Harry Carney's Shadow, Johnny's Spotlight
Hodges owned the session, but Carney's baritone sax gave it ballast and sophistication.
Harry Carney doesn't lead this album, but his presence shapes what it is. As Harry Carney's baritone saxophone moves through these tracks, it anchors the ensemble with a rich, woody depth that prevents Hodges from floating too high into his own aesthetics. Carney had spent decades in Duke Ellington's orchestra, and that institutional memory of swing and structure comes through here—he's not competing with Hodges, he's supporting him, filling the spaces that need filling.
Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges arrived in 1964 as a straightforward all-star date on Impulse! Records. The lineup includes William "Cat" Anderson and Rolf Ericson on trumpets, Lawrence Brown and Buster Cooper on trombones, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, Jimmy Jones at the piano, and Ernie Shepard on bass. It's a big sound, almost a section-band feel, which could have overwhelmed a single saxophonist. Instead, it works because everyone understands restraint. AllMusic reviewer Michael G. Nastos wrote that "you'd be hard-pressed to find anything more inspired or another project loaded with this much talent," and The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded it a full four stars, calling it essential. The album doesn't break new ground—it's a swing date, nothing more or less—but the execution is clean and the arrangements let each player breathe without filler.
Who's playing
Ernie Shepardbass
Jimmy Jonespiano
Paul Gonsalvestenor saxophone
Johnny Hodgesalto saxophone
Harry Carneybaritone saxophone
Jimmy Hamiltontenor saxophone
Russell Procopealto saxophone
William “Cat” Andersontrumpet
Ray Nancetrumpet
Rolf Ericsontrumpet
Herbie Jonestrumpet
Lawrence Browntrombone
Buster Coopertrombone
Britt Woodmantrombone
Grady Tatedrums
Where next?
More by Johnny Hodges
Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues 1959
3 Shades of Blue 1970
Stride Right 1966
Triple Play 1967
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
