Hodges’s own work is long overdue a comprehensive revaluation that doesn’t take the Ellington material as the only measure. He was a remarkable and multi-faceted musician whose vision was sometimes blurred by resentment but glorious when allowed to shine through unfettered. The youngsters of bebop and hard-bop could well ignore conventions, but the era of swing continued thanks to these (more or less) old men. And far from making us feel blue, their blues brings smiles to all faces. This is great art.