“Now, when I was considered avant garde, Duke Ellington at that time was avant garde to me — and I’m sure Barry Ulanov would say the same thing, although he never exactly said Duke was avant garde; but Duke was, because his music was more modern than most things going on.”
— Charles Mingus
Sun Ra and his Arkestra at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA 1985 (photo by Steve Bowie)
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Take the “A” Train (CD: “Live at Montreux” Inner City )
Recorded 9 July 1976 in Montreux, Switzerland
Sun Ra – piano; Ahmed Abdullah, Al Evans, Chris Capers – trumpet; Vincent Chancey: – french horn; Marshall Allen, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, James “Ham” Jackson, Elo Omo, Danny Davis – reeds; Tony Bunn, Hayes Burnett – bass; Clifford Jarvis, Larry Bright, Stanley Morgan – drums and percussion.
Creole Love Call (CD:”Ancient to the Future, Volume 1″ DIW 804)
Recorded 17-19 March 1987 in Brooklyn, NY
Lester Bowie – trumpet; Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman – reeds; Malachi Favors – bass; Famadou Don Moye – drums.
Come Sunday (CD: “The World Saxophone Quartet Plays Duke Ellington” Nonesuch
79137)
Recorded April 1986 in New York City
Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake – alto sax; David Murray – tenor sax; Hamiet Bluiett – baritone sax.
Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid AMSC1143)
Recorded 5 June 1941, Los Angeles
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.
Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “The Complete Candid Recordings of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger” Mosaic 127)
Recorded 9 January 1961 in New York City
Cecil Taylor – piano; Clark Terry – trumpet; Roswell Rudd – trombone; Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Charles Davis – baritone sax; Buell Neidlinger – bass; Billy Higgins – drums.
Prelude to a Kiss (CD: “Day Dream” Denon Jazz DC-8547)
Recorded 3 June 1977 in New York City
Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Walter Davis – piano; Earl May – bass; Philly Joe Jones – drums.
Ko Ko (CD: “Monk’s Dream” Universal / Verve E5430902)
Recorded 21-22 June 1999 in Paris
Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Roswell Rudd – trombone; Jean-Jacques Avenel – bass; John Betsch – drums.
Summertime (CD: “Piano in the Foreground” Columbia / Legacy 87042)
Recorded 1 March 1961 in Los Angeles
Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
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.