Sittin’ In (Podcast #18-004)

Over a half century, Ellington crossed paths with many illustrious musicians….
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Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra


count and duke

Count Basie and Duke Ellington


dizzy and duke

Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie


tommy dorsey and duke

Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey


colemanhawkinsci_05-29-12

Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington


duke and trane

John Coltrane and Duke Ellington



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



mosaic

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

Recorded 11 February 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; Bing Crosby – vocal.


bbbcd

Tonight I Shall Sleep (With A Smile On My Face) (CD: “Black, Brown, and Beige” RCA Victor 6641-2-RB)

Recorded 14 May 1945, New York City

Shelton Hemphill,  Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Claude Jones – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Bob Haggart – bass; Sonny Greer – drums


centennial

The Minor Goes Muggin’ (CD: “Highlights from the Duke Ellington Centennial Edition (1927-1973)” RCA Victor 09026636722)

Recorded 14 May 1945, New York City

Duke Ellington – piano; Charlie Shavers, George Seaberg, Mickey Mangano, Gerald Goff – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, Karl DeKarske, Dick Noel, Tex Satterwhite – trombone; Joseph Parkty, Gus Bivona, Sid Cooper, Vido Musso, Babe Fresk, Bruce Branson – reeds; Bob Bain – guitar; Bob Haggart – bass; Buddy Rich – drums; Sy Oliver – arranger.


jazz party

Hello, Little Girl (CD: “Jazz Party” Columbia CK 40712)

Recorded 19 February 1959, New York City

Dizzy Gillespie, Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, ussell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Jimmy Jones – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Jimmy Rushing – vocal.


trane

Angelica (CD: “Duke Ellington & John Coltrane” MCA MCAD-39103)

Recorded 26 September 1962, New York City

John Coltrane – tenor sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Garrison – bass; Elvin Jones – drums.


hawkins impules

Ray Charles’ Place (CD: “Duke Ellington meets Coleman Hawkins” Impulse! IMPD-162)

Recorded 18 August 1962, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Coleman Hawkins – tenor sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.


money jungle

Money Jungle (CD: “Money Jungle” Blue Note 7243 5 38227 2 9)

Recorded 17 September 1962, New York City

Duke Ellington – piano; Charles Mingus – bass; Max Roach – drums.


sinatra

I Like The Sunrise (CD: “Francis A. & Edward K.” Reprise Records ‎ 1024-2)

Recorded 12 December 1967, Seattle

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 – drums; Frank Sinatra – vocal.


first time cd

Battle Royal (CD: “First Time” Columbia CK 65571)

Willie Cook, Edward Mullens, Cat Anderson, Andres Merenguito, Thad Jones, Sonny Cohn, Snooky Young, Lennie Johnson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Louis Blackburn, Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Marshal Royal, Johnny Hodges, Frank Wess(, Paul Gonsalves, Frank Foster, Budd Johnson, Harry Carney, Charlie Fowlkes – reeds; Duke Ellington, Count Basie – piano; Freddy Green – guitar; Aaron Bell – bass; Sonny Payne, Sam Woodyard – drums.

Soloists: Ellington, Basie, Wess, Hodges, Nance, Carney, Foster, Hamilton, Foster, Ellington & Basie, Brown, Gonsalves, Anderson, Woodyard, Payne.

Beyond “The Usual Suspects” (Podcast #18-001)

Featuring rarely covered Ellington compositions 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!


Despite having a major new work to  promote (Such Sweet Thunder), in this 1957 television appearance Ellington has to take time away from it in order to play a greatest hits medley (aka “The Usual Suspects”).




Transcription of Duke Ellington’s Melacholia by Albert de la Fuente


 



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 

works of duke vol. 8

Blue Feeling – Duke Ellington (LP: “The Works of Duke, Volume 8” French RCA 741.114)

Recorded 10 January 1934, 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.


 

JAY_MCSHANN_THE+BIG+APPLE+BASH-530771

Blue Feeling – Jay McShann (LP: “The Big Apple Bash” Atlantic SD 8804)

Recorded 3-10 August 1971, New York City

Doc Cheatham – trumpet; Dickie Wells – trombone; Earl Warren – alto sax; Herbie Mann – clarinet, tenor sax; Jay McShann – piano; John Scofield – guitar; Eddie Gomez – bass; Connie Kay – drums.


 

works of duke vol. 7

The Mystery Song – Duke Ellington (LP: “The Works of Duke, Volume 7” French RCA 741.085)

Recorded 17 June 1931 in Camden, New Jersey

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


 

evidence

The Mystery Song – Steve Lacy & Don Cherry (LP: “Evidence” Prestige MPP 2505)

Recorded 1 November 1961, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Don Cherry – trumpet; Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Carl Brown – bass; Billy Higgins – drums.


 

Second_Sacred_Concert

Heaven – Duke Ellington (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; Sam Woodyard, Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.


 

phil woods heaven

Heaven – Phil Woods (CD: “Heaven” Blackhawk BHK 5042)

Recorded 28/29 December 1984, Bearsville, New York

Phil Woods – clarinet, alto sax; Tom Harrell – trumpet; Hal Galper – piano; Steve Gilmore – bass; Bill Goodwin – drums.


 

Second_Sacred_Concert

Something About Believing – Duke Ellington (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)

Recorded 19/20 February 1968, New York City

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Benny Green, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Tony Watkins, Devonne Gardner, Roscoe Gill, The Frank Parker Singers, unknown choir – vocal.


 

a meeting of the times

Something About Believing – Rahsaan Roland Kirk (LP:”A Meeting of the Times” Atlantic SD 1630)

Recorded 30 March 1972, New York City

Rahsaan Roland Kirk – tenor sax, manzello; Hank Jones – piano; Ron Carter – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums


 

piano reflections

Melancholia – Duke Ellington (CD:”Piano Reflections” Capitol C2-92863)

Recorded 13 April 1953, Los Angeles

Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass.


 

Norah Jones

Don’t Miss You At All – Nora Jones (CD: “Feels Like Home” Blue Note 590952)

Released 2004

Norah Jones – vocal, piano.


 

Whitney

A Mural from Two Perspectives (CD: “Live at The Whitney” Impulse/GRP 173)

Recorded 10 April 1972, Whitney Museum, New York City

Duke Ellington – piano.


 

Don Byron

A Mural from Two Perspectives – Don Byron (CD: “Romance with the Unseen” Blue Note 4995452)

Recorded January-March 1999, Bearsville, New York

Don Byron – clarinet; Bill Frissell – guitar; Drew Gress -bass; Jack DeJohnette – drums.

Season’s Greetings! (Podcast #17-017)

Happy Holidays from Ellington Reflections! We will return with new bi-weekly episodes on 20 January 2018.. Continue reading

Xmas

Happy Holidays from

Ellington Reflections!

 

We will return with new bi-weekly episodes on 20 January 2018

 

Thank you for all your support and encouragement. We love you madly!!!

When Cootie Left the Duke, Pt. III (Podcast #17-011)

Cootie disbanded his big band in 1947. This episode covers the period of 1947 up until 1962, the year Cootie rejoined Ellington.
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“…Benny Goodman, just back from Russia, persuaded [Cootie] Williams and Teddy Wilson to rejoin him. It was an amusing stint [Williams] recalled. “Sometimes Goodman would let you play,” he explained, “and other times he wouldn’t. He has his ways, as everyone knows. At Freedomland one night there was no bass player – he’d forgotten he’d fired him the evening before. Benny, though, is a great musician,” he laughed, “but I’d already been talking with Harry Carney. ‘Tell Duke,” I’d said, ‘that I’m ready to come back.'”

-from The World of Duke Ellington, by Stanley Dance


 

CW orch size

…and Cootie never led a big band again….


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Tour package posters featuring Cootie Williams and Dinah Washington


 

cootie and catherine

Cootie and his wife Catherine in Jet Magazine, issue dated 3 February 1955 


South

An illustration of Cootie’s appeal



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



Dinah Washington

Resolution Blues ( CD: “Dinah Washington – The Queen Sings” Proper Records PROPERBOX 43)

Recorded 16 July 1947, New York City

Dinah Washington – vocal; Cootie Williams, Bob Merrill – trumpet; Rupert Cole – alto sax; William “Weasel” Parker – tenor sax; Arnold Jarvis, James Lowe – piano; Leonard “Heavy” Swain – bass; Sylvester Payne – drums.


CW Classics 1946-1949

(CD: “Cootie Williams and his Orchestra 1946-1949” Classics 1105)

Let ‘Em Roll Recorded 2 March 1949, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Bob Merrill – trumpet, vocal; Rupert Cole – alto sax; Willis Jackson – tenor sax; Lester Fauntleroy – piano; Leonard “Heavy” Swain – bass; Gus Johnson – drums.

You Gotta Pay Those Dues Recorded 20 September 1949, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Bob Merrill(?) – trumpet; Rupert Cole(?) – alto sax; Willis Jackson – tenor sax; Lester Fauntleroy(?) – piano; Leonard “Heavy” Swain(?) – bass; Gus Johnson(?) – drums; Eddie Mack – vocal.

(NOTE: In the podcast, it was erroneously stated that these two recordings dated from 1947.)


CW in hifi

Boomerang (CD: “Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi” RCA 63561-2)

Recorded 10 July 1957, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; George Berg, Rupert Cole, George Clark, Elwyn Fraser – saxophones; Skeeter Best, Larry Dale – guitar; Abe Baker – bass; Dave Martin – piano; Lester Jenkins – drums; Leroy Glover – organ.


porgy

Bess, You is my woman now (LP: “Porgy & Bess Revisited” Disques Swing SW-8414)

Recorded late 1958, New York City

Cootie Williams (“Porgy”) – trumpet; Rex Stewart (“Sportin’ Life”) – cornet; Lawrence Brown (“Serena” and “Clara”) – trombone; Hilton Jefferson (“Bess”) – alto sax; Pinky Williams (“Jake”) – baritone sax; Bernie Glow, Joe Wilder, Ernie Royal, Al Derisi – trumpet; Urbie Green, Eddie Bert, Sonny Russo – trombone; Sid Cooper, Walt Levinsky, Al Klink, Boomie Richman – reeds; Buddy Weed – piano; Barry Galbraith – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Don Lamond – drums; plus string section.


CW in hifi

Just In Time (CD: “Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi” RCA 63561-2)

Recorded March/April 1958 New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Billy Byers, Bobby Byrne, Lou McGarity – trombone; Dick Hixon – bass trombone; Phil Bodner, Elwyn Fraser, Nick Caiazza, Romeo Penque, Boomie Richman – saxophones; Hank Jones – piano; Tony Mottola – guitar; Eddie Safranski – bass; Don Lamond – drums.


Big Challenge

I Got A Right To Sing The Blues/Alphonse and Gaston (LP: “Cootie and Rex – The Big Challenge” Hall of Fame Jazz Greats JG-602)

Recorded 30 April 1957, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, J.C. Higginbotham – trombone; Coleman Hawkins, Bud Freeman – tenor sax; Hank Jones – piano; Billy Bauer – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Gus Johnson – drums.

Horn solo order on Alphonse and Gaston – Lawrence Brown/J.C. Higginbotham (4 times); Coleman Hawkins/Bud Freeman (4 times) Cootie Williams/Rex Stewart (1st and 2nd time – plungers; 3rd time – half valve; 4th time – open)


bessie smith

Gin House Blues (LP: Ronnie Gilbert, “The Legend of Bessie Smith” RCA LPM-1591)

Recorded 8-9 August 1957 New York City

Ronnie Gilbert – vocal; Cootie Williams – trumpet; Benny Morton – trombone; Buster Bailey – clarinet; Claude Hopkins – piano; Steve Jordan or George Barnes or Fred Hellerman – guitar; George Duvivier – bass; Osie Johnson – drums.


Do Nothin

I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)/It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (CD: “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” Collectables COLCD 6121)

Recorded 1959

Cootie Williams – trumpet; other musicians uncredited.


private collection volume 3

September 12th Blues (CD: “The Private Collection, Volume 3: Studio Sessions, New York 1962 Saja 91043-2)

Recorded 12 September 1962, New York City

Cootie Williams, Bill Berry, 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; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.


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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.



 

Reflections on “The Far East Suite” (Podcast #17-007)

Examining different interpretations of Ellington’s Far East Suite Continue reading



This podcast episode features three looks at Ellington/Strayhorn’s Far East Suite. The original, of course and then two interpretations that bend, yet don’t break, the  material to fit their creative impulses and their very different instrumentations.

The Tony Overwater Trio in conjunction with the Calefax Reed Quintet, has no keyboard or brass.

Slavic Soul Party! is in the brass band tradition, with accordion and tuba supplying the rhythm section’s harmonic functions.

Both groups creatively use their unique configurations to add stellar interpretations of the Ellington/Strayhorn canon.



Mount Harissa



“We especially thank Ellington and his colleagues for filling life with beauty and grace when so much was denied to them.”

– from the liner notes from Slavic Soul Party! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite



 

ellington and gonsalves in iraq

Paul Gonsalves and Duke Ellington sharing a hookah in Ctesiphon, Iraq during their State Department Tour in 1963.



 

The Ellington band was broadcast on TV on November 14, 1963 from Khuld Hall, Baghdad, Iraq. The resulting video, “Le Roi du Jazz Americain DUKE ELLINGTON ET SON ORCHESTRE” (The King of American Jazz, Duke Ellington and his Orchestra) is available to view (or download for free, courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration) at this link.



 

ellington-accordion

Duke Ellington and the accordion



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 treasury show vol 23

Take the “A” Train (CD: “The Treasury Shows, Volume 23” Storyville 9039023)

Recorded 24 August 1946. Radio broadcast from the Meadowbrook Gardens Cafe in Culver City, California

Duke Ellington – piano


 

img_0796

Tourist Point of View//Depk//Blue Pepper (Far East of the Blues)//Agra//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “The Far East Suite” Bluebird 7640-2-RB)

Recorded 19-21 December 1966, New York City

Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton,  Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb– bass; Rufus Jones– drums.


 

overwater

Tourist Point of View//Depk//Agra//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “Ellington Suites” Jazz in Motion Records JIM 75219)

Recorded 16 February 2005, live at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam

Maarten Ornstein – tenor sax; Tony Overwater – bass; Wim Kegel – drums; Oliver Boekhoorn – oboe, English Horn; Ivar Berix – clarinet; Raaf Hekkema – alto sax; Jelte Althuis – bass clarinet; Alban Wesly – bassoon.


 

slavic soul party

Tourist Point of View//Depk//Blue Pepper//Amad//Ad Lib on Nippon (CD: “Slavic Soul Party! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite” Ropeadope RAD-314)

Recorded November 2014, live at the Barbes, Brooklyn

John Carlson, Kenny Warren – trumpet; Matt Musselman, Tim Vaughn – trombone; Peter Hess – reeds; Peter Stan – accordion; Ron Caswell – tuba; Chris Stormquist, Matt Moran – percussion.