Category: Ella Fitzgerald

Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald (Podcast #18-017)

A look at the magical teaming of Duke and Ella….
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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:

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

“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.