“Passion Flower” – Johnny Hodges and Orchestra (1941)

I was reading an old “Blindfold Test” interview with Charlie Parker from an old issue of Down Beat. For those unfamiliar, the Down Beat Blindfold Test was when an artist would come in and listen to a series of records – then give their unvarnished thoughts on each; sometimes trying to guess the players, other times just commenting on the arrangement or the playing itself.

Bird was played this record at the end of the interview. The interviewer (Leonard Feather) noted that Parker’s face lit up in a beatific grin as he recognized the soloist. “That was Duke—featuring Johnny Lily Pons Hodges! I always took off my had to Johnny Hodges ’cause he can sing with the horn. Oh, he’s a beautiful person. That record deserves all the stars you can muster.”

With Bird’s waxing rhapsodic about this record, I had to go pull this one off the shelf to give it a fresh listen. A beautiful Billy Strayhorn arrangement that begins with Duke at the keys. A lovely number, indeed. Hodges’ tone is pure and clear throughout – his timing impeccably lyrical.

Recorded in Hollywood, California on July 3, 1941.
Released as Bluebird 30-0817.

Credits:
Ray Nance – trumpet
Lawrence Brown – trombone
Johnny Hodges – soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – baritone sax
Duke Ellington – piano
Jimmy Blanton – string bass
Sonny Greer – drums
Billy Strayhorn – arrangement