Johnny Hodges

One of the giants of the alto saxophone, Johnny Hodges was perhaps the most important soloist and sideman in Duke Ellington's orchestra from 1928 up to Hodges's death in 1970. The self-taught player made many solo forays during his long career--one of his '50s outfits included a young John Coltrane--but history remembers Hodges for his virtuosic sidemanship, particularly his sensitive rendering of ballads.