3 Shades of Blue

3 Shades of Blue is the final album recorded as leader by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1970 with vocalist Leon Thomas and composer/arranger Oliver Nelson and first released on the Flying Dutchman label.^{[1] [2]} The album was rereleased in 1989 under Nelson's leadership as Black, Brown and Beautiful with additional tracks.

The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars.^[3]

1. "Empty Ballroom Blues" (Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams) – 4:54
2. "Duke's Place" (Ellington, Bob Thiele, Bill Katz, Ruth Roberts) – 2:35
3. "Echoes of Harlem" (Ellington) – 4:20
4. "Disillusion Blues" (Leon Thomas) – 3:56
5. "Yearning" (Oliver Nelson) – 5:20
6. "Welcome to New York" (Thomas) – 4:10
7. "Black, Brown and Beautiful" (Nelson) – 3:50
8. "Rockin' in Rhythm (Ellington, Harry Carney, Irving Mills) – 3:09
9. "Creole Love Call" (Ellington) – 4:56
10. "It ́s Glory" (Ellington) – 2:55

• Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
• Leon Thomas – vocals (tracks 2, 4 & 6)
• Oliver Nelson – arranger, conductor
• Randy Brecker, Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young – trumpet
• Al Grey, Quentin Jackson, Garnett Brown, Thomas Mitchell – trombone
• Bob Ashton, Danny Bank, Jerry Dodgion, Joe Farrell, Jerome Richardson, Frank Wess – reeds
• Earl Hines (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10), Hank Jones (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9) – piano
• David Spinozza – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9)
• Ron Carter – bass
• Grady Tate – drums

• Johnny Hodges albums
• Oliver Nelson albums
• Leon Thomas albums
• 1970 albums
• Albums arranged by Oliver Nelson
• Albums conducted by Oliver Nelson
• Albums produced by Bob Thiele
• Flying Dutchman Records albums

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