Did Hodges record before Ellington?

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Greg Avakian · #1 Post by **Greg Avakian** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:21 am

Happy thanksgiving.

Answer the question.

djstarr · #2 Post by **djstarr** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:56 pm

I'm going to make an educated guess based solely on what I've read on this forum --- there was a thread about Hodges being in Chick Webb's band before he played with Ellington; and we know that Chick Webb's first recording was in 1929.

So I think that Ellington recorded before then. However Hodges might have recorded w/o Webb, but to me that would be unlikely since it was a big deal to record right?

Feel free to tell me the right answer....

and p.s. Happy Thanksgiving!

AlekseyKosygin · #3 Post by **AlekseyKosygin** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 7:02 pm

Ellington first recorded in 1923 with the Washingtonians, Hodges would have been 16 or 17...so I think it seems unlikely that he recorded before that...but then again what do I know...(grabs more t-day food)...

Doug · #4 Post by **Doug** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 10:48 pm

I think that Johnny Hodges' first recordings were in 1928 with the Ellington orch. He started playing professionally in about 1924 with Sidney Bechet, but I don't think that he recorded until '28.

Shorty Dave · #5 Post by **Shorty Dave** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:05 pm

Great questions! According to AllMusic, he joined Ellington in 1928. I wasn't able to find any recordings before that with him on it, so I'm gonna guess not.

It also said he was with Duke's band until he died in 1970. That's 42 years he played for Duke!!!

Lawrence · #6 Post by **Lawrence** » Fri Nov 28, 2003 9:12 am

Shorty Dave wrote: It also said he was with Duke's band until he died in 1970. That's 42 years he played for Duke!!!

...on and off. He left the band in 51 to form his own band and rejoined Ellington later.

Bob the Builder · #7 Post by **Bob the Builder** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:13 am

I was just reading a book (Gary Giddins - Visions of Jazz), and it had some interesting stuff.
Appearently, Chick Webb offered Hodges to Duke Ellington, as Chick beleived Hodges needed to be in a band where he had more freedom.
I tought it was quite interesting.

Brian

CafeSavoy · #8 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:40 pm

There's a transcript of a Hodges interview on-line where Hodges notes that Duke Ellington helped Chick Webb start his first band. Apparently Hodges first recording was with Ellington in '28. Although he had played before that in Willie "the Lion" Smith quartet at the Rhythm Club in '24, Bechet's house band in '25, and later with chick webb in '26.