Atlanta Jazz Hero
James “Dub” Hudson leads a rich musical life. Now 93, hje started as a 20- year-old reeds player in the U.S. 8th Army Band in Korea, continuing through the next seven decades as a first -all player for concert artists, touring shows, recording sessions with artists as current as André 3000, lead alto saxophonist and clarinetist for the Afro-American Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra Atlanta, and Sentimental Journey Orchestra, 29 years as a music educator and Band Director for the City of Atlanta school system, ongoing teacher and mentor for serious musicians coming up from throughout the metro-Atlanta area.
He’s had some fun – as a frequent guest soloist with the University of Georgia Jazz Ensemble, for example – and has performed with some of the most celebrated, accomplished artists — Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, among many others. He’s played in Fox and Alliance Theatre productions of Raisin, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Moe, Beyond the Rainbow (the life of Judy Garland) and on tour with Jennifer Holliday (in 2007). He’s been in the movies Scalpel (1978), Grass Roots (1992), Mama Flora’s Family (1998), and recorded for “Idlewild” (2006) and “Class of 3000″ (on Cartoon Network) besides being on Atlanta’s PBS station numerous times.
He’s enjoyed being bestowed with honors — Atlanta’s Mayor Maynard Jackson declared Sept 5, 1980 “James Hudson Day.” He’s recorded prominently — on The Steve Dancz Quartet featuring My Friend “Dub” (2004), “The Peachtree Strutters” (2006), and Relaxin’ At Underground (1990). He’s especially venerated by trumpeters Danny Harper (Atlanta’s 2012 Jazz Hero) and Marcus Printup, and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra saxophonist Sherman Irby, who cites Mr. Hudson as one of his earliest influences.
Best yet: When James “Dub” Hudson visited New York City last year as Marcus Printup’s guest, he was able to tell Wynton Marsalis when they met that he was still performing. Such a stalwart is Atlanta’s 2024 Jazz Hero.
— Howard Mandel
JJA president
