Johnny Hodges - Johnny Hodges and the Ellington Men 1956-1957 / 2CD set

Includes a 16-page booklet with recording details, extensive notes and rare photos.

Press reviews

"No surprises, but the sessions were as good as one might hope. Gathered here was the Ellington band with Billy Strayhorn at the piano. While it was not an Ellington record, the band brought its solid qualities in backing and the occasional solo to all the fine Hodges features. This was an integrated unit, not some detached studio band for Hodges to blow over, under, around, and through. It was wonderful Hodges and fine Ellington."

Bob Rush -Cadence

"As Duke Ellington's altoist during 1928-51 and 1955-70, Johnny Hodges became world famous and beloved by jazz fans. His luscious tone and melodic style on ballads, blues and swing tunes was highly influential, making him the top altoist (along with Benny Carter) before the rise of Charlie Parker. Hodges led quite a few sessions of his own along the way,. During 1951-55 broke away from Ellington to lead his own combo, before returning for another 15 years.

While Mosaic previously released Hodges' solo recordings of the 1950s on two box sets, those are long out of print. Fresh Sound has come out with four reissues dating from that era. The two-CD set Johnny Hodges And The Ellington Men (FSR 573) has music from three Hodges albums: Ellingtonia '56, Duke's In Bed and The Big Sound. Hodges is heard with small groups and on a full album leading the Ellington Orchestra (with Strayhorn on piano). Not too surprisingly, many of the songs are from the Ellington book although there are also a fair number of heated riff pieces."

Scott Yanow -Los Angeles Jazz Scene (May, 2010)