Duke Ellington, Raconteur Extraordinaire (Podcast #19-005)

Duke Ellington was an extraordinary master of ceremonies who reveled in the spoken word….
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Ellington at the mic.jpg



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 

pasadena 1953

Monologue (Pretty and the Wolf)  (CD: “The 1953 Pasadena Concert” Vogue 600105)

Recorded 20 March 1953, Pasadena California

Duke Ellington – narrator; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope – clarinet; Harry Carney – bass clarinet; Wendell Marshall – bass; Butch Ballard – drums.


 

drum is a woman
Ballet of the Flying Saucers/Zajj’s Dream (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.


 

My People

My People/The Blues (CD: “My People – The Complete Show” Storyville Records 1018430)

Recorded 20, 21 & 27 August 1963, Chicago

Duke Ellington – speech; Bill Berry, Ziggy Harrell, Nat Woodard, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Booty Wood, John Sanders – trombone; Russell Procope, Rudy Powell, Harold Ashby, Pete Clark, Bob Freedman – reeds; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Louie Bellson – drums; Juan Amalbert – conga; Joya Sherrill – vocal.


yale concert

The Little Purple Flower, Parts I and II (LP: “The Yale Concert” Fantasy Records F9433)

Recorded 26 January 1968, New Haven, Connecticut

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.


Concerts in Canada

Chinoiserie (LP: “Concerts in Canada” Special Release of the Canadian Duke Ellington Society commemorating Ellington ’87 may 16 – 18 Toronto)

Recorded 25 May 1973, Winnepeg

Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, Harold “Money” Johnson, Johnny Coles – trumpet; Vincente Prudente, Murray McEachern, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Harold Minerve, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Doug Harris, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.


The Clown

Recorded 29 September 1969, UC Berkley

Duke Ellington – narrator; Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Benny Green, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds;  Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.


 

70th birthday concert

Ellington Final Speech (CD: “Duke Ellington’s 70th Birthday Concert” Solid State SS 19000)

Recorded 26 November 1969, Manchester, England

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Rolf Ericson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.