Ivie Anderson – Victor Yalovets Music

Portrait of Ivie Anderson (Podcast #18-010)

Ivie Anderson was Duke’s first full time singer and was perhaps his best vocalist. Continue reading →

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“In addition to her great singing, Ivie was also considered a good-luck charm. We opened at the Oriental Theatre on Friday, February 13, 1931, and we broke the all-time house record. We returned to the Oriental on Friday, March 13, 1931, and broke that record, too. At the Palladium, our act was No. 13 on the bill.

They still talk about Ivie, and every girl singer we’ve had since has had to try to prevail over the Ivie Anderson image.”

–Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress

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Ivie Anderson’s restaurant (Ivie’s Chicken Shack) was part of Los Angeles’ African American jazz scene on Central Avenue.

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

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It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)

Recorded 2 February 1932 in 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.

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(CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)

All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm (Recorded 8 June 1937, New York City)

I’ve Got to be a Rug Cutter (Recorded 5 March 1937, New York City)

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Hayes Alvis, Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums, Ivy Anderson – vocal.

A Lonely Co-ed/I’m Checking Out, Goom-bye (Recorded 12 June 1939, New York City)

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums, Ivy Anderson – vocal.

Mood Indigo (Recorded 14 February 1940, Chicago)

Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums, Ivie Anderson – vocal.

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Way Down Yonder In New Orleans/Oh, Babe! Maybe Someday/The Five O’Clock Whistle (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; Ivie Anderson – vocal.

(CD: “The Webster Blanton Band,” Bluebird 74321131812)

Rocks In My Bed (Recorded 26 September 1941, Los Angeles)

I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) (Recorded 26 June 1941, Los Angeles)

Hayfoot, Strawfoot (Recorded 28 July 1942, Chicago)

Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol -trombone; Chauncy Haughton, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Ivie Anderson – vocal.

stereo reflections

Solitude (CD: “Stereo Reflections in Ellington” Natasha Imports NI-4016)

Recorded live on 28 July 1942 at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago

— 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.

Where to Start? (Podcast #18-009)

These four CD sets are a great start to a Duke Ellington collection at a reasonable price. Continue reading →

Duke Ellington recorded thousands of selections over a nearly 50 year career. If you’re new to him, where do you begin? It’s daunting! These four CD sets are a great start to a Duke Ellington collection at a reasonable price.

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

Highlights

Take the “A” Train/Pitter Panther Patter/The Flaming Sword (Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band [2 disk set] Avid, AMSC1143)

Take the “A” Train was recorded 15 February 1941, Los Angeles

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

Pitter Panther Patter was recorded 1 October 1940, Chicago

Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton – bass.

The Flaming Sword was recorded 17 October 1940, Chicago

Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

Great Paris Concert

Kinda Dukish-Rockin’ In Rhythm/Tutti for Cootie (The Great Paris Concert [2 disk set] Collectables, 7818)

Recorded 1 February 1963 in Paris, France

Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson – trumpet; Ray Nance – violin; 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.

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Hot and Bothered/Lady of the Lavender Mist/Solitude (Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962 [3 disk set] Columbia 5176872)

Hot and Bothered was 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.

Lady of the Lavender Mist was recorded 14 August 1947 in 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.

Solitude was recorded 14 October 1957

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, 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.

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Day Dream/Caravan/Rockin’ in Rhythm (Ella Fitzgerald sings the Duke Ellington Songbook [3 CD set] Verve Records ‎559 248-2)

Recorded June 1957 in New York City

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Billy Strayhorn (on Day Dream), Duke Ellington (Caravan and Rockin’ in Rhythm) – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Ella Fitzgerald – vocal

Beyond the Usual Suspects, Again (Podcast #18-006)

Another survey of Ellington covers – beyond those you usually hear. Continue reading →

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!

Duke Ellington performs The Perfume Suite with some animated friends

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

Skrontch (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosiac Records #248)

Recorded 21 December 1936 in Los Angeles

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Pete Clark – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums; Ivie Anderson – vocal.

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Skrontch (CD: “Fats Waller, Volume 4 of the Complete Recorded Works” JSP Records JSP77192D)

Recorded 12 April 1938 in New York City

Fats Waller – piano, vocal; Herman Autrey, John Hamilton, Nathaniel Williams – trumpet; George Robinson, John Haughton – trombones; William Alsop, James Powell, Fred Skerritt – alto sax; Gene Sedric, Lonnie Symons – tenor sax; Albert Casey – guitar; Cedric Wallace – bass; Slick Jones – drums.

Black Butterfly (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosiac Records #248)

Recorded 21 December 1936 in Los Angeles

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Black Butterfly (CD: “Passion Flower – Zoot Sims plays Duke Ellington” Pablo OJCCD-939-2)

Recorded 10/11 December 1979 in Los Angeles

Zoot Sims – tenor sax; Bobby Bryant, Oscar Brashear, Al Aarons, Earl Gardner – trumpet; J.J. Johnson, Britt Woodman, Grover Mitchell, Benny Powell – trombone; Marshal Royal, Buddy Collette, Plas Johnson, Frank Wess – reeds; Jimmy Rowles – piano; John Collins – guitar; Andy Simpkins – bass; Grady Tate – drums.

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Blue Bubbles (LP: “The Works of Duke, Volume 1” French RCA 731043)

Recorded 19 December 1927 in New York City

Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalfe – trumpet; Joseph “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombone; Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney, Rudy Jackson – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

bug music

Blue Bubbles (CD: “Bug Music” Nonesuch 79438-2)

Recorded May 1996 in New York City

Don Byron – clarinet; Uri Caine – piano.

Girls Suite

Strange Feeling (LP: “The Girl’s Suite and The Perfume Suite” Columbia C38028)

Recorded 1 June 1961 in New York City

Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Ed “Moon” Mullens – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Lou Blackburn, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Milt Grayson – vocal.

newton Strange Feeling (CD: “The African Flower – The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn” )

Recorded 24/25 June 1985 in New York City

James Newton – flute; John Blake – violin; Olu Dara – cornet; Arthur Blythe – alto sax; Sir Jay Hoggard – vibraphone; Roland Hanna – piano; Rick Rozie – bass; Pheeroan Ak Laff – drums; Anthony Brown – percussion; Milt Grayson – vocal.

Girls Suite

Dancers In Love (LP: “The Girl’s Suite and The Perfume Suite” Columbia C38028)

Recorded 9 December 1957 in New York City

Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Ray Nance – trumpet; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, John Sanders – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Milt Grayson – vocal.

swing reunions

Dancers In Love (CD: “Swing Reunion” Book-of-the-Month Records 71-7024)

Recorded 1/2 March 1985 at Town Hall in New York City

Red Norvo – vibraphone

Virgin Jungle (CD: “Concert in the Virgin Islands” Collectables 6734)

Recorded 14 April 1965 in Chicago

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Richard Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.

Virgin Jungle (CD: “The Door” Novus 3049-2-N)

Recorded 4/5 July 1988 in Paris

Steve Lacy, Steve Potts – soprano sax; Irene Aebi – violin; Bobby Few – piano; Jean-Jacques Avinel – bass; Sam Woodyard, Oliver Johnson – drums.