“Take A Train” (Podcast #17-004)

Trains were a preferred mode of transportation for Duke Ellington and he captured their essence in several great compositions. Continue reading

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“You know the record, Daybreak Express? Well, when we were in the South, we’d travel by train in two Pullmans and a baggage car. Duke would lie there resting, and listening to the trains. Those southern engineers could pull a whistle like nobody’s business. He would hear how the train clatter over the crossing, and he’d get up and listen to the engine. He’d listen as it pulled out of a station, huffing and puffing, and he’d start building from there. Then, for when it was really rolling, he’d put something that [Sidney] Bechet played into the song. He had the whistles down perfectly, too. He’s quite a man!” – Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard, The World of Duke Ellington


 

This video includes a snippet of Daybreak Express:

 

You can get the score and/or band parts to Daybreak Express from the Smithsonian. Click here for details.

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Riding On Duke’s Train, by Mick Carlon, is in the process of being made into an animated feature. Click here for details! And here’s the link to their Facebook page.


 



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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 

Ella and Ellington

Take the “A” Train (CD: “Ella Fitzgerald sings the Duke Ellington Songbook” Essential Jazz Classics EJC 55426)

Recorded 24 June 1957, New York City

Ella Fitzgerald – vocal; Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Dizzy Gillespie – trumpets; 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.



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Daybreak Express (CD:“Highlights from the Duke Ellington Centennial Edition (1927-1973)” RCA Victor 09026636722)

Recorded 04 December 1933, New York City

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


 

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Happy-Go-Lucky Local (CD: “Ellington ’55” EMI Music Distribution 0688827)

Recorded 17 January 1954, Chicago

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet;  Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, George Jean – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Dave Black – drums.


 

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Night Train (LP: “The Solid Trumpet of Cootie Williams” Moodsville MVLP-27)

Recorded 4 April 1962

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Nat Jones – piano; Harold Dodson – bass; Bill Peeples – drums.


 

blues in orbit

Track 360 (CD: “Blues In Orbit” Columbia / Sony Music 88697492062)

Recorded 4 February 1958, Los Angeles

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


 

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The Old Circus Train (CD: “Never Before Released Recordings (1965-1972) Music Masters Jazz 5041)

Recorded 15 August 1966, 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; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.


 

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Loco Madi (from the Uwis Suite) (CD:  “The Ellington Suites” Original Jazz Classics OJC 34614)

Recorded 5 October 1972, New York City

Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, Harold “Money” Johnson, Johnny Coles – trumpet; Booty Wood, Vincente Prudente, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Minerve, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Wulf Freedman – bass guitar; Rufus Jones – drums.