Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra

Reception

Ken Dryden on Allmusic.com gave the album four stars out of five, commenting "Hodges is never less than superb throughout this reissue...Strayhorn's exotic chart of "Azure" and emotional scoring of "Your Love Has Faded" are especially striking. Recommended." Dryden also singled out the performances of trombonist Lawrence Brown, saxophonist Harry Carney, trumpeter Howard McGhee, and pianist Jimmy Jones for praise.

Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra was reviewed by Don DeMichael in the June 7, 1962 edition of Downbeat. DeMichael called the album "...among the best Ellingtonia issued in the last year", writing that Hodges "tosses off phrases buttery in mellowness, fat with the milk of maturity and the honey of imagination."

The March 12, 1962 edition of Billboard highlighted the album as having 'Strong Sales Potential', rating it with four stars. Billboard said it was a "strong set, bound to please Hodges many fans".

Track listing

1. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Duke Ellington, Bob Russell) - 3:00
2. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (Ellington, Paul Francis Webster) - 3:35
3. "The Gal from Joe's" (Ellington, Irving Mills) - 2:27
4. "Your Love Has Faded" (Ellington, Billy Strayhorn) - 3:00
5. "I'm Just a Lucky So and So" (Mack David, Ellington) - 3:20
6. "Jeep's Blues" (Ellington, Johnny Hodges) - 3:18
7. "Day Dream" (Ellington, John La Touche, Strayhorn) - 3:56
8. "Juice A-Plenty" (Hodges) - 3:18
9. "Azure" (Ellington, Mills) - 2:33
10. "Tailor Made" (Hodges, Eddie Mullens) - 3:35
11. "Stardust" (Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish) - 4:25

Personnel