Category: Clark Terry

And the Trumpets Sing! (Podcast #21-003)

Featuring the singing trumpeters of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Continue reading →

 

RayNanceRay Nance, photo by Lee Tanner

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

centennial editionDear Old Southland  (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

Recorded 4 December 1933, Chicago

Louis Bacon – trumpet, vocal; Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

centennial edition

Rude Interlude  (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

Recorded 26 September 1933, Chicago

Louis Bacon – trumpet, vocal; Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

centennial edition

I’ll Come Back For More (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

Recorded 20 March 1939, New York City

Louis Bacon – trumpet, vocal; Rex Stewart – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Baby, Ain’tcha Satisfied (CD: “The Duke’s Men: Small Groups, Vol. 1” Columbia C2K 46995)

Recorded 12 December 1934, New York City

Rex Stewart – cornet, vocal; George Stevenson – trombone; Rudy Powell, Bingie Madison – reeds; Roger “Ram” Ramirez – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Jack Maisel – drums.

small groupsAin’t The Gravy Good  (CD:”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)

Recorded 28 February 1939, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet, vocal; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

small groups

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

Recorded 20 May 1937, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet, vocal; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

small groups

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

Recorded 14 February 1940, Chicago

Cootie Williams – trumpet, vocal; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

blanton webster

Bli-Blip (CD: “The Blanton-Webster Band” Bluebird RCA 5659-2-RB35)

Recorded 26 September 1941 in Los Angeles

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

duke 100

You’re Just an Old Antidisestablishmentarianismist (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)

Recorded 30 September 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.

world broadcasting vol 2

It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 2” Circle ‎ CCD-102)

Recorded 1 December 1943, New York City

Ray Nance – trumpet, violin, vocal; Taft Jordan – trumpet, vocal; Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Harold Baker – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges(as); Otto Hardwick(cl,as); Skippy Williams(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

private collection vol 2Take the “A” Train  (CD: “The Private Collection, Volume 2: Dance Concerts California” ) LMR LMR CD 83001

Recorded 4 March 1958, Travis Air Force Base

Ray Nance – vocal; Harold Baker, Clark Terry – trumpet;  Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Bill Graham, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

terry brookmeyer


My Gal (CD: “Clark Terry – Bob Brookmeyer Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ 10199)
Recorded 1965, New York City

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2 – A Song That Always Makes Me Smile

Day 2 – A Song That Always Makes Me Smile – “Spanish Rice” – Clark Terry and Chico O’Farrill It was a close contest between this and another Clark Terry tune, “Mumbles” but the fact that I am addicted to 60’s soul jazz and Latin-soul jazz, won the day for this classic. It’s the title […]

Day 2 – A Song That Always Makes Me Smile – “Spanish Rice” – Clark Terry and Chico O’Farrill

It was a close contest between this and another Clark Terry tune, “Mumbles” but the fact that I am addicted to 60’s soul jazz and Latin-soul jazz, won the day for this classic. It’s the title track to the album that these two legends made in 1966 for Impulse Records. The album itself is good (not great) overall, but this tune’s groove is near-perfection, and the humorous bilingual patter between the two leaders is priceless. Terry gives us, what turned out to be, his wife’s recipe for the dish and then talks O’Farrill into a cab up to Harlem, to sample some, at “Fat Mama’s Soul Food”. Pure boogaloo fun and even a belch (gross!) from C.T., near the end. I’ve hear it a million times and it still never fails to make me smile!

Tomorrow: Day 3 – A song that makes me cry

Portrait of Juan Tizol (Podcast #20-005)

Valve trombonist Juan Tizol (1900-84) was an important member of the Ellington band. Besides instrumental duties, he was a composer, arranger and copyist.

Continue reading →

“Juan Tizol was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and suitably named after the saint, San Juan. He studied and mastered every instrument in the orchestra, but finally settled down to specialize on the valve trombone. He came to Washington, D.C., about 1920 in Marie Lucas’ orchestra, and played the Howard Theatre and the T.O.B.A. circuit. When we decided to add a valve trombone, [Arthur] Whetsol took the responsibility of convincing him to join us at the Cotton Club in 1929. He was a tremendous asset to our band….”

– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress

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Juan Tizol

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Charles Mingus played for a brief stint in the band of his hero Duke Ellington. Juan Tizol, Ellington’s longtime trombonist and sometime arranger, asked Mingus to play a certain solo, which the bass player decided to change slightly. The alteration so infuriated Tizol he threatened Mingus with his bolo knife. Mingus responded by attacking him during a performance. Here, according to Mingus in his Beneath the Underdog, is what the Duke said to him afterwards.

“Now Charles,” he says, looking amused, putting Cartier links into the cuffs of his beautiful hand-made shirt, “you could have forewarned me–you left me out of the act entirely! At least you could have let me cue in a few chords as you ran through that Nijinsky routine. I congratulate you on your performance, but why didn’t you and Juan inform me about the adagio you planned so that we could score it? I must say I never saw a large man so agile–I never saw anybody make such tremendous leaps! The gambado over the piano carrying your bass was colossal. When you exited after that I thought, ‘That man’s really afraid of Juan’s knife and at the speed he’s going he’s probably home in bed by now.’ But no, back you came through the same door with your bass still intact. For a moment I was hopeful you’d decided to sit down and play but instead you slashed Juan’s chair in two with a fire axe! Really, Charles, that’s destructive. Everybody knows Juan has a knife but nobody ever took it seriously–he likes to pull it out and show it to people, you understand. So I’m afraid, Charles–I’ve never fired anybody–you’ll have to quit my band. I don’t need any new problems. Juan’s an old problem, I can cope with that, but you seem to have a whole bag of new tricks. I must ask you to be kind enough to give me your notice, Mingus.”

From the blog “Billy and Dad’s Emporium”

Juan Tizol’s Oral Jazz History Interview can be found here

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

 

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION!***

 

small groups

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.

Juibiliesta

 

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Juibiliesta (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)

 

 

 

Highlights

Conga Brava/Moon Over Cuba (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid, AMSC1143)

 

fabulousKeb-lah/The Sphinx/Zanzibar/You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It (CD: “The Fabulous Ellingtonians” Mercury 830 926-2)

Recorded 7 April 1946, Los Angeles

Dick Cathcart – trumpet; Juan Tizol – valve trombone; Willie Smith – alto sax, vocal; Babe Russin – tenor sax; Arnold Ross – piano; Irving Ashby – guitar; Ed Mihelich – bass; Nick Fatool – drums.

on the air

Bakiff  (LP: “The Duke is On the Air” Aircheck Records #4)

Recorded 30 July 1952 in Chicago

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry – trumpet; Ray Nance – violin; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Hilton Jefferson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.

 

jazz after midnight

 

Caravan (CD: “The Complete After Midnight – The Complete Session” Capitol Jazz 7243 5 20087 2 8)

Recorded

Nat “King” Cole – vocal, piano; Juan Tizol – valve trombone;

centennial editionPerdido (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

 

maison du dukePyramid (CD: “The Great 1963 Paris Concert, Unissued Material” Maison du Duke MDD 009)

Recorded

Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

— Our closing music —-

0000120517It’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.

 

Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald (Podcast #18-017)

A look at the magical teaming of Duke and Ella….
Continue reading →

Ella Fitzgerald is a great philanthropist. She gives so generously of her talent, not only to the public, but to the composers whose works she performs. Her artistry always brings to mind the words of the Maestro, Mr. Toscanini, who said concerning singers, “Either, you’re a good musician or you’re not.” In terms of musicianship, Ella Fitzgerald is “Beyond Category.”

– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

 

cw jubilee

A-Tisket, A-Tasket/Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me (CD: “The Jubilee Shows No. 77 & 78” Storyville Records 501 1004)

Recorded 1 May 1944, Los Angeles (Note – On the podcast, I mistakenly stated the year was 1942.)

Ella Fitzgerald – vocal; Cootie Williams, E. V. Perry, George Treadwell, Harold “Money” Johnson – trumpet; Ed Burke, George Edward Stevenson or Ed Glover, Robert H. Horton – trombone; Eddie Vinson, Charlie Holmes, Sam Taylor, Lee Pope, Eddie DeVertemil – reeds; Bud Powell – piano; Lenny Kirkland – guitar; Norman Keenan or Carl Pruitt – bass; Sylvester Payne – drums.

 

ella and duke58

Drop Me Off in Harlem/I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)/Day Dream/Chelsea Bridge (CD: “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook” Verve Records ‎ 314 559 248-2)

Recorded 24-27 June 1957, New York City

Ella Fitzgerald – vocal; Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpet; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Billy Strayhorn (on I’ve Got It Bad, Day Dream and Chelsea Bridge), Duke Ellington (on Drop Me Off In Harlem) – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

stockholm concert

Duke’s Place/Satin Doll (CD: “The Stockholm Concert” Pablo Live ‎ PACD-2308-242-2)

Recorded 8 February 1966, at the Konserthuset, Stockholm
Ella Fitzgerald – vocal;  Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums. Jimmy Jones – piano; Joe Comfort – bass; Gus Johnson – drums.

Ella and Duke greek theatre

 

Cotton Tail (CD: “Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles”

Recorded 23/24 September 1966, Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

Ella Fitzgerald – 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; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums
Ella Fitzgerald and her trio : Jimmy Jones – piano; Jim Hughart – bass; Ed Thigpen – drums.

 

ella at dukes place

 

Brown-skin Gal (in the Calico Gown)/What Am I Here For? (CD: “Ella at Duke’s Place” Verve Records ‎  314 529 700-2)

Recorded 18-20 October 1965, Los Angeles

Ella Fitzgerald – vocal; Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington, Jimmy Jones – piano; John Lamb – bass; Louis Bellson – drums.

Portrait of Louis Armstrong (Podcast #18-014)

If there were a Mount Rushmore for American Music, Ellington and Armstrong would be guaranteed members. Here we highlight their collaborations. Continue reading →

“I loved and respected Louis Armstrong. He was born poor, died rich, and never hurt anyone on the way.

-Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress

satch duke esquire

satch duke

satch duke tptsatch duke grill

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Finale of a 1959 Timex Jazz Special: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, Paul Gonsalves, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa, Jo Jones, Cat Anderson, Vic Dickenson, and more!

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

 

esquire

Things Ain’t What They Used to Be (CD: “The Second Esquire Jazz Concert” Compact Classic TMCD 2173/74-2)

Recorded 17 January 1945 Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles

Louis Armstrong – trumpet; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Shelton Hemphill,  Rex Stewart, Cat Anderson, Taft Jordan,  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.

 

satch mosaic

Solitude (CD: “The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions 1935-46” Mosaic Records #243)

Recorded 19 December 1935, New York City

Louis Armstrong – trumpet, vocal; Leonard Davis, Gus Aiken, Louis Bacon – trumpet; Harry White, Jimmy Archey – trombone; Henry Jones, Charlie Holmes – alto sax; Bingie Madison, Greely Walton – tenor sax; Luis Russell – piano; Lee Blair – guitar; George “Pops” Foster – bass; Paul Barbarin – drums

 

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Long, Long Journey (CD: ” Esquire’s All-American Hot Jazz Sessions” BMG Music ‎– 6757-1-RB)

Recorded 10 January  1946, New York City

Louis Armstrong – trumpet, vocal; Charlie Shavers – trumpet; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Don Byas – tenor sax; Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano; Remo Palmieri – guitar; Chubby Jackson – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

 

paris blues

Wild Man Moore/Battle Royal (CD: “Paris Blues” Rykodisc ‎– RCD 10713)

Recorded 14 December 1960, Paris

Credits: Louis Armstrong – trumpet; Billy Byers – trombone; Guy Lafitte – tenor sax; Jimmy Gourley – guitar; Duke Ellington – piano; with Orchestra.

 

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(CD: “Louis Armstrong &Duke Ellington ‎– The Great Summit | Complete Sessions” Roulette Jazz ‎– 7243 5 24546 2 4)

Recorded 3/4 April 3-4 1961, New York City

Louis Armstrong – trumpet, vocal; Trummy Young – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Mort Hebert – bass; Danny Barcelona – drums.

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Portrait of Mahalia Jackson (CD: “New Orleans Suite” Warner Bros. 7411644)

Recorded 13 May 1970, New York City

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone – trumpet; Booty Wood, Julian Priester, Chuck Connors – trumpet; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.

 

louis and friends

Mood Indigo (CD: “Louis Armstrong And His Friends” BMG France ‎– 74321747942)
May 26, 1970: New York, NY

Louis Armstrong –  vocal; Arnold Black, Selwart Clarke, Winston Collymore, Manny Green, Harry Lookofsky, Gene Orloff, Joe Malin, Max Pollikoff – violins; Julien Barber, Alfred Brown, David Schwartz, Emanuel Vardi – viola; Charles McCracken, Kermit Moore, George Ricci, Allan Schulman – cello; Richard Davis, George Duvivier – bass; John Williams, Jr. – electric bass; Sam Brown, Kenny Burrell – guitar; James Spaulding – flute; Frank Owens – piano; Bernard “Pretty” Purdie – drums; Oliver Nelson – arranger, conductor.

— 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.

Where to Start? (Podcast #18-009)

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. 

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 The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

 

Highlights

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.

 

Great Paris Concert

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.

 

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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.

 

ella and duke58

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

Season’s Greetings! (Podcast #17-017)

Happy Holidays from Ellington Reflections! We will return with new bi-weekly episodes on 20 January 2018.. Continue reading →

Xmas

Happy Holidays from

Ellington Reflections!

 

We will return with new bi-weekly episodes on 20 January 2018

 

Thank you for all your support and encouragement. We love you madly!!!

Reflections from the Avant Garde (Podcast #17-014)

Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp and others interpret Ellington’s music. Continue reading →

“Now, when I was considered avant garde, Duke Ellington at that time was avant garde to me — and I’m sure Barry Ulanov would say the same thing, although he never exactly said Duke was avant garde; but Duke was, because his music was more modern than most things going on.”

— Charles Mingus

SUNRA

Sun Ra and his Arkestra at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA 1985 (photo by Steve Bowie)

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

montr

Take the “A” Train (CD: “Live at Montreux” Inner City )

Recorded 9 July 1976 in Montreux, Switzerland

Sun Ra – piano; Ahmed Abdullah, Al Evans, Chris Capers – trumpet; Vincent Chancey: – french horn; Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, James “Ham” Jackson, Elo Omo, Danny Davis – reeds; Tony Bunn, Hayes Burnett – bass; Clifford Jarvis, Larry Bright, Stanley Morgan – drums and percussion.

 

AEC

Creole Love Call (CD:”Ancient to the Future, Volume 1″ DIW 804)

Recorded 17-19 March 1987 in Brooklyn, NY

Lester Bowie – trumpet; Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman – reeds; Malachi Favors – bass; Famadou Don Moye – drums.

WSQ

Come Sunday (CD: “The World Saxophone Quartet Plays Duke Ellington” Nonesuch
79137)

Recorded April 1986 in New York City

Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake – alto sax; David Murray – tenor sax;  Hamiet Bluiett – baritone sax.

Highlights

Jumpin’ Punkins (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.

cecil taylor

Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “The Complete Candid Recordings of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger” Mosaic 127)

Recorded 9 January 1961 in New York City

Cecil Taylor – piano; Clark Terry – trumpet; Roswell Rudd – trombone; Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Charles Davis – baritone sax; Buell Neidlinger – bass; Billy Higgins – drums.

archie shepp

Prelude to a Kiss (CD: “Day Dream” Denon Jazz DC-8547)

Recorded 3 June 1977 in New York City

Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Walter Davis – piano; Earl May – bass; Philly Joe Jones – drums.

Steve Lacy

Ko Ko (CD: “Monk’s Dream” Universal / Verve E5430902)

Recorded 21-22 June 1999 in Paris

Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Roswell Rudd – trombone; Jean-Jacques Avenel – bass; John Betsch – drums.

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Summertime (CD: “Piano in the Foreground” Columbia / Legacy  87042)

Recorded 1 March 1961 in Los Angeles

Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

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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.

Portrait of Clark Terry (Podcast #17-003)

Trumpet virtuoso and flugelhorn pioneer Clark Terry was a featured soloist with the Ellington band from 1951-1959 Continue reading →

“The first time I ever heard about Clark Terry was when Charlie Barnet told me about him. Charlie was raving: ‘Clark Terry is the greatest trumpet player in the world. You wait and see. Or better still, go get him for your band, but hurry, because soon everybody is going to be trying to get him.’ I consider myself lucky indeed to get him in 1951.

Like Shorty Baker, Clark is from St. Louis, a city that seems to specialize in producing fine trumpet players. Although I don’t think he has had the recognition he deserves, there is one area I know where he is very much appreciated. He is a busy man, but he always finds the time to help the college bands around the country, and I am sure many a youngster has been inspired by him both as a man and as a musician.

When a trumpet player imitates Louis Armstrong, Louis gets the credit. When a trumpet player decides that his style is to be built on Dizzy Gillespie’s, Dizzy gets the credit. The same thing with those saxophone players who copied Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. But today, although I hear a whole new world of flugelhorn stylists formed behind Clark Terry, I hear non of the prime authorities on the subject say, ‘Clark Terry did this sixteen years ago.’ If this is not recognized soon, he could grow up to be the Barzillai Lew of the flugelhorn.” – Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress 

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Betty Grable, Harry James, Clark Terry, Duke Ellington (mid – 1950s)

Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry (University of California Press)

Clark

Keep On Keepin’ On, a documentary of Clark Terry’s mentor relationship with young blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin:

keep-on-keepin-on

I was fortunate enough to have seen Clark Terry in concert a few times. Below are autographs I obtained at a couple of the gigs:

CT Autograph2

CT Autograph1

 

Clark Terry with Count Basie

 

Transcriptions of Clark Terry’s solo on Boo-Dah (from “…And his mother called him Bill) by Kevin Sun

Transcription of Clark Terry’s solo on Blues for Smedley by Jeff Helgesen

The Duke Ellington trumpet section featured on El Gato

Clark Terry’s inimical Mumbles routine!

Clark Terry tells the story on how he joined the Ellington band:

A master educator, here’s Clark Terry dispensing some of his lifetime of wisdom:

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

duke with a difference

Take the “A” Train (CD: “Duke With A Difference” Original Jazz Classics 229)

Recorded 6 September 1957, New York City

Clark Terry – trumpet; Britt Woodman – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves – reeds; Tyree Glenn – vibes; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

 

drum is a woman
Hey Buddy Bolden (CD: “A Drum Is A Woman” Sony Music Distribution COL4713202)

Recorded 25 September 1956, New York City

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano and narration; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Joya Sherrill, Margaret Tynes, Choir – vocals.

 

such sweet thunderUp and Down, Up and Down (I will lead them Up and Down) (LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)

Recorded 24 April 1957, New York City

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson(t); Clark Terry(t,fl); Ray Nance – violin; 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.

 

capitol mosaic

Stardust (CD “The Complete Capitol Recordings of Duke Ellington” Mosaic Records MQ8-160)

Recorded 7 April  1953, Hollywood, California

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson,Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Butch Ballard – drums.


festival session

Idiom ’59, Part IV, Perdido (CD: “Festival Session” Sony Music Distribution COL4684022)
Recorded 8 September 1959, New York City

Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Andres Marenguito, Willie Cook, Ray Nance – trumpets, Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson -trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington(p); Jimmy Woode – bass; Jimmy Johnson,Sam Woodyard – drums

 

newport 1958Juniflip (CD: “Live at Newport 1958” Sony Music Distribution 53584)
Recorded 21 July 1958, New York City

Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpets; Clark Terry – flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton,  Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Bill Graham, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.


quincy jones


Boogie Stop Shuffle (CD: “Big Band Bossa Nova, The Newest Latin American Rhythm” Polygram Records/Verve 5075252)

Recorded 1962, New York City

Quincy Jones – arranger, conductor; Clark Terry – trumpet; Alan Raph -trombone; Julius Watkins- french horn; Phil Woods, Paul Gonsalves, Jerome Richardson – reeds; Lalo Schifrin – piano; Jim Hall – guitar; Chris White – bass; Rudy Collins – drums; Jack Del Rio, Carlos Gomez, Jose Paula – percussion.

 

terry brookmeyer
Mood Indigo (CD: “Clark Terry – Bob Brookmeyer Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ 10199)
Recorded 1966, New York City

Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone; Hank Jones – piano; Bob Cranshaw – bass; Dave Bailey – drums.

 

mother called him bill

Boo Dah (CD: “…And his Mother called him Bill” RCA 6287)

Recorded 28 August 1967, New York City

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpets; Clark Terry – flugelhorn; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper – trombones; Chuck Connors – bass trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Steve Little – drums.