Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Johnny Hodges: Yeah...About That

2

Johnny Hodges: Yeah...About That

By

Sign in to view read count
Johnny Hodges: Yeah...About That
The funky, jazz-focused Yeah.....About That brings to mind the sounds of the early Brecker Brothers. Groove seems to be the primary focus of this nine-song CD from the mind of Oklahoma City native, Johnny Hodges. Hodges started playing the trumpet by the end of his fifth grade year, going on to help his high school jazz ensemble win the state competition three out of the four years he was in high school which enabled him to attend Central State University on the coveted Alumni Scholarship. Hodges is currently the Assistant Conductor at the Big Apple Circus, and freelances around the New York City and Orlando, Florida areas. Currently, he is gearing up for his first movie soundtrack, Last Ounce of Courage, to be recorded right after Thanksgiving, 2012.

Yeah.....About That is the trumpeter's debut and is a well-conceived collection of songs that showcase Hodges blowing serious jazz over various grooves. Hodges understands the value of employing a memorable melody as a jumping-off point for improvisational jaunts. On the opening "Dixie Twister," a galloping rhythm is augmented by Hodges' warm bluesy trumpet, stating the melody. Many subtle layers of polyrhythmic entrances follow, as the song develops in a call-and-response manner. Hodges' clear tone and driving rhythm provides for an interesting solo and some very impressive high notes, leading to the ending statements.

Hodges plays trumpet and contributes all the rhythm programming for the album, and the result is a big drum funk on the title track, with samples, synth, lots of layering and a wah-wah-effected trumpet solo, which delivers a groove so infectious that it's almost impossible to resist. Hodges' imagination reflects his immersion in all schools of popular music. Guitarist Jeff Barone provides some six-string blowing on "Cozumel" and "First Try."

Hodges runs the gamut from ridiculously high notes to lead playing in styles from bebop and salsa to thoughtful blowing on ballads. Yeah.....About That is an eclectic mix of Latin, rock and blues, all possessing a seriously funky theme that will appeal to fans of the Brecker Brothers and mid-'70s Weather Report.

Track Listing

Dixie Twister, Yeah...About That, Cozumel, Cityscape, Para Ti, Mi Amor, The Fantasy, Kung Phu, First Try, I'm Just A Country Bopkin, Jim

Personnel

Johnny Hodges
saxophone, alto

Johnny Hodges: trumpet, rhythm programming, brass; Bryan Cook: trumpet (8); Jeff Barone: guitar (3, 8).

Album information

Title: Yeah...About That | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Veritas Entertainment

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.