Art Hodes; Jazz Pianist Had Own Record Label, Radio Show

Art Hodes, 88, jazz pianist, who played with such greats as Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman and in the 1940s had his own record label, radio show and magazine. Born in Nikoliev, the Ukraine, Hodes came to Chicago as an infant and spent most of his life performing there. But during the 1940s, he lived in New York, presenting a weekly radio program for WNYC, founding his own record label, JazzRecord, and editing a critically acclaimed magazine of the same title. He also organized and led his own bands. Hodes was host of a television series called “Jazz Alley” in the 1960s, taught at the Lake Forest Conservatory, and throughout his career did much to popularize traditional jazz styles. On Thursday in Chicago.