Wed Sep 3

Owen Broder Presents "A Tribute to Johnny Hodges: Front and Center"

Wed, September 3
7PM / $30 | $7 Fees
Get Tickets
Blues Alley

1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007

Owen Broder

Saxophonist Owen Broder and his stellar quintet of DC all-stars present Hodges: Front and Center, a vibrant tribute to alto saxophone legend Johnny Hodges.

While Hodges is most often celebrated through his association with Duke Ellington, Broder shifts the spotlight to “Rabbit” — the nickname Hodges earned early in his career — as a bandleader and creative force in his own right. The program features a thoughtfully curated mix of works from the Ellington canon alongside gems from Hodges’s often-overlooked catalogue of small group recordings.

Described by The New York Jazz Record as “a heartfelt tribute without ever aping the object of his affection or straying too far from the path... a perfect balance,” Broder’s performance brings both reverence and originality to this iconic music.

Beyond Hodges: Front and Center, Broder is a member of the GRAMMY®-nominated Anat Cohen Tentet and has performed with renowned ensembles including Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, Miho Hazama’s m_unit, the Ulysses Owens, Jr. Big Band, and the viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox. Named NPR’s Francis Davis 2018 Debut Artist of the Year, Broder has also appeared on DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll as a Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in both 2023 and 2024. His six albums as a bandleader have received national acclaim.

An award-winning composer and arranger, Broder has been commissioned by the U.S. Air Force Band in Europe, the Airmen of Note, two Off-Broadway productions, the Winchester Symphonic Winds, and the internationally acclaimed woodwind quintet WindSync.

Recently relocated to Washington, D.C., Broder previously spent four years in Portland, OR, where he served as Director of Jazz at Reed College and taught jazz courses at Portland State University and saxophone lessons at Pacific University.

Watch Video

Wed, September 3

7PM / $30 | $7 Fees
Get Tickets

*Please note:
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively Monday thru Saturday, and 4:30 PM & 7:15 PM Sundays.
4. No Photography or Recording of any kind during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.

Upcoming Events

Mon, May 19, 7:00 PM

James Fernando Trio - Recording Release - Emerging Artist Mondays

Get Tickets →

Mon, May 19, 9:30 PM

James Fernando Trio - Recording Release - Emerging Artist Mondays

Get Tickets →

Tue, May 20, 7:00 PM

Nasar Abadey's Andrew White Tribute Band - DCFM Jazz Series

Get Tickets →

Tue, May 20, 9:30 PM

Nasar Abadey's Andrew White Tribute Band - DCFM Jazz Series

Get Tickets →

Wed, May 21, 7:00 PM

Kevin Howard - "New Music Release"

Get Tickets →

Wed, May 21, 9:30 PM

Kevin Howard - "New Music Release"

Get Tickets →

Thu, May 22, 7:00 PM

Stefon Harris & Blackout

Get Tickets →

Thu, May 22, 9:30 PM

Stefon Harris & Blackout

Get Tickets →

Fri, May 23, 7:00 PM

Stefon Harris & Blackout

Get Tickets →

Fri, May 23, 9:30 PM

Stefon Harris & Blackout

Get Tickets →

Sat, May 24, 7:00 PM

Dave Detwiler, Darden Purcell and The White House Band

Get Tickets →

Sat, May 24, 9:30 PM

Dave Detwiler, Darden Purcell and The White House Band

Get Tickets →

Sun, May 25, 5:30 PM

Carol Riddick

Get Tickets →

Sun, May 25, 8:00 PM

Carol Riddick

Get Tickets →

Mon, May 26, 7:00 PM

Eli Lev and The Levitators - Emerging Artist Mondays

Get Tickets →

Mon, May 26, 9:30 PM

Eli Lev and The Levitators - Emerging Artist Mondays

Get Tickets →

Tue, May 27, 7:00 PM

Oren Levine - "New Music Release"

Get Tickets →

Tue, May 27, 9:30 PM

Oren Levine - "New Music Release"

Get Tickets →

Wed, May 28, 7:00 PM

Naama

Get Tickets →

Wed, May 28, 9:30 PM

Naama

Get Tickets →

Thu, May 29, 7:00 PM

Chris Standring

Get Tickets →

Thu, May 29, 9:30 PM

Chris Standring

Get Tickets →

Fri, May 30, 7:00 PM

Frank Catalano - "New Recording Releases"

Get Tickets →

Fri, May 30, 9:30 PM

Frank Catalano - "New Recording Releases"

Get Tickets →

Sat, May 31, 7:00 PM

Frank Catalano - "New Recording Releases"

Get Tickets →

Sat, May 31, 9:30 PM

Frank Catalano - "New Recording Releases"

Get Tickets →

Sun, June 1, 5:30 PM

Mark Adams & Ubiquity - Roy Ayers Tribute

Get Tickets →

Sun, June 1, 8:00 PM

Mark Adams & Ubiquity - Roy Ayers Tribute

Get Tickets →

Mon, June 2, 7:00 PM

Simona Daniele Quartet - Italian Women in Jazz Series

Get Tickets →

Mon, June 2, 9:30 PM

Simona Daniele Quartet - Italian Women in Jazz Series

Get Tickets →

Tue, June 3, 7:00 PM

Chiara Izzi - Italian Women in Jazz Series

Get Tickets →