Art Hodes (Arthur W.) 1904

Pianista ucraino naturalizzato statunitense (Nikolaev, Ucraina, 14.11.1904 – Harvey, Illinois, 4.3.1993). Emigrato a Chicago a sei mesi con la famiglia, debutta come professionista nei Wolverines (1925), suona con Wingy Manone (1927) e i principali musicisti bianchi di Chicago: Bud Freeman, Gene Krupa, Muggsy Spanier, Floyd O’Brien.

Durante gli anni ’30 fa parte della formazione del cantante e sassofonista Floyd Townes e del batterista Frank Snyder, esibendosi contemporaneamente sia come solista sia col suo gruppo nei club della città. Stabilitoso a New York nel 1938, suona con Joe Marsala (1939), Mezz Mezzrow (1940) e anche alla guida di una propria formazione (941-42). In seguito lavora come disc-jockey alla radio WNYC, dal 1943 al 1947pubblica la rivista Jazz Record, nel 1945 dirige e partecipa a una seduta di registrazione di Sidney Bechet per la Blue Note, lavora in diversi club newyorkesi (Village Vanguard, Jimmy Ryan’s) e con l’orchestra di Tony Parenti.

A partire dagli anni ’50, a Chicago, si esibisce come solista e contemporaneamente tiene conferenze e appare in trasmissioni televisive dedicate al jazz. Nel 1971 compie una serie di tournée, giunge in Europa (1977) e durante gli anni ’80 continua indefesso a suonare in occasione del concerto-anniversario di Will Bill Davison alla Town Hall nel 1986.
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Capace di catalizzare un’intera orchestra o un piccolo gruppo col vigore del suo accompagnamento, Art Hodes è un più che decoroso solista della scuola di Jelly Roll Morton e di James P. Johnson, efficace nel blues, nel boogie e nello stile New Orleans.

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Ukrainian naturalized American pianist (Nikolaev, Ukraine, 14.11.1904 - Harvey, Illinois, 4.3.1993). Emigrated to Chicago at six months with his family, he made his professional debut in Wolverines (1925), played with Wingy Manone (1927), and the leading white Chicago musicians: Bud Freeman, Gene Krupa, Muggsy Spanier, Floyd O'Brien.

During the 1930s, he was part of the line-up of singer and saxophonist Floyd Townes and drummer Frank Snyder, performing simultaneously both as a soloist and with his group in the city clubs. Settled in New York in 1938, he plays with Joe Marsala (1939), Mezz Mezzrow (1940), and also at the helm of his formation (941-42). Later he worked as a disc jockey at WNYC radio from 1943 to 1947. He published the magazine Jazz Record, in 1945 he directed and participated in a recording session of Sidney Bechet for Blue Note, worked in several New York clubs (Village Vanguard, Jimmy Ryan's) and with the Tony Parenti orchestra.

Since the 1950s, in Chicago, he performs as a soloist and simultaneously lectures and appears in television programs dedicated to jazz. In 1971 he went on a series of tours, arrived in Europe (1977), and during the 1980s, he continued tirelessly playing for the anniversary concert of Will Bill Davison at the Town Hall in 1986.

Able to catalyze an entire orchestra or a small group with its accompaniment's vigor, Art Hodes is a more than decent soloist from the school of Jelly Roll Morton and James P. Johnson, effective in blues, boogie, and New Orleans style.
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