“According to biographer Charles Delaunay, when Reinhardt mounted the stage to rehearse with Duke Ellington on November 18, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio, the Duke asked him what Key the tune was in. Django told him that he didn’t understand what the word “Key” meant. When they translated it for him, he told Duke to not worry about the Key, just play. ”
-Django ‘n Duke, Gypsy Jazz UK
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Very Tenor (LP: “The Greatest Jazz Concert In the World” Pablo 2625-070)
Recorded 26 March 1967, Carnegie Hall, New York City
Zoot Sims, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton – tenor sax; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Diminuendo In Blue/Blow by Blow (LP: “Paris Jazz Party” Affinity AFF 57)
Recorded 1 November 1969, Paris
Don Byas – tenor sax; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Ambrose Jackson, Harold “Money” Johnson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, François Guin, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, NorrisTurney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
C Jam Blues (CD: “S. R. O.” Denon 33C38-7680)
Recorded 1 November 1969, Paris
Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Ambrose Jackson, Harold “Money” Johnson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, François Guin, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, NorrisTurney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Ride, Red, Ride (CD: “Chefs-D’Œuvre & Insolites” Jazz Magazine Promo CD)
Recorded 10 November 1946, Chicago
Django Reinhardt – guitar; Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris, Claude Jones – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho/The General Jumped At Dawn (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 15” Storyville )
Recorded 27 October 1945, New York City
The Golden Gate Quartet – vocals; Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Cat Anderson, Taft Jordan – 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.
Me and You/Blue Rose (CD: “Blue Rose” Columbia CK 65506)
Recorded 8 & 11 February 1956, Los Angeles (Rosemary Clooney) Recorded 23 January 1956, New York City (Duke Ellington Orchestra)
Rosemary Clooney – vocal; Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, 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.
The Mooche (CD: “Live and Rare” Bluebird 09026-63953-2)
Recorded 28 July 1965, Tanglewood, Massachusetts
Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Louie Bellson – drums; Arthur Fiedler – conductor; Boston Pops Orchestra
Aurora Borealis (CD: “Collages” Folio – EFVEi-002)
Recorded 24 July 1967, Toronto
Duke Ellington – piano; Ron Collier – arranger and conductor; Eric Traugott, Dick Van Evera, Guido Basso, Fred Stone – trumpet and flugelhorn; Butch Watanabe, Ray Sicora, – trombone; Ron Hughes – baritone horn; Mary Barrow – french horn; Bernard Pilch, Moe Koffman, Rick Wilkins,Eugene Amaro, Garry Morgan – reeds; Ed Bickert – guitar; Pete Appleyard – vibraphone; Lenny Boyd – bass; Jerry Fuller – drums; String Section.
— 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.
