Introduction
Arthur W. Hodes (November 14, 1904 – March 4, 1993), known professionally as Art Hodes, was a Ukrainian-born American jazz pianist.
Biography
Hodes was born in Nikolayev in present day Ukraine. 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 that city he played with Sidney Bechet, Joe Marsala, and Mezz Mezzrow.
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. In the late 1960s, Hodes starred in a series of TV shows on Chicago style jazz called Jazz Alley. Here he appeared with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell and Jimmy McPartland. Episodes of the show have been released on DVD.
Hodes was editor of the magazine, The Jazz Record, for five years in the 1940s.
He remained an educator and writer in jazz. During this period of his life and into the 1970s, Hodes resided in south suburban Park Forest, Illinois.
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.
Other musicians he played and recorded with included Louis Armstrong, Wingy Manone, Gene Krupa, Muggsy Spanier, Joe Marsala, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet, Albert Nicholas, Wild Bill Davison, Barney Bigard, and Vic Dickenson.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Ethan Iverson has written an article on Hodes, "Selections from the Gutter," which includes a transcription of Hodes's first 78, "Ross Tavern Boogie."
Hodes died in March 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, at the age of 88.
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)
Discography
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Apex Blues | Jazzology | Trio, with Mezz Mezzrow (clarinet), Danny Alvin (drums); in concert |
| 1961? | Cat on the Keys | Concert-Disc | w/ Milt Grosz, Eddie Burleton, Truck Parham & Freddie Kohlman |
| 1965 | And His All-Star Stompers | Jazzology | With Larry Conger (trumpet), Charlie Bornemann (trombone), Tony Parenti (clarinet), Johnny Haynes (bass), Cliff Leeman (drums) |
| 1968 | Bucket's Got A Hole In It | Delmark | With Barney Bigard (clarinet), Rail Wilson (bass), Barrett Deems (drums) - Nap Trottier (trumpet) and George Brunis (trombone) on some tracks |
| 1971 | Recollections from the Past | Solo Art | Solo piano, plus narration |
| 1972 | Up in Volly's Room | Delmark | With Nappy Trottier (trumpet), George Brunis (trombone), Volly DeFaut (clarinet), Truck Parham (bass), Barrett Deems (drums) |
| 1976? | I Remember Bessie | Euphonic | reissued by Delmark |
| 1977 | Indianapolis Concert | Solo Art | Duo, with Herb Guy (bass); in concert |
| 1976–78 | Tribute to the Greats | Euphonic | Solo piano; reissued by Delmark |
| 1978 | Echoes of Chicago | Jazzology | With full ensemble |
| 1978 | Art Hodes and the Magnolia Jazz Band, Volume One | GHB | |
| 1978 | Art Hodes and the Magnolia Jazz Band, Volume Two | GHB | |
| 1981 | Blues to Save the Trees | L + R | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Reimer Von Essen (clarinet), Trevor Richards (drums) |
| 1981 | Someone to Watch Over Me, "Live at Hanratty's" | Muse | Solo piano |
| 1983 | South Side Memories | Sackville | Solo piano |
| 1983 | At Cafe Des Copains | Solo Art | Solo piano; in concert |
| 1985 | Blues in the Night | Sackville | Solo piano |
| 1986 | Glad to Be Here | Solo Art | Solo piano |
| 1986 | Art Hodes Jazz Trio | Jazzology | With Trevor Whiting (reeds), John Petters (drums), Dave Bennett (vocals) |
| 1987 | Art Hodes Trio | Jazzology | Trio, with Reimer Von Essen (clarinet, alto sax), Trevor Richards (drums) |
| 1987 | Art Hodes Blue Five and Six | Jazzology | With Al Fairweather and Pat Halcox (trumpet), Wally Fawkes (clarinet), Fapy Lafertin (guitar), Andy Brown (bass), Dave Evans and Stan Greig (drums), Johnny Mars (vocals) |
| 1987? | Joy to the Jazz World | Parkwood | Solo piano |
| 1988 | Pagin' Mr. Jelly | Candid | Solo piano |
| 1988 | Keepin' out of Mischief Now | Candid | Solo piano |
| Together Again | CMJ | with Wild Bill Davison & John Petters | |
| Sensation | CMJ | with John Petters & Trevor Whiting | |
| Coalition | Jazzology | With Wild Bill Davison (cornet), Campbell Burnap (trombone), Dave Bailey (clarinet), Keith Donald (bass), John Peters (drums) |
Compilations
- Vintage Art Hodes (Jazzology, 1930–50)
- Sessions at Blue Note (1944)
- The Jazz Record Story (Jazzology, 1943–46)
- The Duets (Solo Art, 1969–77)
- The Parkwood Creative Concept Sessions, Volume I (Parkwood, 1987–89)