“…[H]e was an exciting player who made a big contribution during the years he was with us – 1934-45. He was extremely versatile and we made use of his virtuosity on “Trumpet in Spades” and “Boy Meets Horn.” His half-valved effects on the latter have never been forgotten, but he should not be judged only by demonstrations of that kind.”
– Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress
Boy Meets Horn, the autobiography of Rex Stewart
This transcription of Rex Stewart’s cornet solo on Morning Glory is from “Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, and Ray Nance: Duke Ellington’s trumpet soloists 1940-1942”
by Bryan Wendell Bennet
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
The Stampede (CD: “The Fletcher Henderson Story: A Study In Frustration” Essential Jazz Classics – EJC55511)
Rec 14 May 1926,
Russell Smith, Joe Smith, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Benny Morton – trombone; Don Redman, Buster Bailey, Coleman Hawkins – reeds, Fletcher Henderson – piano; Charlie Dixon – banjo; Ralph Escudero – tuba; Kaiser Marshall – drums.
(CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)
Trumpet In Spades
Recorded 17 July 1936, New York City
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Pete Clark, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Boy Meets Horn
Recorded 2 September 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.
Sugar Hill Shim-Sham/Tea And Trumpets (CD: ”The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions” Mosaic Records #235)
Recorded 7 July 1937, New York City
Rex Stewart, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Brick Fleagle – guitar; Hayes Alvis – bass; Jack Maisel – drums.
Fat Stuff Serenade (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 20 March 1939
Rex Stewart, Louis Bacon – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Billy Taylor – bass; Sonny Greer = drums.
Low Cotton/Montmartre/Finesse (CD: “Djangologie/USA, Volumes 5-6” Disques Swing – CDSW 8424/6)
Recorded
Rex Stewart – cornet; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Django Reinhardt – guitar; Billy Taylor – bass.
Tootin’ Through The Roof (CD: “Duke Ellington: The Columbia Years 1927-1962” Columbia 5176872)
Recorded 14 October 1939, Chicago
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.
Morning Glory (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
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.;
Dusk (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942” Avid EMSC1143)
Recorded 28 May 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.
Without A Song (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor – 09026-63386-2)
Recorded 2 November 1940, Chicago
Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Ben Webster- tenor sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Boy Meets Horn (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 1” Circle CCD-101)
Recorded 8 November 1943, New York City
Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Dizzy Gillespie,Taft Jordan – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Skippy Williams, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Wilson Myers – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.
Harlem Airshaft (CD: “World Broadcasting Series, Volume 3” Circle CCD-103)
Recorded 1 December 1943, New York City
Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Ray Nance, Harold Baker – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Skippy Williams, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – 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.