Here’s a selection of what my iPod says are my most listened-to Ellington songs. Continue reading →
“iPod – 10,000 songs in your pocket”
– Apple marketing slogan
This is my “transcription” of Jimmy Hamilton’s clarinet solo on “Sonnet for Caesar” from c. 1982…
This is the song that has the most plays on my iPod. My grandfather had this on 78 rpm and I used to listen to it – a lot. I still do!
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Portrait of Bert Williams (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)
Recorded 28 May, 1940 Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombones; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney -reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Chatter Box (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.
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard, Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.
Rhapsody In Blue (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz 7567-90043-2)
Recorded 20 December 1962, New York City
Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Sonnet for Caesar(LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)
Recorded 15 April 1957, New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Tang (CD: “The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse” Original Jazz Classics OJCCD 645)
Recorded 17 February 1971, New York City
Cootie Williams, Eddie Preston, Harold “Money” Johnson, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Booty Wood, Malcolm Taylor, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope,
Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches Over Her (CD: “Latin American Suite” Original Jazz Classics OJC20 469-2)
Recorded 7 January 1970, New York City
Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Joog Joog (LP: “The World of Duke Ellington, Volume 2” Columbia KG 33341)
Recorded 22 December 1949, New York City
Ray Nance – trumpet; Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Forrest, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Lu Elliott, Kay Davis – vocal.
Praise God and Dance (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)
Recorded 22 January 1968, New York City
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.
— Our closing music —-
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.
More covers of Ellington compositions that deserve wider exposure. Continue reading →
Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (MoodIndigo, Satin Doll, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.). The Duke Ellington Society refers to these songs as “the usual suspects.” While they are worthy of their status as standards, Ellington wrote thousands of compositions; there is plenty of his oeuvre that is ripe for exploration!
Despite having a major new work to promote (Such Sweet Thunder), in this 1957 television appearance Ellington has to take time away from it in order to play a greatest hits medley (aka “The Usual Suspects”).
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Azure (CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Recorded 22 April 1937, 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, Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Azure (CD: “Sempre Amore” Soul Note SN 1170)
Recorded 17 February 1986, Milan, Italy
Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Mal Waldron – piano
Everything But You (CD: “Black, Brown & Beige” Bluebird 6641-2-RB)
Recorded 1 May 1945, New York City
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; Joya Sherrill – vocal.
Everything But You (CD: “Cootie Williams – In Chronology, 1945 – 1946” Classics 981)
Recorded 19 July 1945, New York City
Cootie Williams, Ermit V. Perry, George Treadwell, Billy Ford, Clarence “Gene” Redd – trumpet; Ed Burke, Dan Logan, Robert Horton – trombone; Rupert Cole, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Sam “The Man” Taylor, Lee Pope, George Favors – reeds; Arnold Jarvis – piano; Carl Pruitt – bass; Sylvester Payne – drums.
Everything But You (CD: “The Original Ellington Suite” Pacific Jazz – 7243 5 24567 2 7)
Recorded 22 August 1958, Los Angeles
Eric Dolphy – flute; John Pisano – guitar; Nat Gershman – cello; Hal Gaylor – bass; Chico Hamilton –drums.
I Like the Sunrise (CD: “Francis A. & Edward K.” Reprise Records 1024-2)
Recorded 11/12 December 1967, Los Angeles
Frank Sinatra – vocal; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
I Like The Sunrise (CD: “Sunrise” Arbors Records ARCD 19458)
Recorded 18/19 April 2017, Union City, New Jersey
Ken Peplowski – clarinet; Bob Millikan, Jon-Erik Kellso, Randy Reinhart, Andy Gravish – trumpets; John Allred, Harvey Tibbs, Bruce Eidem, Jennifer Wharton – trombones; Jack Stuckey, Jon Gordon, Mark Lopeman, Adrian Cunningham, Carl Maraghi – reeds; Ehud Asherie – piano; Matt Munisteri – bass; Chuck Redd – drums.
Bojangles(CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 4 May 1940 Los Angeles
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – 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.
Bojangles (CD: “Passion Flower – Zoot Sims plays Duke Ellington” Pablo OJCCD-939-2)
Zoot Sims – tenor sax; Bobby Bryant, Oscar Brashear, Al Aarons, Earl Gardner – trumpet; J.J. Johnson, Britt Woodman, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell – trombone; Marshal Royal, Buddy Collette, Plas Johnson, Frank Wess – reeds; Jimmy Rowles – piano; John Collins – guitar; John Heard – bass; Shelly Manne – drums.
Tulip or Turnip (CD: “Happy Birthday, Duke! Volume 4” Laserlight Digital 15 786)
Recorded 29 April 1954, Portland, Oregon
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Dave Black – drums.
Tulip or Turnip (CD: “Hello Rev” Concord Jazz CCD-4027)
Recorded 1 August 1976 at the Concord (California) Summer Festival
Bill Berry, Blue Mitchell, Cat Anderson, Gene Goe, Jack Sheldon – trumpet; Benny Powell, Britt Woodman, Jimmy Cleveland, Tricky Lofton – trombone; Don Menza, Jack Nimitz, Lanny Morgan, Marshal Royal, Richie Kamuca – reeds; Dave Frishberg – piano; Monty Budwig – bass; Frank Capp – drums.
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.
This is the last part of our look at the 25 double CD set of Storyville’s Treasury Show series…. Continue reading →
“In April 1945, Duke Ellington began what was to be the largest single recording project of his career, though it is most unlikely that he or anyone else thought of it in such terms at the time… [He] signed an agreement with the newly formed American Broadcasting Company to broadcast a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon network shows under the title “A Date With The Duke.”… The recordings of these complete broadcasts…make up the largest single block of material in the Ellington discography.”
– Eddie Lambert, A Listener’s Guide – Duke Ellington
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
(Under construction…..)
— Our closing music —-
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.
A look at the first 5 volumes of the 25 volume set of Duke Ellington’s Treasury Shows released by Storyville Records. Continue reading →
“In April 1945, Duke Ellington began what was to be the largest single recording project of his career, though it is most unlikely that he or anyone else thought of it in such terms at the time… [He] signed an agreement with the newly formed American Broadcasting Company to broadcast a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon network shows under the title “A Date With The Duke.”… The recordings of these complete broadcasts…make up the largest single block of material in the Ellington discography.”
– Eddie Lambert, A Listener’s Guide – Duke Ellington
Errata – For “Solitude,” I omitted crediting Al Hibbler as one of the vocalists. Rex Stewart was cited as a trumpeter; he was a cornetist.
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
1-1 Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro
1-2 Blutopia
1-3 Midriff
1-4 Creole Love Call
1-5 Suddenly It Jumped
1-6 Frustration
1-7 I’m Beginning To See The Light
1-8 Duke Introduces The Perfume Suite
1-9 Love (Balcony Serenade)
1-10 Violence (Strange Feeling)
1-11 Dancers In Love (A Stomp For Beginners)
1-12 Sophistication (Coloratura)
1-13 Air Conditioned Jungle
1-14 I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues
1-15 Subtle Slough
1-16 Passion Flower (Into Closing)
1-17 Take The “A” Train
1-18 Hayfoot , Strawfoot
1-19 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
1-20 A Slip Of The Lip
1-21 Take The “A” Train
2-1 Moon Mist (And Intro)
2-2 New World A-Comin
2-3 Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen
2-4 Mood Indigo
2-5 Chant For FDR (American Lullaby)
2-6 Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow
2-7 Creole Love Call
2-8 Moon Mist (Into Broadcast Close)
2-9 (Transcription Theme) Any Bonds Today?
2-10 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-11 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
2-12 Caravan
2-13 Bond Promo
2-14 It Can’t Be Wrong
2-15 Johnny Come Lately
2-16 (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?
2-17 (Opening Theme) Any Bonds Today?
2-18 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-19 Wait For Me Mary
2-10 Moon Mist
2-21 Bond Promo
2-22 A Slip Of The Lip
2-23 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
2-24 (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Nat Jones (tracks: 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-3), Oett “Sax” Mallard (tracks: 17-1 to 21-1)
Arranged By, Leader, Piano – Duke Ellington
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton (tracks: 1-1 to 21-1 , 1-2 to 8-2 , 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-2)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 1-1 to 16-1 , 1-1 to 16-1 , 1-2 to 8-2 , 10-2 to 15-2 , 18-2 to 23-3)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 16-1 , 2-1 to 2-8 , 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23), Ben Webster(tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23)
Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 2-1 to 2-8), Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-1 to 1-21 , 2-10 to 2-16 , 18-2 to 23-2), Lawrence Brown (tracks: 1-1 to 21-1 , 2-1 to 2-8), Sandy Williams (tracks: 10-2 to 15-2 , 2-18 to 2-23)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16 , 2-1 to 2-8), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-18 to 2-24), Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-1 to 1-21 , 2-1 to 2-8), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16 , 2-1 to 2-8), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 1-2 to 24-2), Wallace Jones (tracks: 1-17 to 1-21 , 2-18 to 2-24)
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-10 , 1-14 , 2-3 , 2-14 ), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-7), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-4 , 2-6 , 2-7), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-20 ,2-22)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-16 recorded at 400 Restaurant ,NYC,April 7th,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.1
Tracks 2-1 to 2-8 recorded at 400 Restaurant ,NYC,April 14th,1945 – Duke Ellington’s Treasury Broadcast Replaced By A Special FDR Memorial Broadcast
Tracks 1-17 to 1-21 recorded at NBC – Studio 6B – Radio City – NYC , May 1st,1943 – Duke Ellington Performing At A War Bond Rally
Tracks 2-10 to 2-15 , 2-18 to 2-23 recorded in New York – June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 231
Tracks 2-18 to 2-23 recorded in New York – June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 232
Tracks 2-19 , 2-16 , 2-17 , 2-24 recorded by an unknown studio orchestra.
1-1 Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro
1-2 Mood To Be Wooed
1-3 If You Are But A Dream
1-4 (Otto Make That) Riff Staccato
1-5 I’m Beginning To See The Light
1-6 Duke Ellington Presents “Black, Brown And Beige” (Excerpts)
1-7 West Indian Dance
1-8 The Blues
1-9 Emancipation Celebration
1-10 Sugar Hill Penthouse
1-11 Sentimental Lady (Small Excerpt)
1-12 Stomp, Look And Listen
1-3 Frantic Fantasy
1-14 It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t That Swing)
1-15 Sentimental Lady (Into Closing)
1-16 Any Bonds Today?
1-17 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-18 Tonight I Shall Sleep
1-19 Go Away Blues
1-20 Bond Promo
1-21 Creole Love Song
1-22 Three Cent Stomp
1-23 (Closing Theme) Any Bonds Today?
2-1 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-2 Midriff
2-3 Carnegie Blues
2-4 Someone
2-5 My Little Brown Book
2-6 Kissing Bug
2-7 Ring Dem Bells
2-8 I’m Beginning To See The Light
2-9 Duke Ellington Presents “Black, Brown And Beige ” (Excerpts)
2-10 Work Song
2-11 Come Sunday
2-12 Candy
2-13 Broadcast Interrupted By War Bulletin
2-14 Teardrops In The Rain (In Progress)
2-15 Accentuate The Positive
2-16 Way Low
2-17 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-18 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-19 Love Letters
2-20 Main Stem
2-21 Fishing For The Moon
2-22 Riff’N Drill
2-23 Kissing Bug
Recorded At – 400 Restaurant, NYC
Recorded At – The New Zanzibar ,NYC
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin
Drums – Sidney Catlett (tracks: 2-18 to 2-23), Sonny Greer (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 1-17 to 1-22 , 2-1 to 2-17)
Guitar – Fred Guy
Leader, Arranged By, Piano – Duke Ellington
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 1-2 to 2-23)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Ben Webster (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15 , 2-1 to 2-23), Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22), Lawrence Brown (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-17 to 1-22), Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-23), Taft Jordan
Violin – Ray Nance (tracks: 2-1 to 2-17)
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 2-5), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-5, 2-6, 2-8, 2-15, 2-23), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-3),Marie Ellington (tracks: 1-8), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-14), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-14
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-15 recorded at 400 Restaurant, NYC, April 21st,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.2
Tracks 2-17 to 2-22 recorded in NYC, June 1943 – Treasury Star Parade No. 233
Tracks 1-16 and 1-23 unknown studio orchestra –
Tracks 2-1 to 2-17 recorded at 400 Restaurant, NYC, April 28th,1945 – Treasury Broadcast No.3
Tracks 2-18 to 2-23 recorded at The New Zanzibar, NYC, October 7th,1943 – Duke Ellington Broadcast From The New Zanzibar (Mutual Broadcasting System)
1-1 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-2 Blutopia
1-3 Bond Promo
1-4 Clementine
1-5 My Hearts Sings
1-6 Sentimental Journey
1-7 I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
1-8 Three Cent Stomp
1-9 Black And Tan Fantasy
1-10 Blue Skies (Broadcast Break)
1-11 Broadcast Return
1-12 Passion Flower
1-13 Air Conditioned Jungle
1-14 Frantic Fantasy
1-15 I’m Beginning To See The Light (& Bond Promo)
1-16 Main Stem
1-17 Everything But You
1-18 Carnegie Blues
1-19 Jump For Joy – (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To be
1-20 Jumpin’ Pumpkins
1-21 A Door Will Open
1-22 West Indian Dance
1-23 I Ain’t Got Nothin But The Blues
1-24 Jack The Bear (Into Broadcast Close)
2-1 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-2 Carnegie Blues
2-3 Riff Staccato
2-4 Bond Promo
2-5 All At Once
2-6 Yesterdays
2-7 I Miss Your Kiss
2-8 Accentuate The Positive
2-9 Bond Promo
2-10 Blue Cellophane
2-11 (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Station Break)
2-12 (Theme)Take The “A” Train (Station Return)
2-13 Prelude To A Kiss
2-14 Caravan
2-15 Sophisticated Lady
2-16 I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues
2-17 I’m Beginning To See The Light – Bond Promo
2-18 In A Mellotone
2-19 Harlem Air Shaft
2-20 I Don’t Mind
2-21 Bond Promo
2-22 The Jeep Is Jumpin (Broadcast Close)
2-23 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-24 Just A-Settin And A-Rockin’
2-25 Clementine
2-26 The Wonder Of You
2-27 I’ll Buy That Dream
2-28 Come To Baby, Do (Broadcast Close)
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-1 to 1-9 , 2-2 to 2-22), Lloyd Trotman (2) (tracks: 1-20 to 1-24 ), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 2-23 to 2-28)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Liner Notes – Frank Rutter
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton (tracks: 1-1 to 1-24 , 2-1 to 2-22), Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris (tracks: 2-23 to 2-28)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance (tracks: 1-1 to 1-24 , 2-1 to 2-22)
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-7 , 1-23 , 2-16), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 3-1 , 1-17 , 2-8, 2-17 , 2-26), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-23 , 2-16), Marie Ellington (tracks: 2-20), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-19)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-19 – Treasury Broadcast No. 4, Adams Theatre, Newark, N.J, May 5th, 1945 (ABC)
Tracks 1-20 to 1-24 – Remote Broadcast From The New Zanzibar, New York City, October 1945 (NBC)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-22 – Treasury Broadcast No. 5, From Studio 6B, Radio City, NYC, May 12th, 1945 (ABC)
Tracks 23-2 to 2-28 – Remote Broadcast From The New Zanzibar, New York City, November 1945 (NBC)
1-1 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-2 Teardrops In The Rain
1-3 Everything But You
1-4 Ellington Bond Promo
1-5 Perdido
1-6 If You Are But A Dream
1-7 Pitter Panther Patter
1-8 Emancipation Celebration
1-9 Ellington Bond Promo
1-10 I Should Care
1-11 Take The “A” Train (Station Break)
1-12 Take The “A” Train (Broadcast Return)
1-13 In A Sentimental Mood
1-14 It Don’t Mean A Thing
1-15 Solitude
1-16 I’m Beginning To See The Light And Ellington Bond Promo
1-17 Subtle Slough
1-18 C-Jam Blues
1-19 Don’t You Know I Care
1-20 Ellington Bond Promo
1-21 Stomp Look And Listen
1-22 (Closing Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
1-23 In The Special Of The Old Apple Tree
1-24 9:20 Special
1-25 Tell Ya’ What I’m Gonna Do
1-26 West Indian Dance
2-1 A Door Will Open
2-2 In A Mellotone
2-3 Everything But You
2-4 Solid Old Man
2-5 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Into Broadcasting Closing)
2-6 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-7 Ellington Bond Promo
2-8 Sugar Hill Penthouse
2-9 Suddenly It Jumped
2-10 Ellington Bond Promo
2-11 Candy
2-12 A Friends Of Yours
2-13 Kissing Bug
2-14 Hollywood Hangover
2-15 Laura
2-16 Ellington Bond Promo (Station Break)
2-17 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-18 In The Special Of The Old Apple Tree
2-19 Frankie And Johnny
2-20 I’m Beginning To See The Light And Ellington Bond Promo
2-21 Midriff
2-22 I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues
2-23 My Honey’s Lovin Arms
2-24 Ellington Bond Promo
2-25 Rockin’ In Rhythm (Into Broadcasting Closing)
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Liner Notes – Rob Bamberger
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Reissue Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-14, 1-15, 1-19, 2-22), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-3, 1-14, 1-15, 1-25, 2-3 , 2-13 ), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-6, 1-14, 1-15, 2-22), Marie Ellington (tracks: 1-14, 1-15), Ray Nance (tracks: 2-11)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-22 : Treasury Broadcast No. 6 – Paradise Theatre, Detroit, Michigan – May 19th, 1945
Tracks 1-23 to 2-5 : Broadcast from the New Zanzibar, NYC – October 10th, 1945 (MBS)
Tracks 2-6 to 2-25 : Treasury Broadcast No. 7 from the Regal Theatre, Chicago, Illinois – May 26th, 1945
1-1 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-2 Mood To Be Wooed
1-3 Jack The Bear
1-4 Ellington Bond Promo
1-5 The More I See You
1-6 Way Low
1-7 Blues On The Double
1-8 Ellington Bond Promo
1-9 Summertime
1-10 (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Station Break)
1-11 (Theme) Take The “A” Train (Broadcast Return)
1-12 Come Sunday
1-13 Light
1-14 I’m Beginning To See The Light – Ellington Bond Promo
1-15 On The Alamo
1-16 Carnegie Blues
1-17 Ellington Bond Promo
1-18 Riff Staccato
1-19 Blues Skies
1-20 (Closing Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
1-21 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-22 As Long As I Live
1-23 Nine-Twenty Special
1-24 The Wonder Of You
1-25 Walkin With My Honey
1-26 Three Cent Stomp
2-1 Don’t Take Your Love From Me
2-2 Court Session
2-3 Emancipation Celebration
2-4 Let The Zoomers Drool
2-5 (Opening Theme) Take The “A” Train
2-6 Blues Is The Night
2-7 Ellington Bond Promo
2-8 Can’t You Read Between The Lines?
2-9 Hop Skip And Jump
2-10 Kissing Bug
2-11 Solid Old Man
2-12 I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues
2-13 Ellington Bond Promo
2-14 I Miss Your Kiss
2-15 (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Station Break)
2-16 (Theme) Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Broadcast Return)
2-17 Duke Ellington Presents The “Blues Clusters”
2-18 Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue
2-19 Rocks In My Bed
2-20 Crescendo In Blue
2-21 I’m Beginning To See The Light – Ellington Bond Promo
2-22 Teardrops In The Rain
2-23 My Little Brown Book
2-24 Ac-Cen-Tu-Ate The Positive
2-25 Ellington Bond Promo
2-26 C-Jam Blues
2-27 (Closing Theme) Take The “A” Train
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin, Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-21 to 2-4)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Reissue Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 2-1, 2-12, 2-23), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-14, 1-24, 2-10, 2-21, 2-24), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-5, 2-12), Marie Ellington (tracks: 2-19), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-18)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-20 : Treasury Broadcast No. 8 – Percy Jones Center, Battle Creek, Michigan – June 2nd, 1945
Tracks 1-21 to 2-4 : Broadcast from the New Zanzibar, NYC, September 18th,1945 (NBC)
Tracks 2-5 to 2-27 : Treasury Broadcast No. 9 from Paramount Theatre, Toledo, Ohio
These four CD sets are a great start to a Duke Ellington collection at a reasonable price. Continue reading →
Duke Ellington recorded thousands of selections over a nearly 50 year career. If you’re new to him, where do you begin? It’s daunting! These four CD sets are a great start to a Duke Ellington collection at a reasonable price.
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Take the “A” Train/Pitter Panther Patter/The Flaming Sword (Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band [2 disk set] Avid, AMSC1143)
Take the “A” Train was recorded 15 February 1941, Los Angeles
Wallace Jones, Ray Nance –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Pitter Panther Patter was recorded 1 October 1940, Chicago
Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton – bass.
The Flaming Sword was recorded 17 October 1940, Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Kinda Dukish-Rockin’ In Rhythm/Tutti for Cootie (The Great Paris Concert [2 disk set] Collectables, 7818)
Recorded 1 February 1963 in Paris, France
Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson – trumpet; Ray Nance – violin; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton,; Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Hot and Bothered/Lady of the Lavender Mist/Solitude (Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962 [3 disk set] Columbia 5176872)
Hot and Bothered was recorded 1 October 1928, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Lonnie Johnson – guitar; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Baby Cox – vocal.
Lady of the Lavender Mist was recorded 14 August 1947 in Los Angeles
Shelton Hemphill, Dud Bascomb, Francis Williams, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Claude Jones, Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Solitude was recorded 14 October 1957
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Day Dream/Caravan/Rockin’ in Rhythm (Ella Fitzgerald sings the Duke Ellington Songbook [3 CD set] Verve Records 559 248-2)
Recorded June 1957 in New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Billy Strayhorn (on Day Dream), Duke Ellington (Caravan and Rockin’ in Rhythm) – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Ella Fitzgerald – vocal
Over a half century, Ellington crossed paths with many illustrious musicians…. Continue reading →
Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra
Count Basie and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie
Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey
Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington
John Coltrane and Duke Ellington
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
St. Louis Blues (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosiac Records #248)
Recorded 11 February 1932, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Bing Crosby – vocal.
Tonight I Shall Sleep (With A Smile On My Face) (CD: “Black, Brown, and Beige” RCA Victor 6641-2-RB)
Recorded 14 May 1945, New York City
Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Claude Jones – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Bob Haggart – bass; Sonny Greer – drums
The Minor Goes Muggin’ (CD: “Highlights from the Duke Ellington Centennial Edition (1927-1973)” RCA Victor 09026636722)
Recorded 14 May 1945, New York City
Duke Ellington – piano; Charlie Shavers, George Seaberg, Mickey Mangano, Gerald Goff – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, Karl DeKarske, Dick Noel, Tex Satterwhite – trombone; Joseph Parkty, Gus Bivona, Sid Cooper, Vido Musso, Babe Fresk, Bruce Branson – reeds; Bob Bain – guitar; Bob Haggart – bass; Buddy Rich – drums; Sy Oliver – arranger.
Hello, Little Girl (CD: “Jazz Party” Columbia CK 40712)
Recorded 19 February 1959, New York City
Dizzy Gillespie, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, ussell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Jimmy Rushing – vocal.
Angelica (CD: “Duke Ellington & John Coltrane” MCA MCAD-39103)
Recorded 26 September 1962, New York City
John Coltrane – tenor sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Garrison – bass; Elvin Jones – drums.
Ray Charles’ Place (CD: “Duke Ellington meets Coleman Hawkins” Impulse! IMPD-162)
Recorded 18 August 1962, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Coleman Hawkins – tenor sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Duke Ellington – piano; Charles Mingus – bass; Max Roach – drums.
I Like The Sunrise (CD: “Francis A. & Edward K.” Reprise Records 1024-2)
Recorded 12 December 1967, Seattle
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Frank Sinatra – vocal.
Battle Royal(CD: “First Time” Columbia CK 65571)
Willie Cook, Edward Mullens, Cat Anderson, Andres Merenguito, Thad Jones, Sonny Cohn, Snooky Young, Lennie Johnson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Louis Blackburn, Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Marshal Royal, Johnny Hodges, Frank Wess(, Paul Gonsalves, Frank Foster, Budd Johnson, Harry Carney, Charlie Fowlkes – reeds; Duke Ellington, Count Basie – piano; Freddy Green – guitar; Aaron Bell – bass; Sonny Payne, Sam Woodyard – drums.
New Orleanian Barney Bigard joined the Ellington band in December 1927 and left in 1942 after tiring of life on the road. Continue reading →
“I honestly can’t tell much about my impression of the band that first night. I was too busy fighting the notes, the reading stuff, to pay much attention to the band. I remember the weird chords that would come in behind us. I wasn’t used to that kind of chording at all, but the more I played with them, the more accustomed my ear got to it all. I used to go to Duke in the intermission and say,”Those chords behind me on such-and-such a number: they just don’t sound right to me.” He would sit right down and show me what he was doing. He’d break all the principles of arranging too. He’d give a guy different notes to what he should have had for his instrument.”
-Barney Bigard, With Louis and the Duke
Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges
Autographs of Barney Bigard, Marshal Royal, Bill Berry and Britt Woodman
Autographs of Buster Cooper and Cat Anderson
Click here to connect to Mark Sowlakis’ excellent blog posting Albany “Barney” Bigard – New Orleans Creole Clarinet, complete with several transcriptions and a discography.
Geoff Winstead revised Cat Anderson’s high note trumpet method book.
“Paradox, Ambiguity, and Irony”
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
High Life (LP: “Mood Indigo” RCA ADL2-0152)
Recorded 16 January 1929 in New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley, Freddie Jenkins – trumpets; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums, chimes.
Rose Room (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Recorded 11 February 1932, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Clarinet Lament (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Recorded 27 February 1936 in New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trumpets; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Prologue to Black and Tan Fantasy/The New Black and Tan Fantasy (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Recorded 13 January 1938 in New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor, Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Caravan (CD:”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)
Recorded 19 December, 1936 in Los Angeles
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Juan Tizol – valve trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Are You Sticking? (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid AMSC1143)
Recorded 5 June 1941, Los Angeles
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.
Bojangles/Rose Room (CD: “The Fabulous Ellingtonians” Mercury 830 926-2)
Recorded 5 February 1945 in New York City
Barney Bigard – clarinet; Joe Thomas – trumpet; Johnny Guarnieri – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Cozy Cole – drums.
In A Mellow Tone/The Beautiful Americans (CD: “The Complete Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Sessions” Roulette Records / Blue Note 5245462)
Recorded 3 April 1961, New York City
Louis Armstrong – trumpet, vocal; Trummy Young – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Mort Herbert – bass; Danny Barcelona – drums.
Rose Room (CD: “Rugged Jungle” Lost Secret LSR-001)
Recorded 8 July 1972 at Carnegie Hall, New York City
Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, Harold “Money” Johnson, Johnny Coles – trumpet; Tyree Glenn, Vincente Prudente, Chuck Connors – trombone; Barney Bigard, Russell Procope, NorrisTurney, Harold Minerve, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Mood Indigo (LP: “Clarinet Gumbo” RCA APL1-1744)
Recorded 25 June 1973 in Hollywood, California
Barney Bigard – clarinet; Dick Cary – piano; Dave Koonse – guitar; Eddie Safranski – bass; Nick Fatool – drums.
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.
Examining different interpretations of Ellington’s Far East Suite Continue reading →
This podcast episode features three looks at Ellington/Strayhorn’s Far East Suite. The original, of course and then two interpretations that bend, yet don’t break, the material to fit their creative impulses and their very different instrumentations.
Slavic Soul Party! is in the brass band tradition, with accordion and tuba supplying the rhythm section’s harmonic functions.
Both groups creatively use their unique configurations to add stellar interpretations of the Ellington/Strayhorn canon.
“We especially thank Ellington and his colleagues for filling life with beauty and grace when so much was denied to them.”
– from the liner notes from Slavic Soul Party! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite
Paul Gonsalves and Duke Ellington sharing a hookah in Ctesiphon, Iraq during their State Department Tour in 1963.
The Ellington band was broadcast on TV on November 14, 1963 from Khuld Hall, Baghdad, Iraq. The resulting video, “Le Roi du Jazz Americain DUKE ELLINGTON ET SON ORCHESTRE” (The King of American Jazz, Duke Ellington and his Orchestra) is available to view (or download for free, courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration) at this link.
Take the “A” Train (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 23” Storyville 9039023)
Recorded 24 August 1946. Radio broadcast from the Meadowbrook Gardens Cafe in Culver City, California
Duke Ellington – piano
Tourist Point of View//Depk//Blue Pepper (Far East of the Blues)//Agra//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “The Far East Suite” Bluebird 7640-2-RB)
Recorded 19-21 December 1966, New York City
Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb– bass; Rufus Jones– drums.
Tourist Point of View//Depk//Agra//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “Ellington Suites” Jazz in Motion Records JIM 75219)
Recorded 16 February 2005, live at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam
Maarten Ornstein – tenor sax; Tony Overwater – bass; Wim Kegel – drums; Oliver Boekhoorn – oboe, English Horn; Ivar Berix – clarinet; Raaf Hekkema – alto sax; Jelte Althuis – bass clarinet; Alban Wesly – bassoon.
Tourist Point of View//Depk//Blue Pepper//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “Slavic Soul Party! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite” Ropeadope RAD-314)
Recorded November 2014, live at the Barbes, Brooklyn
John Carlson, Kenny Warren – trumpet; Matt Musselman, Tim Vaughn – trombone; Peter Hess – reeds; Peter Stan – accordion; Ron Caswell – tuba; Chris Stormquist, Matt Moran – percussion.
Portrait of Bert Williams (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)
Chatter Box (CD: “Fargo, ND, November 7, 1940” Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1019/20-2)
Heaven (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)
Rhapsody In Blue (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz 7567-90043-2)
Sonnet for Caesar (LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)
Tang (CD: “The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse” Original Jazz Classics OJCCD 645)
The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches Over Her (CD: “Latin American Suite” Original Jazz Classics OJC20 469-2)
Joog Joog (LP: “The World of Duke Ellington, Volume 2” Columbia KG 33341)
Azure (CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Azure (CD: “Sempre Amore” Soul Note SN 1170)
Everything But You (CD: “Black, Brown & Beige” Bluebird 6641-2-RB)
Everything But You (CD: “Cootie Williams – In Chronology, 1945 – 1946” Classics 981)
Everything But You (CD: “The Original Ellington Suite” Pacific Jazz – 7243 5 24567 2 7)
I Like the Sunrise (CD: “Francis A. & Edward K.” Reprise Records 1024-2)
I Like The Sunrise (CD: “Sunrise” Arbors Records ARCD 19458)
Bojangles (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Bojangles (CD: “Passion Flower – Zoot Sims plays Duke Ellington” Pablo OJCCD-939-2)
Tulip or Turnip (CD: “Happy Birthday, Duke! Volume 4” Laserlight Digital 15 786)
Tulip or Turnip (CD: “Hello Rev” Concord Jazz CCD-4027)
Bojangles/Rose Room (CD: “The Fabulous Ellingtonians” Mercury 830 926-2)
