Art Hodes
b. 14 November 1904, Nikoliev, Ukraine, d. 4 March 1993. A few months after Hodes was born, his family emigrated from Russia and settled in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing piano and by his late teenage years was working in dance halls and clubs. He played with several local bands, including Wingy Manone's, but also established himself as a solo performer. For the next 10 years he was active in Chicago, but in 1938 moved to New York, where he played with jazzmen including Joe Marsala, Sidney Bechet and Mezz Mezzrow, continuing into the early '40s. During this time he had his first experience as a radio broadcaster, presenting record shows. He also began to write, and for some years was editor of Jazz Record magazine. He led his own bands for engagements at many clubs and restaurants in and around New York, but at the end of the '40s decided to move back to Chicago. For the next four decades he led bands, played solo piano, taught, broadcast on radio and television, all in and around Chicago. In the '60s he recorded with Truck Parham and Estelle ‘Mama’ Yancey. Hodes made occasional tours, including trips to Denmark, Europe and Canada, where he worked with Jim Galloway, one of their concerts being recorded and released as LIVE FROM TORONTO. In the early '80s he appeared again in New York, but he remained true to his adopted hometown. Stylistically, Hodes was strongly rooted in the blues. His knowledge of blues piano and stride, allied to his teaching, writing and demonstration, helped keep the forms alive. In 1977 some of his earlier and perceptive writings for Jazz Record were published in book form.