Billy Strayhorn wrote “Take the “A” Train,” which became the band’s theme song in 1941. We survey a number of diverse treatments from a thirty year period. Continue reading →
“”Our theme is [Billy Strayhorn’s] “Take the ‘A’ Train,” and I can still hear his voice clearly clearing up any point of indecision with his watchword: “Ever onward and upward!” Many people are indebted to Billy Strayhorn, and I more than anybody.”
Take the “A” Train (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid, AMSC1143)
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.
Manhattan Murals(CD: “Carnegie Hall, November 13, 1948” Vintage Jazz Classics 1024)
Recorded 13 November 1948 at Carnegie Hall, New York City
Shelton Hemphill, Al Killian, Francis Williams, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Tyree Glenn – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guy; Wendell Marshall – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Take the “A” Train (LP: “The Greatest Jazz Concert In the World” Pablo 2625-070)
Recorded 26 March 1967, Carnegie Hall, New York City
Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson – piano; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney – reeds; John Lamb – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Johnny Hodges one of the most unique voices in jazz, graced the Ellington band for almost 40 years. Continue reading →
“As a youngster, Johnny Hodges was a saxophonist in Boston whose style, in the estimation of all other alto saxophonists, was unique. Even now, I have never yet met and don’t know of a saxophonist who didn’t say he was knocked out by Johnny Hodges”
-Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress
Mark Sowlakis‘ blog post on Johnny Hodges, which features several transcriptions, can be found at this link
Birth record for Cornelius Hodge
Johnny Hodge(s)’ application for a Social Security Number
Cootie Williams, Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges – 1938
Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, and Johnny Hodges – 1952
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Tishomingo Blues (CD: “Early Ellington – The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931” Decca/MCA Records GRD-3-640)
Recorded 25 June 1928, New York City
James “Bubber” Miley – trumpet; Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Freddy Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Jeep’s Blues (CD: “The Duke’s Men, Volume 2” Columbia Jazz Masterpieces C2K 48835)
Recorded 28 March 1938, New York City
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
The Jeep Is Jumpin’
Recorded 24 August 1938, New York City
Same personnel as “Jeep’s Blues”
Ridin’ on a Blue Note (CD: “Cotton Club 1938, Volume 1” Galaxy Music 3801122)
Recorded 1 May 1938, New York City
Wallace Jones, 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.
On the Sunny Side of the Street (CD: “The Complete Lionel Hampton Victor Sessions 1937-1941” Mosaic Records MD5-238)
Recorded 26 April 1937, New York City
Lionel Hampton – vibraphone, vocal; Buster Bailey – clarinet; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Jess Stacy – piano; Allan Reuss -guitar; John Kirby – bass; Cozy Cole -drums.
On the Sunny Side of the Street (LP: “Indiana Live Session, June 1945” Musidisc – JA 5135)
Recorded 16 June 1945, Evansville, Indiana
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan – trumpet; Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Jimmy Hamilton, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
(CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid AMSC1143)
Blue Goose
Recorded 28 May 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.
In A Mellotone
Recorded 5 September 1940, Chicago
Same personnel as “Blue Goose”
The Giddybug Gallop
Recorded 5 June 1941, Los Angeles
Same personnel as “Blue Goose” except Ray Nance replaces Cootie Williams
Mood to be Woo’ed (CD: “Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – 1943 & 1945 Volume Three” Circle – CCD-103)
Recorded 2 January 1945, New York City
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan – trumpet; Claude Jones, Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Jimmy Hamilton, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Castle Rock (CD: “Johnny Hodges – Seven Classic Albums” Real Gone – RGJCD312)
Recorded 3 March 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.
In A Mellow Tone(CD: John Coltrane “First Giant Steps” RLR Records, RLR 88619)
Recorded June 1954, Los Angeles
Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Harold “Shorty” Baker – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; John Coltrane – tenor sax; Cal Cobbs (?) – piano; Joe Williams – bass; Joe Marshall – drums.
What is this Thing Called Love(CD: Charlie Parker “Jam Session” Verve Records – 833 564-2)
Recorded July 1952, Los Angeles
Charlie Shavers – trumpet; Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker – alto sax; Ben Webster, Flip Phillips – tenor sax; Oscar Peterson – piano; Barney Kessell – guitar; Ray Brown – bass; J. C. Heard – 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 look at the music of Ben Webster after his tenure with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Continue reading →
“He was considered the supreme ballad master. As great as Prez, Hawk and Byas were, they all had to take a back seat to Ben on ballads. Ben almost had a monopoly on the pretty ones. His breathy, whispy [sic] style, coupled with a most distinct tone enabled him to get an effect of a violin sound in his upper register playing. And when he would manipulate down to the lower register, he would nearly blow you out of your mind.”
Ben Webster’s ashes are buried at Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Blue Light (LP: “Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves” Black Lion Records 65117)
Recorded September 1965, Copenhagen
Ben Webster, Ole Kongsted – tenor sax; Arnved Meyer – trumpet; John Darville – trombone; Niels Jorgen Steen – piano; Henrik Hartmann – bass; Hans Nymand – drums.
What Am I Here For? (CD: “Music for Loving” Verve 314 527 774-2)
Recorded 9 September 1955, New York City
Ben Webster – tenor sax; Al Epstein, Danny Bank – reeds; Harold Colletta, Martin Donegan, Leo Kruczek, Harry Lookofsky, Eugene Orloff, Tosha Samaroff, Paul Winter – violin; Burt Fisch – viola; Abram Boradkin, George Ricci, Lucien Schmitt – cello; Hank Jones – piano; Chet Amsterdam, Wendell Marshall – bass; Osie Johnson – drums; Ralph Burns – arranger, conductor.
My Funny Valentine
Recorded 30 March 1954, New York City
Ben Webster – tenor sax; Teddy Wilson – piano; Ray Brown – bass; Jo Jones – drums.
Pouting/The Iron Hat (CD: “The Complete Ben Webster on EmArcy” EmArcy 824 836-2(1))
Recorded 23 January 1953, New York City
Don Elliot – trumpet, mellophone; Eddie Bert – trombone; Sam Rubinowitch – alto sax, piccolo; Ben Webster – tenor sax; Sidney Brown – baritone sax; Billy Taylor – piano; Milt Hinton – bass; Jo Jones – drums; Johnny Richards – arranger.
In a Mellow Tone / The Single Petal of a Rose (CD: “See You At The Fair” Impulse! GRD-121)
Recorded 11 March 1964, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Ben Webster – tenor sax; Hank Jones – piano; Richard Davis – bass; Osie Johnson -drums.
Caravan (CD: “Ben Webster meets Don Byas” Verve 827920-2)
Recorded 1/2 February 1968, Villingen, Black Forest, Germany
Ben Webster, Don Byas – tenor sax; Tete Montoliu – piano; Peter Trunk – bass; Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums.
It Never Entered My Mind (CD: “Coleman Hawkins encounters Ben Webster” Verve 9884036)
Recorded 16 October 1957, Los Angeles
Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins – tenor sax; Oscar Peterson – piano; Herb Ellis – guitar; Ray Brown – bass; Alvin Stoller – drums.
Just A Memory (CD: “Johnny Hodges and Duke Ellington – Side by Side” PolyGram
5214052)
Recorded 14 August 1958, New York City
Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone; Roy Eldridge – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Ben Webster – tenor saxophone; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Jo Jones – drums.
That’s All (CD: “King of the Tenors” Verve 314 519 806-2)
Recorded 8 December 1953, Los Angeles
Ben Webster – tenor sax; Harry “Sweets” Edison – trumpet; Benny Carter – alto sax; Oscar Peterson – piano; Herb Ellis – guitar; Ray Brown – bass; Alvin Stoller – drums.
Gone with the Wind (CD: “The Tatum Group Masterpieces” Pablo J33J 20034)
Recorded 11 September 1956, Los Angeles
Ben Webster – tenor sax; Art Tatum – piano; Red Callender – bass; Bill Douglass – drums.
Potato Chips(CD: Slim Gaillard, “Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years” Verve 314 521 651-2)
C Jam Blues/Chelsea Bridge (LP: Various Artists, “Newport Jazz Festival Live (Unreleased Highlights from 1956, 1958, 1963”) Columbia C2 38262)
Recorded 4 July 1958 live at The Newport Jazz Festival
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Rex Stewart – cornet; Tyree Glenn – trombone; Hilton Jefferson – alto sax; Ben Webster – tenor sax; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
All Too Soon (CD: “Ella & Duke at The Cote D’Azur” PolyGram 539030)
Recorded 29 July 1966, Juan-les-Pins, France
Ray Nance – trumpet, violin; Ben Webster – tenor sax; 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; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
We feature piano versions of Ellington’s music, by the Maestro himself and other giants like Hines, Tyner, Waller, Tatum and others…. Continue reading →
……[M]y mother decided I should take piano lessons. My piano teacher, Mrs. Clinkscales (that was really her name), got paid several times a week for many weeks for these lessons, but I missed more than I took, because of my enthusiasm for playing ball, and running and racing through the street. That I remember very well, because when she had her piano recital with all her pupils in the church, I was the only one who could not play his part.
-Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
Duke Ellington, Orson Welles and Cab Calloway
I was fortunate enough to see three of this podcast’s featured artists in concert and get their autographs:
Oscar Peterson (along with Ella Fitzgerald, Freddie Green, Al Grey, Bobby Plater and Tommy Flanagan)
McCoy Tyner
Earl “Fatha” Hines
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Take the “A” Train (LP: “The Greatest Jazz Concert In The World” Pablo 2625-704)
Recorded 1 July 1967 at The Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Oscar Peterson – piano; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone, Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney – reeds, John Lamb -bass; Chris Columbus – drums.
Soda Fountain Rag (CD: “Live at The Whitney” Impulse/GRP 173)
Recorded 10 April 1972, New York City
Duke Ellington – piano.
Soda Fountain Rag (CD: “Duke Ellington Piano Works” Dynamic CDS7743)
Recorded 2015, Italy
Luigi Polombi – piano.
Solitude (CD”Romance a la Mode” Jazzsential)
Recorded 16 September 1943, New York City
Fats Waller – organ, vocal.
Orson (LP: “Ellington Is Forever, Volume 2” Fantasy 79008 )
Recorded November & December, 1975, Berkeley, California
Jimmy Jones – piano
Black and Tan Fantasy (CD: “Thelonious Monk plays Duke Ellington” Universal
0546796)
In a Sentimental Mood (CD: “Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces, Volume 8” Pablo PACD-2405-439-2)
Recorded 29 December 1953, Los Angeles
Art Tatum – piano.
What Am I Here For? (CD: “The Missouri Connection” Reservoir (City Hall) 124)
Recorded 15 September 1992, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Jay McShann, John Hicks – piano.
Caravan (CD: “Ready Take One” Sony Music 88985363312)
Recorded 2 December 1971, New York City
Erroll Garner – piano; Ernest McCarty, Jr. – bass; Jose Mangual – conga; Jimmie Smith – drums.
Satin Doll (CD: “Jazz Royalty – Earl Hines plays Duke Ellington” New World Records
NW 81001)
Recorded 10 December 1971, New York City
Earl “Fatha” Hines – piano.
Satin Doll (CD: “Double Trios”, Denon Records 1128)
Recorded 7 June 1986, New York City
McCoy Tyner – piano; Avery Sharpe – bass; Louis Hayes – drums.
Pitter Panther Patter (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid, AMSC1143)
Recorded 1 October 1940, Chicago
Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton -bass.
Pitter Panther Patter (CD: “This One’s for Blanton” Pablo PACD-2310-721-2)
Recorded 5 December 1972, Las Vegas
Duke Ellington – piano; Ray Brown – bass.
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.
Trumpet virtuoso and flugelhorn pioneer Clark Terry was a featured soloist with the Ellington band from 1951-1959 Continue reading →
“The first time I ever heard about Clark Terry was when Charlie Barnet told me about him. Charlie was raving: ‘Clark Terry is the greatest trumpet player in the world. You wait and see. Or better still, go get him for your band, but hurry, because soon everybody is going to be trying to get him.’ I consider myself lucky indeed to get him in 1951.
Like Shorty Baker, Clark is from St. Louis, a city that seems to specialize in producing fine trumpet players. Although I don’t think he has had the recognition he deserves, there is one area I know where he is very much appreciated. He is a busy man, but he always finds the time to help the college bands around the country, and I am sure many a youngster has been inspired by him both as a man and as a musician.
When a trumpet player imitates Louis Armstrong, Louis gets the credit. When a trumpet player decides that his style is to be built on Dizzy Gillespie’s, Dizzy gets the credit. The same thing with those saxophone players who copied Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. But today, although I hear a whole new world of flugelhorn stylists formed behind Clark Terry, I hear non of the prime authorities on the subject say, ‘Clark Terry did this sixteen years ago.’ If this is not recognized soon, he could grow up to be the Barzillai Lew of the flugelhorn.” – Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
Betty Grable, Harry James, Clark Terry, Duke Ellington (mid – 1950s)
Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry (University of California Press)
The Duke Ellington trumpet section featured on El Gato
Clark Terry’s inimical Mumbles routine!
Clark Terry tells the story on how he joined the Ellington band:
A master educator, here’s Clark Terry dispensing some of his lifetime of wisdom:
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Take the “A” Train (CD: “Duke With A Difference” Original Jazz Classics 229)
Recorded 6 September 1957, New York City
Clark Terry – trumpet; Britt Woodman – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves – reeds; Tyree Glenn – vibes; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Hey Buddy Bolden (CD: “A Drum Is A Woman” Sony Music Distribution COL4713202)
Recorded 25 September 1956, New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano and narration; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums; Joya Sherrill, Margaret Tynes, Choir – vocals.
Up and Down, Up and Down (I will lead them Up and Down)(LP/CD “Such Sweet Thunder” Columbia CL 1033/Columbia/Legacy 65568)
Recorded 24 April 1957, New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson(t); Clark Terry(t,fl); Ray Nance – violin; 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.
Stardust (CD “The Complete Capitol Recordings of Duke Ellington” Mosaic Records MQ8-160)
Recorded 7 April 1953, Hollywood, California
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson,Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Rick Henderson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Butch Ballard – drums.
Idiom ’59, Part IV, Perdido (CD: “Festival Session” Sony Music Distribution COL4684022)
Recorded 8 September 1959, New York City
Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Andres Marenguito, Willie Cook, Ray Nance – trumpets, Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson -trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington(p); Jimmy Woode – bass; Jimmy Johnson,Sam Woodyard – drums
Juniflip (CD: “Live at Newport 1958” Sony Music Distribution 53584)
Recorded 21 July 1958, New York City
Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Ray Nance – trumpets; Clark Terry – flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Bill Graham, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Boogie Stop Shuffle (CD: “Big Band Bossa Nova, The Newest Latin American Rhythm” Polygram Records/Verve 5075252)
Recorded 1962, New York City
Quincy Jones – arranger, conductor; Clark Terry – trumpet; Alan Raph -trombone; Julius Watkins- french horn; Phil Woods, Paul Gonsalves, Jerome Richardson – reeds; Lalo Schifrin – piano; Jim Hall – guitar; Chris White – bass; Rudy Collins – drums; Jack Del Rio, Carlos Gomez, Jose Paula – percussion.
Mood Indigo (CD: “Clark Terry – Bob Brookmeyer Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings” Lone Hill Jazz LHJ 10199)
Recorded 1966, New York City
Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone; Hank Jones – piano; Bob Cranshaw – bass; Dave Bailey – drums.
Boo Dah (CD: “…And his Mother called him Bill” RCA 6287)
Recorded 28 August 1967, New York City
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpets; Clark Terry – flugelhorn; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper – trombones; Chuck Connors – bass trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Steve Little – drums.