Owen Broder | Hodges Front and Center, Volume 2 | Album
Saxophonist Owen Broder returns with the second volume of his tribute to alto great Johnny Hodges, exploring his work with Duke Ellington and beyond!
Hodges: Front and Center, Vol. 2 finds more treasures in the Hodges songbook with a quintet featuring trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, pianist Carmen Staaf, bassist Barry Stephenson and drummer Bryan Carter
LP and digital version available April 19, 2024 via Outside In Music
"A heartfelt tribute without ever aping the object of his affection or straying too far from the path. In short, [Broder] finds a perfect balance." – Dan Bilawsky, New York City Jazz Record
Saxophonist Owen Broder conceived his Hodges: Front and Center project as a means to shine some light on the legendary yet still undersung sax titan Johnny Hodges, more often celebrated as a key sideman with the Duke Ellington Orchestra than as a distinctive and influential voice in his own right. As it turned out, Broder’s championing of the saxophonist known as “Rabbit” (the origins of that nickname are lost to the mists of time and memory) was met by receptive ears. DownBeat hailed the first volume as “a heartwarming reminder of the beauty of Rabbit and the timeless art of swing,” and Jeff Krow notes in
Audiophile Audition, "what stands out is Owen’s ability to channel Johnny’s timbre and tone.” Two years later, Broder returns with Hodges: Front and Center, Vol. 2, an equally heartfelt and joyous delve into the Johnny Hodges songbook. Due out via LP and digtal on April 19, 2024 from Outside In
Music, the album follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, striking a sublime balance between honoring the sound and style of Rabbit’s original recordings while infusing these classic tunes with a modern and vibrant feel. Once again, Broder (on alto and baritone saxophones) is joined by trumpeter Riley
Mulherkar (The Westerlies, Dave Douglas), pianist Carmen Staaf (Dee Dee Bridgewater, Allison Miller), bassist Barry Stephenson III (Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Jamison Ross), and drummer Bryan Carter (Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner).
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