The work of EVERY saxophonist (Hodges AND the section) on "Blues For New Orleans" guarantees them all a place of immortality in my heart.
Amen, 'blues for n.o.' is OUTSTANDING. And to think, Johnny Hodges was gone two weeks later, listening to these blues is bittersweet for sure.
The New Orleans Suite seems kind of underrated, I just bought it recently and there's some wonderful music here, Portrait of Wellman Braud is a beauty as is Borbon Streen Jingling Jollies. Ellington's font was inexhaustible!