Portrait of Otto Hardwicke (Podcast #19-010)

Reedman Otto “Toby” Hardwicke was one of the earliest Ellingtonians. Continue reading

“The amazing thing about [Duke Ellington] is that the language, the slant, everything, it’s all acquired. It didn’t rub off from someone else, and it wasn’t a legacy, either. He went inside himself to find it. He’s an only, that’s for sure. They threw away carbons.”

-Otto Hardwicke


 

Otto

Otto Hardwicke


Otto Hardwicke autograph

Otto Hardwicke’s autograph


Ellington-Bass-Sax-e1510430131798

Publicity photograph of the Duke Ellington reed section. Top – Johnny Hodges – alto sax, Barney Bigard – tenor sax, Harry Carney – alto sax. Bottom – Otto Hardwicke – bass sax.


 

 



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 

early ellington

Doin’ the Frog (CD: “Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931” Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640)

Recorded 29 December 1927, New York City

Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Rudy Jackson, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds;  Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


 

Okeh Ellington

Jubilee Stomp (CD: “The Okeh Ellington” Columbia C2K 46177)

Recorded 19 January 1928, New York City

Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds;  Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


 

small groups

(CD: ”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)

The Boys from Harlem – recorded 21 December 1938, New York City

Swing Pan Alley – recorded 2 August 1938, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


duke 100

In A Sentimental Mood (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)

Recorded 30 April 1935, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy- guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


 

Duke-at-Fargo-1

Sophisticated Lady (CD: “Fargo, ND, November 7, 1940” Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1019/20-2)

Recorded 7 November 1940 at The Crystal Ballroom in Fargo, North Dakota

Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol -trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto  Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


 

vol 4

I Should Care (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 4” DETS 903 9004)

Recorded 19 May 1945, Live at the Paradise Theatre, Detroit

Shelton Hemphill,  Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Claude Jones – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.


— Our closing music —-

0000120517

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.