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Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra (1961)

Hodges, fortunately, is amply represented on recordings, because he was featured so long with Duke Ellington and also put out a lot under his own name--mostly with other Ellingtonians as sidemen. Here he is with Strayhorn instead of Duke--same difference, it's still basically the Duke Ellington orchestra minus the Duke. It's kind of elegant and laid-back rather than hard driving swing. It's not the place to find brilliantly inventive improvisational solos. I like "Jeep's Blues." On "Stardust" Hodges doesn't even solo.