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. The album was rereleased in 1989 under Nelson's leadership as Black, Brown and Beautiful with additional tracks.

Reception
The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars.

Track listing

 * 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

Personnel

 * 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