Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (Mood Indigo, 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:
All Too Soon (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Recorded 22 July 1940, New York City
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.
All Too Soon (CD: “Jazz Royalty: Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington” Soul Note SN 1170)
Recorded 18 March 1974, New York City
Earl Hines – piano.
Cotton Club Stomp (CD: Early Ellington (1927 – 1934), Bluebird 6852-2-RB)
Recorded 3 May 1929, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Cotton Club Stomp (CD: “Bug Music” Nonesuch 79438-2)
Recorded May 1996 in New York City
Charles Lewis, James Zollar, Steve Bernstein –trumpet; Craig Harris – trombone; Don Byron, Steve Wilson, Robert DeBellis – reeds; Paul Meyers – banjo; Kenny Davis – bass; Pheeroan akLaff – drums.
Take the Coltrane (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.
Take the Coltrane (CD: “The Hill” MCA MCAD-39103)
Recorded 29 November 1986, New York City
David Murray – tenor sax; Richard Davis – bass; Joe Chambers – drums.
Paris Blues (CD: “Midnight in Paris” Sony Music COL4684032)
Recorded 30 January 1962, New York City
Bill Berry, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Leon Cox, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Paris Blues (CD: “Paris Blues” Sunnyside Records SSC 3505,)
Recorded 30 November/1 December 1987, Paris
Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Gil Evans – electric piano.
Acht O’Clock Rock (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 15 November 1967, San Francisco
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.
Acht O’Clock Rock (CD: “Red Hot + Indigo” Kinetic Records RHO-13IND)
Recorded
Steven Bernstein – trumpet; Don Byron – clarinet; Art Baron – trombone; John Medeski – piano; Chris Wood – bass; Billy Martin – drums.
Jingle Bells (CD: “Jingle Bell Jazz” Columbia CK 40166)
Recorded 21 June 1962, New York City
Bill Berry, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Britt Woodman, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Auld Lang Syne (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz 7 90043-2)
Recorded 29 December 1962, New York City
Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Britt Woodman, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Strange Feeling (CD: “The African Flower – The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn” )
