying video can be found below.

The post Mosaic MSC Releases “Your Love Will Never Change (Live)” appeared first on TCB

FlipsideMediaET eMagazine

Christian Contemporary

Kirk Franklin “Needs” Live Video

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2023

FlipsideMediaET

Today (Sept 22), Kirk Franklin shares the live performance video for “Needs” recorded live from Vevo Studio. This is the third single from Franklin’s upcoming project Father’s Day, set to be released next month (Oct 6).

The post Kirk Franklin “Needs” Live Video appeared first on TCB.

FlipsideMediaET eMagazine

Christian Contemporary

Anthony Evans Drops “Even If” Single

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2023

FlipsideMediaET

Anthony Evans, No.1 Billboard charting Gospel artist, producer, performer, author, and vocal contractor/arranger for some of music’s most popular icons, announces the release of his brand new single, “Even If.” Available today, the song is the lead track from Evans’ highly anticipated full length studio album “REVIVE” that will drop globally in early 2024. Listen to “Even If” here.

“Even If” follows on the heels of Evans’ 2020 album “Altared” – a project that marked his second consecutive #1 on the Billboard Gospel Album chart. After a brief intermission from making new music, Evans’ heartfelt 2024 album, true to its title “REVIVE,” powerfully reflects his painstaking return to a strong, enduring faith after a long season of personal loss, heartache, and doubt.

The project’s lead track, “Even If,” is a slow building tune that explodes in exultation, with a declaration to praise, even if everything doesn’t go as he planned.

Says Evans, “It’s a song about what it means to have hope when your circumstance seems hopeless. It was written for those of us who have ever been in a scenario where your feelings have been telling you that God has forgotten about you. It was also written for those of us who need a reminder that your emotions don’t have intellect and don’t always tell you truth. Even if what we are facing seems insurmountable, despite what you’re feeling, God is still good.”

While setting his personal music aside for a season to focus on his mental, spiritual, and personal health, Evans has spent the past couple of years producing artist vocals for live events. He has worked on projects for Grammy winning, multi-platinum artist DJ Khaled – the latest in a long line of legendary figures who have sought out his array of behind-the-scenes talents, including Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, 2Chainz, Tyler The Creator, Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly.

Look for Evans this fall as the official spokesperson for the international relief, development, and advocacy organization, Food for the Hungry on “The Reunion Tour” alongside Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, David and Tamela Mann, and Israel Houghton. The nationwide arena tour kicks off on Sept. 28 in Bridgeport, Conn. vising major cities around the country before concluding on Nov. 24 in Fort Worth, Texas.

In the coming year, Evans will be promoting “REVIVE” in part on the 2024 version of “Fervent,” the touring event that he and his sister, NY Times bestselling author and actress Priscilla Shirer, host in multiple cities. He and his company, Sherman James Productions, have produced 40 sold-out events over the past few years. Also, in 2024, Evans will be bringing back “Kingdom Legacy Live,” an event inspired by the words of his mother, “All of you…together,” which features his father, Dr. Tony Evans, and siblings, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Evans, and Jonathan Evans. The first “Kingdom Legacy Live” program in 2023 had over 6,000 attendees.

The post Anthony Evans Drops “Even If” Single appeared first on TCB.

FlipsideMediaET eMagazine