Johnny Hodges was a jazz alto saxophonist, who enjoyed a performing and recording career that lasted from the 1920s through to his death in 1970. Best-known for his work with Duke Ellington, he had a pure tone and economy of melody on both the blues and ballads that won him admiration from musicians of all eras and styles, and made him ubiquitous on recording sessions across the spectrum of jazz. He occasionally led his own bands, and this 41-track 2-CD collection focuses on albums he made in a concentrated period in the mid-1950s with his small orchestra for the Clef and Norgran labels, owned by renowned impresario and producer Norman Granz, which were forerunners of Verve. It features the titles from the albums.  “Johnny Hodges Collates”, “Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2”, “Swing With Johnny Hodges”, “Memories of Ellington”, “Castle Rock”, “The Blues” and “In A Tender Mood”, with some of the titles appearing on more than one album. A number of the titles were also released as singles, and two of them “Castle Rock “ and “A Pound Of Blues”, were US R&B hits.  It naturally features some notable musicians of the era, including Al Sears, Leroy Lovett, Billy Strayhorn, Al McGibbon, Sonny Greer, Emmett Berry, Lloyd Trotman, Flip Phillips, Red Callender, Ray Brown, J.C. Heard and others. It’s a snapshot of a particular and intriguing phase of Johnny Hodges’ career, and a great showcase for his understated virtuosity as a jazz musician and leader.

CD 1

1. YOU BLEW OUT THE FLAME IN MY HEART [RABBIT'S BLUES] Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111)) 1951

2. SOMETHING TO PAT YOUR FOOT TO Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

3. BLUE FANTASIA Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111)) 1951

4. MY REWARD Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151)) 1951

5. GOOD QUEEN BESS Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004 ) 1951

6. JEEP'S BLUES Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

7. SOLITUDE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004 ) 1951

8. THE JEEP IS JUMPIN' Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

9. CASTLE ROCK Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

10. SOPHISTICATED LADY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004 ) 1951

11. GLOBETROTTER Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

12. A GENTLE BREEZE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1951

13. SIDEWAYS Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1952

14. A POUND OF BLUES Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1952

15. WHAM Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'Castle Rock' (Norgran MGN1048)) 1952

16. WHO'S EXCITED ? Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111), 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

17. SWEEPIN' 'The Blues' AWAY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Johnny Hodges Collates' (Clef MGC111)) 1952

18. DAY DREAM Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004 ) 1952

19. STANDING ROOM ONLY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

20. BELOW THE AZORES Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128)) 1952

21. TENDERLY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

22. SWEET GEORGIA BROWN Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

CD 2

1. DUKE'S BLUES (PT 1 & PT 2) Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

2. TEA FOR TWO Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

3. WHAT'S I'M GOTCHERE? Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

4. I GOT IT BAD  AND THAT AIN'T GOOD Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004) 1952

5. NOTHING YET Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'In A Tender Mood' (Norgran MGN1059)) 1952

6. ROSANNE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Johnny Hodges Collates No. 2'  (Clef MGC128), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

7. HODGE PODGE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

8. JAPPA Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

9. THROUGH FOR THE NIGHT Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

10. COME SUNDAY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004) 1952

11. THE SHEIK OF ARABY Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

12. LATINO Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the albums 'Swing With Johnny Hodges' (Clef MGC151), 'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1952

13. EASY GOING BOUNCE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1953

14. INDIANA Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1953

15. JOHNNY'S BLUES (PTS 1 & 2) Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1953

16. IN A MELLOW TONE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004) 1954

17. I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004) 1954

18. DON'T GET AROUND MUCH ANYMORE Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album 'Memories Of Ellington' (Norgran MGN1004) 1954

19. BURGUNDY WALK Johnny Hodges & His Orch. (From the album  'The Blues' (Norgran MGN1061)) 1954