Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound from the original master tapes to vinyl and PCM. The DSD was sourced from the PCM. George listened to all of the different A/D converters he had before he chose which to use, and he felt the George Massenburg GML 20 bit A/D produced the best and most synergistic sound for the project.

Recorded during the last decade of his long tenure with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, this album finds the great alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges’ musical gifts not only intact but stronger than ever. Featuring the Ellington band – with Jimmy Jones on piano and Billy Strayhorn as bandleader and arranger – it is a fascinating program of Ellington remakes, including tome of the orchestra’s most familiar numbers, all of which have been given subtle new orchestrations by Strayhorn and melodious new interpretations by Hodges.

Recorded in 1961.

Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone
Billy Strayhorn, arranger, conductor, performer
Cat Anderson, trumpet
Shorty Baker, trumpet
Aaron Bell, bass
Bill Berry, trumpet
Lawrence Brown, trombone
Harry Carney, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone
Chuck Conors, bass trombone
Paul Gonsalves, tenor saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Quentin Jackson, trombone
Jimmy Jones, piano
Howard McGhee, trumpet
Ed Mullens, trumpet
Russell Procope, clarinet, alto saxophone
Sam Woodyard, drums