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Owen Broder: Hodges: Front and Center, Vol.1

By Pierre Giroux
November 5, 2022
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Owen Broder: Hodges: Front and Center, Vol.1

Johnny Hodges

saxophone, alto
1907 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Hodges was a unique instrumentalist whose alto saxophone playing was readily recognizable due to his tone, phrasing, and melodic engagement in improvisation. For the greater part of his musical life, he was anchored in the middle chair of the

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington Orchestra's saxophone section. However Hodges never turned down an opportunity to stretch out in a small group setting on such albums as Back To Back and Side By Side. Additionally, there were several sessions with organist

Wild Bill Davis

organ, Hammond B3
1918 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Wild Bill Davis which are very under-appreciated, wherein Hodges' mix of sultriness and blues was a perfect fit for Davis' sumptuous voicing.

In this nine track session, alto and baritone saxophonist

Owen Broder

saxophone
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Owen Broder and his cohorts trumpeter

Riley Mulherkar

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Riley Mulherkar, pianist

Carmen Staaf

piano
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Carmen Staaf, bassist

Barry Stephenson

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Stephenson and drummer

Bryan Carter

drums
b.1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Bryan Carter work their magic on a selection of pieces from the Ellington songbook as well as numbers played by Hodges in some of his small group sessions. The group opens with "Royal Garden Blues" in which Mulherkar states the theme in this swinging take on the piece. Broder's alto solo picks up the line in a lithe manner, before Mulherkar jumps back in with a muted trumpet excursion.

The following two tracks are lesser known Hodges' efforts with the first, "Viscount," a collaboration with

Mercer Ellington

trumpet
1919 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Mercer Ellington, and the interestingly titled "18 Carrots for Rabbit" which was a partnership between Hodges and

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan. The former is offered in an easy-going groove with some tricky counterpoint between Broder and Mulherkar. Also Stephenson is offered some solo space for his big-toned bass. On the latter composition, Broder switches to baritone sax where he deceptively proves his facility, timbre, and nimble attack.

The group gets back to more familiar territory with the Billy Strayhorn composition and Ellington theme "Take The A Train" and it is given a spirited reading. The arrangement is structured in a "name that tune mode" with the reveal coming close to the end of the chart but made interesting with some deft brush work from drummer Carter, and Broder's alto sax solo a model of restraint and concision. The closing track is "You Need To Rock" and, as the name implies, it is a solid blues rocker. Broder is at his exuberant best as he captures the tune's energy and excitement. Overall, the session is a fitting evocation of Johnny Hodges' contribution to the jazz world.

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Track Listing

Royal Garden Blues; Viscount; I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter; Digits; Ballade for the Very Sad and Very Tired Lotus Eaters; Take The A Train; Just A Memory; You Need to Rock.

Personnel

Owen Broder

saxophone

Riley Mulherkar

trumpet

Carmen Staal

piano

Barry Stephenson

bass

Bryan Carter

drums

Carmen Staaf

piano

Album information

Title: Hodges: Front and Center Vol. 1 | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Outside in Music

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