Art Hodes

Art Hodes
Hodes (left) on the piano with Pete Johnson.
Hodes (left) on the piano with Pete Johnson.
Background information
Born
Arthur W. Hodes

(1904-11-14)November 14, 1904
Nikolaev, Russian Empire
DiedMarch 4, 1993(1993-03-04) (aged 88)
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano

Arthur W. Hodes (November 14, 1904 – March 4, 1993),[1] was a Russian-born American jazz and blues pianist. He is regarded by many critics as the greatest white blues pianist.[2]

Biography

Hodes was born in Nikolaev, in the Russian Empire (now Mykolaiv, Ukraine).[1] His family settled in Chicago, Illinois, when he was a few months old. His career began in Chicago clubs, but he did not gain wider attention until moving to New York City in 1938. In New York, he played with Sidney Bechet, Joe Marsala, and Mezz Mezzrow.[1]

Later, Hodes founded his own band in the 1940s and it would be associated with his hometown of Chicago. He and his band played mostly in that area for the next forty years.[1] In the late 1960s, Hodes starred in a series of TV shows on Chicago style jazz called Jazz Alley,[1] where he appeared with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell and Jimmy McPartland. Episodes of the show have been released on DVD.[citation needed]

Hodes was editor of the magazine, The Jazz Record, for five years in the 1940s.[3]

He remained an educator and writer in jazz.[1] During this period of his life and into the 1970s, Hodes resided in south suburban Park Forest, Illinois.[citation needed]

He toured the UK in 1987, recording with drummer John Petters. In 1988, he visited Ireland to appear at the Cork Jazz Festival with Petters and Wild Bill Davison. A tour, the Legends of American Dixieland, followed in May 1989 with the same line-up.[citation needed]

Other musicians he played and recorded with included Louis Armstrong, Wingy Manone, Gene Krupa, Muggsy Spanier, Joe Marsala, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Kenny Davern, Albert Nicholas, Wild Bill Davison, Barney Bigard, and Vic Dickenson.[4]

In 1998, he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.

Ethan Iverson wrote an article on Hodes, "Selections from the Gutter", which includes a transcription of Hodes's first 78, "Ross Tavern Boogie".[citation needed]

Hodes died in March 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, at the age of 88.[5]

Quotation

Bebop? Avant-garde? Yeah, I heard of them. I also heard of these kids called the Bright Brothers – Wright Brothers? – who claim they can make you fly. It'll never catch on, none of it.

— Art Hodes (1981)[6]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
1944Apex BluesJazzologyTrio, with Mezz Mezzrow (clarinet), Danny Alvin (drums); in concert[7]
1961?Cat on the KeysConcert-Discw/ Milt Grosz, Eddie Burleton, Truck Parham & Freddie Kohlman
1965And His All-Star StompersJazzologyWith Larry Conger (trumpet), Charlie Bornemann (trombone), Tony Parenti (clarinet), Johnny Haynes (bass), Cliff Leeman (drums)[7]
1968Bucket's Got A Hole In ItDelmarkWith Barney Bigard (clarinet and co-leader), Rail Wilson (bass), Barrett Deems (drums) - Nap Trottier (trumpet) and George Brunis (trombone) on some tracks
1971Recollections from the PastSolo ArtSolo piano, plus narration[7]
1971Art For Art's SakeJazzology
1972Up in Volly's RoomDelmarkWith Nappy Trottier (trumpet), George Brunis (trombone), Volly DeFaut (clarinet), Truck Parham (bass), Barrett Deems (drums)[8]
1976?I Remember BessieEuphonicreissued by Delmark
1973Selections From The GutterStoryville Records
1977Indianapolis ConcertSolo ArtDuo, with Herb Guy (bass); in concert[7]
1976–78Tribute to the GreatsEuphonicSolo piano;[7] reissued by Delmark
1978Echoes of ChicagoJazzologyWith full ensemble[7]
1978Art Hodes and the Magnolia Jazz Band, Volume OneGHB[7]
1978Art Hodes and the Magnolia Jazz Band, Volume TwoGHB[7]
1980 When Music Was MusicEuphonic Sound Recordings
1981Blues to Save the TreesL + RSome tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Reimer Von Essen (clarinet), Trevor Richards (drums)[9]
1981Someone to Watch Over Me, "Live at Hanratty's"MuseSolo piano
1983South Side MemoriesSackvilleSolo piano[9]
1983At Cafe Des CopainsSolo ArtSolo piano; in concert[7]
1985Blues in the NightSackvilleSolo piano[9]
1986Glad to Be HereSolo ArtSolo piano[7]
1986Art Hodes Jazz TrioJazzologyWith Trevor Whiting (reeds), John Petters (drums), Dave Bennett (vocals)[7]
1987Art Hodes TrioJazzologyTrio, with Reimer Von Essen (clarinet, alto sax), Trevor Richards (drums)[7]
1987Art Hodes Blue Five and SixJazzologyWith Al Fairweather and Pat Halcox (trumpet), Wally Fawkes (clarinet), Fapy Lafertin (guitar), Andy Brown (bass), Dave Evans and Stan Greig (drums), Johnny Mars (vocals)[7]
1987?Joy to the Jazz WorldParkwoodSolo piano
1988Pagin' Mr. JellyCandidSolo piano[7]
1988Something Personal Alone With FriendsDawn Club 77-SeriesSolo piano
1988Keepin' out of Mischief NowCandidSolo piano[7]
Together AgainCMJwith Wild Bill Davison & John Petters
SensationCMJwith John Petters & Trevor Whiting
CoalitionJazzologyWith Wild Bill Davison (cornet), Campbell Burnap (trombone), Dave Bailey (clarinet), Keith Donald (bass), John Peters (drums)

Compilations

  • Vintage Art Hodes (Jazzology, 1930–50)[7]
  • Sessions at Blue Note (1944)[9]
  • The Jazz Record Story (Jazzology, 1943–46)[7]
  • The Duets (Solo Art, 1969–77)[7]
  • The Parkwood Creative Concept Sessions, Volume I (Parkwood, 1987–89)[8]

Side appearances

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 204/6. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ "Art Hodes American pianist". www.britannica.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 6, 1993). "Art Hodes, a Pianist Known for the Blues In the Old Style, 88". The New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  4. ^ "Art Hodes: Vintage Art Hodes album review". Allaboutjazz.com. May 2001. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Art Hodes". The Independent. October 23, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  6. ^ quoted in Morton, Brian; Richard Cook (2010) [1992]. The Penguin Jazz Guide: The History of the Music in the 1001 Best Albums. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (10th ed.). New York: Penguin. p. 525. ISBN 978-0-14-104831-4.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 710–711. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  8. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. pp. 639–640. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.
  9. ^ a b c d Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. pp. 526–527. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.
  • Selections From the Gutter (Art Hodes) "Selections from the Gutter," article by Ethan Iverson
  • Art Hodes papers, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University Libraries
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