Here’s a selection of what my iPod says are my most listened-to Ellington songs. Continue reading →
“iPod – 10,000 songs in your pocket”
– Apple marketing slogan
This is my “transcription” of Jimmy Hamilton’s clarinet solo on “Sonnet for Caesar” from c. 1982…
This is the song that has the most plays on my iPod. My grandfather had this on 78 rpm and I used to listen to it – a lot. I still do!
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Portrait of Bert Williams (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)
Recorded 28 May, 1940 Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombones; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney -reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Chatter Box (CD: “Fargo, ND, November 7, 1940” Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1019/20-2)
Recorded 7 November 1940 at The Crystal Ballroom in Fargo, North Dakota
Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance – 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.
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, Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.
Rhapsody In Blue (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz 7567-90043-2)
Recorded 20 December 1962, New York City
Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Sonnet for Caesar(LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)
Recorded 15 April 1957, New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; 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.
Tang (CD: “The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse” Original Jazz Classics OJCCD 645)
Recorded 17 February 1971, New York City
Cootie Williams, Eddie Preston, Harold “Money” Johnson, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Booty Wood, Malcolm Taylor, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope,
Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches Over Her (CD: “Latin American Suite” Original Jazz Classics OJC20 469-2)
Recorded 7 January 1970, New York City
Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Joog Joog (LP: “The World of Duke Ellington, Volume 2” Columbia KG 33341)
Recorded 22 December 1949, New York City
Ray Nance – trumpet; Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Forrest, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Lu Elliott, Kay Davis – vocal.
Praise God and Dance (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)
Recorded 22 January 1968, 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; Jeff Castleman – bass; Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.
— 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.
Valve trombonist Juan Tizol (1900-84) was an important member of the Ellington band. Besides instrumental duties, he was a composer, arranger and copyist.
“Juan Tizol was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and suitably named after the saint, San Juan. He studied and mastered every instrument in the orchestra, but finally settled down to specialize on the valve trombone. He came to Washington, D.C., about 1920 in Marie Lucas’ orchestra, and played the Howard Theatre and the T.O.B.A. circuit. When we decided to add a valve trombone, [Arthur] Whetsol took the responsibility of convincing him to join us at the Cotton Club in 1929. He was a tremendous asset to our band….”
– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
Charles Mingus played for a brief stint in the band of his hero Duke Ellington. Juan Tizol, Ellington’s longtime trombonist and sometime arranger, asked Mingus to play a certain solo, which the bass player decided to change slightly. The alteration so infuriated Tizol he threatened Mingus with his bolo knife. Mingus responded by attacking him during a performance. Here, according to Mingus in his Beneath the Underdog, is what the Duke said to him afterwards.
“Now Charles,” he says, looking amused, putting Cartier links into the cuffs of his beautiful hand-made shirt, “you could have forewarned me–you left me out of the act entirely! At least you could have let me cue in a few chords as you ran through that Nijinsky routine. I congratulate you on your performance, but why didn’t you and Juan inform me about the adagio you planned so that we could score it? I must say I never saw a large man so agile–I never saw anybody make such tremendous leaps! The gambado over the piano carrying your bass was colossal. When you exited after that I thought, ‘That man’s really afraid of Juan’s knife and at the speed he’s going he’s probably home in bed by now.’ But no, back you came through the same door with your bass still intact. For a moment I was hopeful you’d decided to sit down and play but instead you slashed Juan’s chair in two with a fire axe! Really, Charles, that’s destructive. Everybody knows Juan has a knife but nobody ever took it seriously–he likes to pull it out and show it to people, you understand. So I’m afraid, Charles–I’ve never fired anybody–you’ll have to quit my band. I don’t need any new problems. Juan’s an old problem, I can cope with that, but you seem to have a whole bag of new tricks. I must ask you to be kind enough to give me your notice, Mingus.”
Juan Tizol’s Oral Jazz History Interview can be found here
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
***UNDER CONSTRUCTION!***
Caravan (CD:”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)
Recorded 19 December, 1936 in Los Angeles
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Juan Tizol – valve trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Juibiliesta
Juibiliesta (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Conga Brava/Moon Over Cuba (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid, AMSC1143)
Keb-lah/The Sphinx/Zanzibar/You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It (CD: “The Fabulous Ellingtonians” Mercury 830 926-2)
Recorded 7 April 1946, Los Angeles
Dick Cathcart – trumpet; Juan Tizol – valve trombone; Willie Smith – alto sax, vocal; Babe Russin – tenor sax; Arnold Ross – piano; Irving Ashby – guitar; Ed Mihelich – bass; Nick Fatool – drums.
Bakiff (LP: “The Duke is On the Air” Aircheck Records #4)
Recorded 30 July 1952 in Chicago
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry – trumpet; Ray Nance – violin; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Hilton Jefferson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Caravan (CD: “The Complete After Midnight – The Complete Session” Capitol Jazz 7243 5 20087 2 8)
Perdido (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Pyramid(CD: “The Great 1963 Paris Concert, Unissued Material” Maison du Duke MDD 009)
Recorded
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – 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.
Geographically titled songs by Ellington and his associates. Continue reading →
“Night Life was New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Paris, Berlin; uptown, downtown; Harlem, out South; anywhere where they wore that gorgeous velvet mantle.”
– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Washington Wobble(CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 6 October 1927, New York City
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Rudy Jackson, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Mack Shaw – tuba; Sonny Greer – drums.
New York City Blues (LP: “The Complete Duke Ellington 1947-1952” CBS 462986 2)
Recorded 30 December 1947, New York City
Harold “Shorty” Baker – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Blue Belles of Harlem (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 7” D.E.T.S. – 903 9007)
Recorded 7 July 1945, New York City
Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – 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.
Mobile Blues (CD: “The Duke’s Men, Volume 2” Columbia Jazz Masterpieces – C2K 48835)
Recorded 21 December 1938, New York City
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
New East St. Louis Toodle-oo (CD: “Reminiscing In Tempo” Legacy – CK 48654)
Recorded 5 March 1937, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor, Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Freddy Jenkins – chimes.
Isfahan (CD: “All Star Road Band, Volume 2” Doctor Jazz FDC 5011)
Recorded 31 May 1964, Chicago
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Nat Woodard – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Peck Morrison – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Dallas Doings (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 26 September 1933, Chicago
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins, Louis Bacon – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Oculpaca (CD: “Latin American Suite” Fantasy OJC20 469-2)
Recorded 5 November 1968, New York City
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Willie Cook – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harold Ashby, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Rumpus in Richmond (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Recorded 22 July 1940, New York City
Cootie Williams, Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Montevideo(CD: “Piano Reflections” Capitol Jazz – CDP 7 92863 2)
Recorded 3 December 1953, New York City
Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Dave Black – drum, Ralph Collier – congas.
Moon Over Cuba (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Recorded 2 July1941, Los Angeles
Ray Nance, Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Oklahoma Stomp (CD: “Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931” Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640)
Recorded 29 October 1929, New York City
Cootie Williams, Freddy Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Teddy Bunn – guitar; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Howard “Blinky” Randolph – kazoo.
A Midnight In Paris (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
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.
Paris Blues (CD: “Duke Ellington and his Orchestra featuring Paul Gonsalves” Fantasy – F-9636)
Recorded 1 May 1962, New York City
Bill Berry, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Leon Cox, Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – 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.
This is the last part of our look at the 25 double CD set of Storyville’s Treasury Show series…. Continue reading →
“In April 1945, Duke Ellington began what was to be the largest single recording project of his career, though it is most unlikely that he or anyone else thought of it in such terms at the time… [He] signed an agreement with the newly formed American Broadcasting Company to broadcast a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon network shows under the title “A Date With The Duke.”… The recordings of these complete broadcasts…make up the largest single block of material in the Ellington discography.”
– Eddie Lambert, A Listener’s Guide – Duke Ellington
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
(Under construction…..)
— 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.
Lawrence Brown (1907-88) was a major voice in the Ellington orchestra. He played with Duke for 29 years, longer than any other trombonist in the orchestra. Continue reading →
“As a soloist, his taste his impeccable, but his greatest role is that of an accompanist. The old timers used to say, ‘Soloists are made, but accompanists are born’. Lawrence Brown is the accompanist par excellence. During the many years he was with us, records prove that his solo performances had the widest range from classical standard up to, around, and above the jet-swept contour of the vision we almost hear.”
-Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress
Lawrence Brown’s interview for the Jazz Oral History Project can be found here.
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
(Under construction…..)
Globe Trotter (CD: “Four Classic Albums” Avid Jazz AMSC999)
Recorded 15 January 1951, New York City
Emmett Berry – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Al Sears – tenor sax; Leroy Lovett – piano; Lloyd Trotman – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Creole Blues(CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
Recorded 14 July 1960, Los Angeles
Lawrence Brown – trombone; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass.
Stardust (CD: “Johnny Hodges, soloist, Billy Strayhorn and The Orchestra” Verve 314 557 543-2)
Recorded 11/12 December 1961, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Bill Berry, Howard McGhee, Eddie “Moon” Mullens – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums
Rose of the Rio Grande (CD: “The Great Paris Concert” Collectables 7818)
Recorded 1 February 1963, Paris
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Minnie the Moocher (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Warner Bros. 7411628)
Recorded 13 December 1962, Chicago
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Let’s Go Fly a Kite (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)
Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Nat Woodard – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Eddie Johnson, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
I Left my Heart In San Francisco(CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)
Recorded 27 April 1964, New York City
Cat Anderson, Rolf Ericson, Cootie Williams, Herbie Jones – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Major Holley – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Stompy Jones/Mood Indigo (CD: “Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges” GRP/Impulse! GRD-116)
Recorded 8 March 1965, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Ray Nance, Cat Anderson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Harold Ashby – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Richard Davis – bass; Gus Johnson (on “Stompy Jones”), Johnny Hodges, Jr. (on “Mood Indigo”) – drums.
A Beautiful Friendship (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)
Recorded Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams, Herbie Jones – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Rabbit Out of the Hat (CD: “Con Soul & Sax/Wild Bill is the Boss” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10283)
Recorded 17 January 1966, New York City
Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet; Wild Bill Davis – organ; Billy Butler – guitar; Bob Bushnell – bass; Joe Marshall – drums.
Rockville
— 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.
Lawrence Brown (1907-88) was a major voice in the Ellington orchestra. He played with Duke for 29 years, longer than any other trombonist in the orchestra. Continue reading →
“I have never worked beside a man that played as consistently and as beautiful as this man played. He had so much soul. I have to say soul. He could play blues, he could play melody, and he could almost cry on the trombone. He made such beautiful records.”
-Trombonist Quentin Jackson on Lawrence Brown
Lawrence Brown’s interview for the Jazz Oral History Project can be found here.
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
(CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Sheik of Araby. Recorded 16 May 1932, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Ducky Wucky. Recorded 19 September 1932, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Slippery Horn. Recorded 18 May 1932, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Slippery Horn. Recorded 17 February 1933, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Little Posey. Recorded 14 October 1939, Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Blue Light. Recorded 22 December 1938, New York City
Wallace Jones – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Transbluency ( A Blue Fog That you can almost see through) (CD: “Black, Brown & Beige” Bluebird 6641-2-RB)
Recorded 9 July 1946, Los Angeles
Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Francis Williams, Ray Nance, Harold Baker – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, 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; Kay Davis – vocal.
On a Turquoise Cloud (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
Recorded 22 December 1947, New York City
Ray Nance – violin; Lawrence Brown, Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Kay Davis – vocal.
Blue Cellophane (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 3” Circle CCD-103)
Recorded 2 January 1945, New York City
Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – 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.
Circe (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 19” DETS
Recorded 18 May 1946, New York City
Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Francis Williams, Reunald Jones, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Wilbur DeParis, 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.
The Golden Cress (LP: “The Hollywood Bowl Concert” Unique Jazz UJ-001)
Recorded 31 August 1947 Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Shelton Hemphill, Dud Bascomb, Francis Williams, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Claude Jones, Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – 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.
A few selections from Volumes 16 thru 20 of Duke’s Treasury Shows…. Continue reading →
“In April 1945, Duke Ellington began what was to be the largest single recording project of his career, though it is most unlikely that he or anyone else thought of it in such terms at the time… [He] signed an agreement with the newly formed American Broadcasting Company to broadcast a series of hour-long Saturday afternoon network shows under the title “A Date With The Duke.”… The recordings of these complete broadcasts…make up the largest single block of material in the Ellington discography.”
– Eddie Lambert, A Listener’s Guide – Duke Ellington
The recordings heard on this podcast episode came from the following CDs:
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.16
D.E.T.S. – 903 9016
Tracklist
1-1 (Theme) Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro
1-2 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’
1-3 (Theme) Take The “A” Train
1-4 9:20 Special
1-5 Frustration(1)
1-6 Ellington Bond Promo
1-7 Dancing In The Dark
1-8 Dancing In The Dark
1-9 Crosstown
1-10 Passion Flower
1-11 Bond Promo
1-12 Victory Drive
1-13 Get On Board Little Children
1-14 (Theme) Take The “A” Train And Broadcast Return
1-15 Black, Brown & Beige : Come Sunday, Light 12:14
1-16 Ellington Bond Promo 1:22
1-17 11:60 PM 2:04
1-18 Tell It To A Star 2:13
1-19 I Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues 3:12
1-20 Cotton Tail 3:16
1-21 Waiting For The Train To Coming In 2:02
1-22 Star Spangled Banner & Broadcast Closing 2:03
1-23 Subtle Slough 3:01
1-24 Main Steam 1:57
1-25 Bakiff 4:29
1-26 Waiting For The Train To Coming In 2:02
2-1 (Theme) Take The “A” Train & Broadcast Intro 0:50
2-2 Walking With My Honey 1:50
2-3 Jack The Bear 3:40
2-4 Autumn Serenade 3:57
2-5 Ellington Bond Promo 0:50
2-6 Tell It To A star 2:16
2-7 Hey Diddle Diddle 2:04
2-8 I Can’t Begin To Tell You 3:16
2-9 How Deep Is The Ocean 3:29
2-10 The Wonder Of You 2:39
2-11 Victory Drive 1:18
2-12 As Long As I Live & Broadcasting Closing 1:18
2-13 Take The “A” Train 0:26
2-14 Interview With Duke Ellington 0:35
2-15 The Canteen Bounce 1:51
2-16 Perdido 0:14
2-17 Interview With Duke Ellington 1:42
2-18 Hayfoot, Strawfoot 2:03
2-19 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 4:30
2-20 Interview With Duke Ellington 1:32
2-21 A Slip Of The Lip 2:44
2-22 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 0:14
2-23 Interview With Duke Ellington 1:39
2-24 Ring Them Bells 3:53
2-25 Moon Mist 0:28
2-26 C Jam Blues 2:30
2-27 It Don’t Mean A Thing 2:40
2-28 Tonight I Shall Sleep 2:10
2-29 Ring Them Bells 3:21
2-30 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 2:21
2-31 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 0:21
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Nat Jones (5) (tracks: 1-22 to 1-25, 2-12 to 2-31), Otto Hardwicke (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-12)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-22 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-31), Lloyd Trotman (2) (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 2-1 to 2-12)
Cornet – Rex Stewart, Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-12)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-24, ), Ben Webster (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-24), Elmer Williams (tracks: 2-25 to 2-31)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Bernard Archer (tracks: 2-25 to 2-31), Claude Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-12, 2-24), Joe Nanton (tracks: 1-1 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-31), Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-24), Lawrence Brown (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-31), Sandy Williams (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-12), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-31), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-31), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-12),Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-22, 2-1 to 2-31), Wallace Jones (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-31)
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-19), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-12 , 1-17, 2-4, 2-10, 2-11, ), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-8 , 1-19), The Mellotones (9) (tracks: 1-13, 2-7)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-22 – Treasury Broadcast No. 30, Radio City, Studio 6-B, NYC, November 10,1945 (ABC)
Tracks 1-23 to 1-24 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, June 7, 1943 (MPS)
Track 1-25 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, June , 1943 (MPS)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-12 – Treasury Broadcast No.31, Radio City, Studio 6-B, November 17,1945 (ABC)
Tracks 2-13 to 2-24 – The Fitch Bandwagon Broadcast from Radio City, Studio 6-B, NYC, May 30, 1943
Tracks 2-25 to 2-31 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, September 5, 1943 (MPS)
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.17
D.E.T.S. – 903 9017
Tracklist
1-1 (Theme) Take The “A” Train & Intro 0:47
1-2 Way Low 4:10
1-3 “C” Jam Blues 4:16
1-4 The Kissing Bug 3:21
1-5 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 4:03
1-6 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 4:12
1-7 Caldonia 2:44
1-8 Fancy Dan 3:01
1-9 I’m Just A Lucky So And So 5:21
1-10 Take The “A” Train 3:33
1-11 Take The “A” Train 1:42
1-12 The Last Time I Saw You 3:10
1-13 On The Atchison, Topeka And Santa Fe 2:41
1-14 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:14
1-15 If I Loved You 2:54
1-16 I Can’t Begin To Tell You 3:46
1-17 The Wonder Of You 2:51
1-18 Riff ‘N’ Drill And Close 2:34
1-19 Take The “A” Train 0:25
1-20 Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me 3:30
1-21 It Don’t Mean A Thing If Ain’t Got That Swing 2:54
1-22 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 0:57
1-23 Take The “A” Train 0:35
1-24 San Fernando Valley 2:51
1-25 Way Low (Aborted) ; Suddenly It Jumped 3:10
1-26 Summertime (Incomplete) 0:37
1-27 On The Alamo 2:27
1-28 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 1:12
2-1 Caravan 3:34
2-2 Rugged Romeo 2:58
2-3 Sono 4:07
2-4 Air Conditioned Jungle 5:56
2-5 Circe 4:47
2-6 Rhapsoditty 7:03
2-7 Fugueaditty 2:25
2-8 Take The “A” Train 1:02
2-9 Jam-A-Ditty 4:05
2-10 Magenta Haze 5:11
2-11 Diminuendo In Blue/Transbluency/Crescendo In Blue 12:08
2-12 Pitter Panther Patter 2:29
2-13 The Suburbanite 3:55
2-14 Boys Meets Horn 3:52
2-15 Jump For Joy 2:15
2-16 Three Cent Stomp (Incomplete) 1:29
2-17 Solid Old Man 3:05
2-18 How Blue The Night 1:41
2-19 Ring Dem Bells 1:33
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-19 to 1-28, 2-13 to 2-31), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18, 2-14 to 2-19)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18, 2-1 to 2-13)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Elmer Williams (tracks: 1-19 to 1-28, 2-14 to 2-19), Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton (tracks: 2-14 to 2-19), Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-23 to 1-25, 2-13 to 2-24), Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Bernard Flood (tracks: 2-1 to 2-13), Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18, 2-1 to 2-13), Ray Nance (tracks: 1-19 to 1-28, 2-14 to 2-19), Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-1 to 1-28, 2-14 to 2-19), Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-19 to 1-28, 2-1 to 2-19)
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance (tracks: 1-19 to 1-28, 2-14 to 2-19)
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-9, 1-26,), Joya Sherrill (tracks: 1-4, 1-17 ), The Mellotones (9) (tracks: 1-7)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-18 – Treasury Broadcast No. 32, Radio City, Studio 6-B, NYC, November 24,1945 (ABC)
Tracks 1-19 to 1-22 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, April 9, 1943 (MPS)
Tracks 1-23 to 1-28 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, April 20 , 1943 (MPS)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-13 – Treasury Broadcast No. 33, Civic Opera House, Chicago, ILL, January 20, 1946
Tracks 2-14 to 2-16 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, April 21, 1944 (MBS)
Tracks 2-25 to 2-31 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, April 27, 1944 (MBS)
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.18
D.E.T.S. – 903 9018
Tracklist
1-1 Jam-A-Ditty 1:20
1-2 Blues Is The Night 2:55
1-3 Passion Flower 3:00
1-4 Take The “A” Train 0:45
1-5 Mood To Be Wooed 4:38
1-6 Caravan 4:16
1-7 Bond Promo 1:09
1-8 Don’t Take Your Love From Me 4:10
1-9 Take The “A” Train 0:48
1-10 The Blues 7:47
1-11 Bond Promo 1:08
1-12 Sono 5:27
1-13 One O’Clock Jump 5:19
1-14 I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So 3:26
1-15 Riff Staccato 2:59
1-16 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 1:34
1-17 Rockabye River (Hop, Skip, Jump) 2:48
1-18 Jumping Frog Jump 3:39
1-19 Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me 2:58
1-20 Johnny Come Lately 2:38
1-21 Poinciana 2:37
1-22 On The Alamo 2:31
1-23 Three Cent Stomp 3:36
1-24 I Didn’t Know About You 3:01
2-1 Take The “A” Train 0:54
2-2 Stompy Jones 4:17
2-3 Moon Mist 3:11
2-4 Bond Promo 1:17
2-5 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 4:57
2-6 I Can’t Believe That You ‘re In Love With Me 4:19
2-7 Sophisticated Lady 2:34
2-8 Bond Promo 1:09
2-9 Jennie 2:35
2-10 I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So 3:02
2-11 Black Brown And Beige : Come Sunday & Light 11:48
2-12 Bond Promo 0:12
2-13 We’ll Be Together Again 3:29
2-14 Hollywood Hangover 4:18
2-15 Subtle Slough 4:21
2-16 Bond Promo 1:04
2-17 Perdido 3:05
2-18 Time Alone Will Tell 2:27
2-19 San Fernando Valley 1:53
2-20 Stomp, Look And Listen 4:09
2-21 Concerto For Cootie 0:34
2-22 Long Ago And Far Away 2:35
2-23 Someone 2:08
2-24 Suddenly It Jumped 2:55
2-26 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 1:38
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke (tracks: 1-1 to 1-24, 2-18 to 18-24), Russell Procope(tracks: 2-1 to 2-17)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-17 to 1-24, 2-18 to 2-25), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 2-1 to 2-17)
Cornet – Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-17 to 1-24, 2-18 to 2-24)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 2-1 to 2-17, 2-22 to 2-25), Elmer Williams (tracks: 1-17 to 1-24, 2-18 to 2-21)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 2-1 to 2-17)
Trumpet – Bernard Flood (tracks: 1-1- to 1-3), Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-16), Francis Williams(tracks: 1-1 to 1-16, 2-1 to 2-17), Reunald Jones (tracks: 1-4 to 1-16, 2-1 to 2-17), Hemphill, Taft
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-9, 1- 14, 1-19, 2-5, 2-22 ), Kay Davis (tracks: 2-13)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-3 – Broadcast ,KABC Studios, San Antonio, Texas, April 13, 1946(ABC)
Tracks 1-4 to 1-16 – Treasury Broadcast No. 34, Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C., April 20, 1946 (ABC)
Tracks 1-17 to 1-24 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, April 28 , 1943 (MBS)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-17 – Treasury Broadcast No. 35, Municipal Auditorium, Worcester, Mass., April 27, 1946 (ABC)
Tracks 2-18 to 2-25 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, May 12&19, 1944 (MBS)
Tracks 1-1 to 1-16 issued on LP DETS 34
Tracks 2-1 to 2-17 issued on LP DETS 35
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.19
D.E.T.S. – 903 9019
Tracklist
1-1 Take The “A” Train 0:36
1-2 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 4:02
1-3 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 0:58
1-4 9:20 Special 3:48
1-5 I Can’t Get Started 4:12
1-6 Flamingo 0:54
1-7 Fancy Dan 3:33
1-8 Diminuendo In Blue 3:00
1-9 Transbluency 4:02
1-10 Crescendo In Blue 3:57
1-11 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 1:09
1-12 Someone 3:07
1-13 Three Cent Stomp 3:47
1-14 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 1:08
1-15 I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So 2:47
1-16 Intro 0:34
1-17 Barzillai Lew 2:39
1-18 The “C” Jam Blues 2:40
1-19 Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me 3:52
1-20 Subtle Slough 3:26
1-21 Take The “A” Train 0:13
2-1 In A Mellotone 2:59
2-2 I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So 2:35
2-3 Announcement 0:34
2-4 Sono 4:34
2-5 Rugged Romeo 3:21
2-6 Circe 4:46
2-7 Air Conditioned Jungle 5:08
2-8 Full Moon And Empty Arms 2:20
2-9 Announcement 0:20
2-10 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 0:48
2-11 Laughin’ On The Outside 3:27
2-12 Take The “A” Train 1:49
2-13 Take The “A” Train 0:52
2-14 Just A-Sittin’ And A-Rockin’ 4:24
2-15 Crosstown 2:55
2-16 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 1:11
2-17 Summertime 3:12
2-18 Teardrops In The Rain 3:07
2-19 Frankie And Johnny 8:02
2-20 Duke Ellington Bond Promotion 1:12
2-21 Hop, Skip And Jump 2:57
2-22 Take The “A” Train 0:32
2-23 Take It From Here 2:18
2-24 Later Tonight 1:12
2-25 Wait For Me Mary 2:18
2-26 Go Away Blues 2:02
2-27 Tonight I Shall Sleep 1:59
2-28 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 1:12
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Nat Jones (5) (tracks: 1-16 to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28)
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope (tracks: 1-15 to 2-15, 2-1 to 2-21)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-16 to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21)
Cornet – Rex Stewart (tracks: 1-17 to 1-24, 2-18 to 2-24)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Elmer Williams (tracks: 1-16 to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28), Elmer Williams (tracks: 1-17 to 1-24, 2-18 to 2-21)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Bernard Archer (tracks: 1-16 to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28), Claude Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Francis Williams (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Reunald Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-15, 2-1 to 2-21), Taft Jordan, Wallace Jones (tracks: 1-16- to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28)
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-6, 1- 15, 2-2, 2-17, 2-27), Betty Roché (tracks: 2-26), Kay Davis (tracks: 1-15, 2-8)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-15 – Treasury Broadcast No. 36, Dartmouth College, Hanoner, NH, May 4,1946, (ABC)
Tracks 1-16 to 1-21 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, September 3, 1943 (MBS)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-21 – Treasury Broadcast No. 37 & 38, Radio City, New York, May 18 & 25, 1946 (ABC)
Tracks 2-22 to 2-28 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, September 1, 1943 (MBS)
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.20
D.E.T.S. – 903 9020
Tracklist
1-1 Take The “A” Train 0:40
1-2 A Flower Is A Lonesome Thing 3:29
1-3 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 0:58
1-4 Main Steam 3:19
1-5 A Ghost Of A Chance 3:14
1-6 Interview With Duke Ellington 0:39
1-7 In A Jam 3:22
1-8 I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So 3:48
1-9 Stomp, Look And Listen 3:45
1-10 Come Rain Or Come Shine 3:18
1-11 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:29
1-12 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 2:07
1-13 Summertime 2:57
1-14 Jack The Bear 3:33
1-15 Sentimental Lady 3:19
1-16 In A Mellotone 3:07
1-17 Rockin’ In Rhythm 4:23
2-1 Take The “A” Train 0:43
2-2 Mood To Be Wooded 4:47
2-3 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:03
2-4 Johnny Come Lately 2:40
2-5 They Say It’s Wonderful 2:45
2-6 Strange Love 2:44
2-7 Honeysuckle Rose 3:17
2-8 Don’t Take Your Love From Me 4:44
2-9 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:04
2-10 Blue On The Double 4:40
2-11 Take The “A” Train 0:36
2-12 Take The “A” Train 0:51
2-13 Come Sunday 6:27
2-14 Light 4:24
2-15 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:01
2-16 Lover Man 3:23
2-17 Riff Staccato 3:10
2-18 Mood Indigo 4:39
2-19 Duke Ellington Bond Promo 1:08
2-20 Riff’N’Drill 2:17
2-21 Johnny Come Lately 1:32
2-22 Emancipation Celebration 2:25
2-23 Go Away Blues 2:06
2-24 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 2:13
2-25 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be 1:00
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Otto Hardwicke (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20)
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Johnny Hodges, Nat Jones (5) (tracks: 1-13 to 1-17, 2-21 to 25)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Junior Raglin (tracks: 1-13 to 1-17, 2-21 to 2-25), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20)
Drums – Sonny Greer
Guitar – Fred Guy
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn
Piano, Arranged By, Leader – Duke Ellington
Producer – Jerry Valburn
Tenor Saxophone – Al Sears (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Ben Webster (tracks: 1-13 to 1-17, 2-21 to 2-25)
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Claude Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol (tracks: 1-13 to 1-17, 2-21 to 2-25), Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20)
Trumpet – Cat Anderson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Francis Williams (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Harold Baker (tracks: 1-13 to 1-17, 2-21 to 2-17), Reunald Jones (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Shelton Hemphill (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-20), Taft Jordan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-25),Wallace Jones (tracks: 1-16- to 1-21, 2-22 to 2-28)
Trumpet, Violin – Ray Nance
Voice – Al Hibbler (tracks: 1-8, 1- 13, 2-2, 2-8, 2-24), Betty Roché (tracks: 2-23), Kay Davis (tracks: 2-5), Marion Cox (tracks: 1-5), Ray Nance (tracks: 2-17)
Notes
Tracks 1-1 to 1-12 – Treasury Broadcast No. 39, Rehearsal Hall, Paramount Theatre, NYC ,June 1, 1946, (ABC)
Tracks 1-13 to 1-17 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, September 10, 1943 (MBS)
Tracks 2-1 to 2-20 – Treasury Broadcast No. 40, WEEU Studios, Reading, PA., June 8, 1946 (ABC)
Tracks 2-21 to 2-25 – Broadcast from the Hurricane Restaurant, NYC, September 7, 1943 (MBS)
Reedman Otto “Toby” Hardwicke was one of the earliest Ellingtonians. Continue reading →
“The amazing thing about [Duke Ellington] is that the language, the slant, everything, it’s all acquired. It didn’t rub off from someone else, and it wasn’t a legacy, either. He went inside himself to find it. He’s an only, that’s for sure. They threw away carbons.”
-Otto Hardwicke
Otto Hardwicke
Otto Hardwicke’s autograph
Publicity photograph of the Duke Ellington reed section. Top – Johnny Hodges – alto sax, Barney Bigard – tenor sax, Harry Carney – alto sax. Bottom – Otto Hardwicke – bass sax.
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Doin’ the Frog(CD: “Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931” Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640)
Recorded 29 December 1927, New York City
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Rudy Jackson, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Jubilee Stomp (CD: “The Okeh Ellington” Columbia C2K 46177)
Recorded 19 January 1928, New York City
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
(CD: ”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)
The Boys from Harlem – recorded 21 December 1938, New York City
Swing Pan Alley – recorded 2 August 1938, New York City
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
In A Sentimental Mood (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
Recorded 30 April 1935, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy- guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Sophisticated Lady (CD: “Fargo, ND, November 7, 1940” Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1019/20-2)
Recorded 7 November 1940 at The Crystal Ballroom in Fargo, North Dakota
Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance – 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.
I Should Care (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 4” DETS 903 9004)
Recorded 19 May 1945, Live at the Paradise Theatre, Detroit
Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – 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.
— 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.
“Bubber Miley was from the body and soul of Soulville. He was raised on soul and saturated and marinated in soul. Every note he played was soul filled with the pulse of compulsion….. Bubber was born in South Carolina, but … Continue reading →
“Bubber Miley was from the body and soul of Soulville. He was raised on soul and saturated and marinated in soul. Every note he played was soul filled with the pulse of compulsion…..
Bubber was born in South Carolina, but his family moved to New York when he was quite young, and he was raised there. His growl solos with the plunger mute were another of our early sound identities, and between 1925 and 1929 he laid the foundation of a tradition that has been maintained ever since by men like Cootie Williams and Ray Nance.” –
– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Early Ellington (1927 – 1934), Bluebird 6852-2-RB
Black and Tan Fantasy, recorded 6 October 1927, Camden, New Jersey
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; unknown, Edgar Sampson, Otto Hardwicke – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Mack Shaw – tuba.
East St. Louis Toodle-oo, recorded 3 December 1927, New York City
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Rudy Jackson, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Doin’ the Voom Voom and Flaming Youth, recorded 16 January 1929, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931, Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640 (3 CD set)
The Mooche, recorded 17 October 1928, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley, unknown – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
The Okeh Ellington, Columbia C2K 46177 (2 CD set)
Take it Easy, recorded 19 January 1928, New York City
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
The Mooche, recorded 1 October 1928, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Lonnie Johnson – guitar; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Baby Cox – vocal.
The Bix Beiderbecke Story, Proper Records P1362 (4 CD set)
Louisiana, recorded 23 April 1928, New York City
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra: Henry Busse, Charles Margulis, Eddie Prinder – trumpet; Bix Beiderbecke – cornet; Boyce Cullen, Wilbur Hall, Bill Rank, Jack Fulton – trombone; Irving Friedman, Chet Hazlett, Rube Crozier, Frank Trumbauer, Red Mayer, Charles Strickfaden – reeds; Kurt Dierterle, Mischa Russell, Matty Malneck, Mario Perry, John Bowman, Charles Gaylord – violin; Roy Bargy, Lennie Hayton – piano; Mike Pingitore – banjo; Min Leibrook – tuba; Mike Trafficante – bass; Hal McDonald – drums; Bing Crosby, Jack Fulton, Austin Young, Charles Gaylord – vocal.
Rockin’ Chair, recorded 21 May 1930, New York City
Bix Beiderbecke – cornet; James “Bubber” Miley – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey – trombone; Arnold Brilhart, Benny Goodman, Bud Freeman – reeds; Joe Venuti – violin; Hoagy Carmichael – piano, vocal; .Eddie Lang – guitar; Harry Goodman – bass; Gene Krupa – drums; Irving Brodsky – vocal.
— 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.
Portrait of Bert Williams (CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)
Chatter Box (CD: “Fargo, ND, November 7, 1940” Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1019/20-2)
Heaven (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)
Rhapsody In Blue (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Atlantic Jazz 7567-90043-2)
Sonnet for Caesar (LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)
Tang (CD: “The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse” Original Jazz Classics OJCCD 645)
The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches Over Her (CD: “Latin American Suite” Original Jazz Classics OJC20 469-2)
Joog Joog (LP: “The World of Duke Ellington, Volume 2” Columbia KG 33341)
Keb-lah/The Sphinx/Zanzibar/You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It (CD: “The Fabulous Ellingtonians” Mercury 830 926-2)
Perdido (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Pyramid (CD: “The Great 1963 Paris Concert, Unissued Material” Maison du Duke MDD 009)
Washington Wobble (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
New York City Blues (LP: “The Complete Duke Ellington 1947-1952” CBS 462986 2)
Blue Belles of Harlem (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 7” D.E.T.S. – 903 9007)
Mobile Blues (CD: “The Duke’s Men, Volume 2” Columbia Jazz Masterpieces – C2K 48835)
New East St. Louis Toodle-oo (CD: “Reminiscing In Tempo” Legacy – CK 48654)
Isfahan (CD: “All Star Road Band, Volume 2” Doctor Jazz FDC 5011)
Oculpaca (CD: “Latin American Suite” Fantasy OJC20 469-2)
Rumpus in Richmond (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Montevideo (CD: “Piano Reflections” Capitol Jazz – CDP 7 92863 2)
Oklahoma Stomp (CD: “Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931” Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640)
A Midnight In Paris (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
Paris Blues (CD: “Duke Ellington and his Orchestra featuring Paul Gonsalves” Fantasy – F-9636)
Globe Trotter (CD: “Four Classic Albums” Avid Jazz AMSC999)
Stardust (CD: “Johnny Hodges, soloist, Billy Strayhorn and The Orchestra” Verve 314 557 543-2)
Rose of the Rio Grande (CD: “The Great Paris Concert” Collectables 7818)
Minnie the Moocher (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Warner Bros. 7411628)
Stompy Jones/Mood Indigo (CD: “Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges” GRP/Impulse! GRD-116)
Rabbit Out of the Hat (CD: “Con Soul & Sax/Wild Bill is the Boss” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10283)
Transbluency ( A Blue Fog That you can almost see through) (CD: “Black, Brown & Beige” Bluebird 6641-2-RB)
Blue Cellophane (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 3” Circle CCD-103)
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.16
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.17
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.18
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Treasury Shows Vol.20
