BJ Simmons: Tribute to Johnny Hodges

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Saxophonist BJ Simmons’ music is heavily layered, bridging elements of jazz, hip-hop and soul. His compositions feature a mixture of spoken word, velvety R&B style vocals, rich improvisational melodies, abstract soundscapes and chilled syncopated beats. At D.C.’s jazz church, Simmons shows of his true bebop and classic sax-work chops by leading a tribute to one of Duke Ellington’s longest-tenured collaborators, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges. As Ellington said of Hodges at a famous performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958, “If you’ve heard of the saxophone, then you’ve heard of Johnny Hodges.” Simmons employs a strong band for this tribute: Donvonte McCoy on trumpet, Allyn Johnson on piano, Herman Burney on bass, and Tyler Leak on drums.