Blue Rabbit: Hodges and Davis in the Studio
A straightforward meeting between saxophone and organ, recorded across two sessions with no pretense.
The sessions for Blue Rabbit brought together Johnny Hodges on alto saxophone with Wild Bill Davis at the organ, recorded in 1963 and 1964. The rhythm section shifted between takes — sometimes Richard Davis or Wendell Marshall on bass, depending on the date — with Kenny Burrell or Mundell Lowe handling guitar duties, and Osie Johnson keeping time on drums. Ray Jackson shared organ duties with Davis on select cuts. This was a practical setup, the kind of working date that defined mid-career small group jazz: experienced players in a room together, letting the horns and keyboards talk without overcomplication.
The album lands in Hodges' later period, after decades of leading sessions and appearing on countless records. By this point, he was comfortable in these settings — the organ combo was familiar territory, and Davis was an ideal partner, their voices distinct enough to create space for each other. The music here is relaxed and direct, closer to jam-session utility than studio innovation. Hodges plays with the ease of someone who knows exactly what he wants to say and how to say it.
This is not where you start with Hodges, and it's not the record that defined his reputation. But it's solid small-group work from the Verve label years, the kind of date that filled out catalogs and gave musicians steady work. It suits listeners who already know his sound and want more of it without surprises.
Who's playing
Richard Davisbass
Wendell Marshallbass
Jack Lesbergbass
Mundell Loweguitar
Kenny Burrellguitar
Johnny Hodgesalto saxophone
Wild Bill Davisorgan
Ray Jacksonorgan
Osie Johnsondrums
Bobby Donaldsondrums
Where next?
More by Johnny Hodges
Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues 1959
3 Shades of Blue 1970
Everybody Knows 1964
Stride Right 1966
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
