“Duke Ellington obviously enjoys Ashby’s tenor playing, because he has featured him on many different numbers… Ashby sits between two of the band’s greatest stars, Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonsalves, and when he gets up to blow he seems modestly overconscious of the fact, but when he sits down the listener has been made aware that he is where he deserves to be.”
— Stanley Dance, The World of Duke Ellington
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Jeep’s Blues/Out of Nowhere (CD:
Recorded 1961
Ray Nance – trumpet; Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves – tenor sax; Sir Charles Thompson – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Jo Jones – drums.
I Can’t Get Started (CD: “The Private Collection, Volume 9” Saja Records 91233-2)
Recorded 7 November 1968, New York City
Harold Ashby – tenor sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Rufus Jones.
Black Power (LP: “Paris Jazz Party” Affinity AFF 57)
Recorded 1 November 1969, Paris
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Ambrose Jackson, Harold “Money” Johnson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Francois Guin, Chuck Conners – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano: Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta (CD: “New Orleans Suite,” Warner Bros. 7411644)
Recorded 27 April 1970, New York City
Cootie Williams, Al Rubin, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone – trumpets; Booty Wood, Julian Priester, Malcolm Taylor – trombones; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta (CD: “Never Before Released Recordings (1965-1972),” Music Masters 5041-2-C)
Recorded 23 July 1970, Milan
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone, Nelson Williams – trumpets; Booty Wood, Chuck Connors, Malcolm Taylor – trombones; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Some Summer Fun (LP: “The Intimate Ellington” Pablo 2310-787)
Recorded 15 June 1970, New York City
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone – trumpets; Booty Wood, Chuck Connors, Julian Priester – trombones; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Chinoiserie (LP: “Concerts in Canada” Ellington ’87)
Recorded 25 May 1973, Winnipeg
Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, Harold “Money” Johnson, Johnny Coles – trumpet; Vincente Prudente, Murray McEachern, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Harold Minerve, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Doug Harris, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
The Brotherhood (LP: “Duke Ellington’s Third Sacred Concert, The Majesty of God” RCA APL 1-0785)
Recorded 24 October 1973, Westminster Abbey, London
Blue Serge (CD: “Continuum” Fantasy FANCD 24765)
Recorded 16-17 July 1974, New York City
Mercer Ellington – conductor; Cootie Williams, James “Buddy” Bolden, Harold “Money” Johnson, Barrie Lee Hall, Jr. – trumpet; Art Baron, Vince Prudente, Chuck Connors – trombone; Harold Minerve, James Spaulding, Maurice Simon, Harold Ashby, Harry Carney – reeds; Lloyd Mayers – piano; Larry Ridley – bass; Quentin “Rocky” White – drums.
Struttin’ with some Barbeque (CD: “I’m Old Fashioned” Stash Records ST-CD-545)
Recorded 1991
Harold Ashby – tenor sax; Richard Wyands – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Connie Kay – drums.
— 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.
