“Jimmy [sic] Blanton revolutionized bass playing, and it has not been the same since. No one had played with the same perspective before. He played melodies that belonged to the bass and always had a foundation quality. Rhythmically, he supported and drove at the same time. He was just too much.”
-Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
Jimmie Blanton in concert with the Duke Ellington orchestra
A Master’s Thesis by Robert Nash, “The Solo Vocabulary of Jazz Bassist Jimmie Blanton” can be found HERE.
The modest headstone of James Harvey Blanton, Jr., located in Chattanooga, Tennessee (photo courtesy of Ken Steiner)
Pittsburgh Courier, 15 August 1942
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Plucked Again/Blues (CD: “The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Recorded 22 November 1939, Chicago
Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton -bass.
(CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Concerto for Cootie
Recorded 15 March 1940, Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – 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.
In A Mellotone
Recorded 5 September 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.
Jack the Bear
Recorded 6 March 1940, Chicago
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – 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.
Sepia Panorama
Recorded 24 July 1940, New York City
Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – 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.
Mr. J. B. Blues/Pitter Panther Patter
Recorded 1 October 1940, Chicago
Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton -bass.
Sepia Panorama/Pussy Willow (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.
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.