When Cootie Left the Duke, Pt. I (Podcast #17-009)

After 11 years with Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams leaves to join Benny Goodman. Continue reading

benny goodman sextet

A Benny Goodman recording session, with Georgie Auld – tenor sax, Benny Goodman – clarinet, Artie Bernstein – bass, Cootie Williams – trumpet, Charlie Christian – guitar.

“It was 1929 when Cootie came into the band, and he soon became one of our most outstanding soloists. He began to use the plunger mute, one of our major tonal devices, and he used it very well, right up to one night eleven years later, when he took me for a ride all around Chicago in his car. He wanted to tell me that he had a very lucrative offer to go with Benny Goodman for a while. “Well, okay,” I said.”

–Duke Ellington, Music Is My Mistress


bg sextet close up

Charlie Christian, Cootie Williams, Georgie Auld, Benny Goodman


Bill Crow’s lengthy article on his stint with Benny Goodman during his 1962 tour of the USSR, To Russia Without Love, gives an insightful insider’s look at Goodman’s notorious personality.



The recordings heard on this podcast episode:



 

Highlights

Concerto for Cootie (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid AMSC1143)

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.


 

raymond scott

When Cootie Left the Duke (CD: “Toonerville Trolley” Jasmine JASMCD 2605)

Recorded 6 January 1941, Chicago

Jack Walker, Graham Young, Jack Hall – trumpet; Charles MCamish, Pete Lofthouse – trombones; Benny Lagasse, Charles Spero, Frank Callador, Stanley Webb – reeds; Don Tiff – piano; Art Ryerson – guitar; Mike Ruben – bass; Carl Maus – drums.

(Note: At the time the podcast was recorded, I had not been able to determine the identity of the trumpet soloist on this track. Thanks to the efforts of Jean-Marie Juif, we now know it was Jack Hall. Thanks, Jean-Marie!)


 

charlie christian(CD: “Charlie Christian – The Genius of the Electric Guitar” Columbia / Sony Legacy
88697930352)

Wholly Cats

Royal Garden Blues

Benny’s Bugle

Recorded 7 November 1940, New York City
Cootie Williams – trumpet; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Georgie Auld – tenor sax; Count Basie – piano; Charlie Christian – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Harry Jaeger – drums.

Breakfast Feud

Recorded 19 December 1940, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Georgie Auld – tenor sax; Kenny Kersey – piano; Charlie Christian – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Harry Jaeger – drums.


 

hawkins

(CD:” Classic Coleman Hawkins Sessions 1922-1947 Mosaic Records 251)

Recorded 16 January 1941, New York City

Bugle Call Rag

 

 

One O’Clock Jump

 

The Metronome All-Star Band

Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, J.C. Higginbotham – trombone; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Toots Mondello, Benny Carter – alto sax; Coleman Hawkins, Tex Beneke – tenor sax; Count Basie – piano; Charlie Christian – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Buddy Rich – drums.


 

bg mosaic(CD: “Classic Columbia and Okeh Benny Goodman Orchestra Recordings (1939-1958) Mosaic Records 240) 

Fiesta In Blue 

Recorded 27 March 1941, New York City

Jimmy Maxwell, Billy Butterfield, Irving Goodman, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall- trombone; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Gus Bivona, Les Robinson – alto sax; Georgie Auld, Pete Mondello – tenor sax; Skip Martin – baritone sax; Johnny Guarnieri – piano; Mike Bryan – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Dave Tough – drums

Moonlight On The Ganges

Recorded 18 December 1940, New York City

Jimmy Maxwell, Irving Goodman, Alec Fila, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall – trombone; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Gus Bivona, Skip Martin – alto sax; Bob Snyder –  alto and  baritone sax; Georgie Auld, Jack Henderson – tenor sax; Bernie Leighton – piano; Mike Bryan – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Harry Jaeger – drums.

Let The Door Knob Hitcha 

Recorded 14 January 1941, New York City

Jimmy Maxwell, Irving Goodman, Alec Fila – trumpet; Cootie Williams – trumpet & vocal; Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall – trombone; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Gus Bivona, Skip Martin, Bob Snyder – alto sax; Georgie Auld, Jack Henderson – tenor sax; Teddy Wilson – piano; Mike Bryan – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Dave Tough – drums.

Superman 

Recorded 18 December 1940, New York City

Jimmy Maxwell, Irving Goodman, Alec Fila, Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall – trombone; Benny Goodman – clarinet; Gus Bivona, Skip Martin – alto sax; Bob Snyder –  alto and  baritone sax; Georgie Auld, Jack Henderson – tenor sax; Bernie Leighton – piano; Mike Bryan – guitar; Artie Bernstein – bass; Harry Jaeger – 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.