Jam sessions at Nick's - No holds barred!

This long article was published in the New York Times, December 5, 1943, and it describes in detail the jam sessions at Nick's. The atmosphere is so accurately reflected that in fact you can almost smell "it".

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Este largo artículo se publicó en el New York Times de 5 de diciembre de 1943 y describe detalladamente las jam sessions en Nick's. Refleja la atmósfera de esas jam sessions con tanta precisión que en realidad casi puedes "olerlo".

[click on the images to get full size scans]

Baby Dodds footage

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 24, 1898, Warren Baby Dodds, brother of clarinettist Johnny Dodds, was one of first great drummers of jazz. Listing just three of the groups he recorded with is like a “who’s who” on classic New Orleans Chicago-recorded jazz: King Oliver’s Creole Band, Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers and Louis Armstrong & His Hot Seven.

Here’s Baby Dodds in what must be the first instructional jazz movie ever (1946) and, as far as I know, the only existing footage of him, doing his trademark press roll and soloing on tom-tom with some foot muffle over a rhythmically simplified background piano statement of the “Tea For Two” theme.

Alphonse Picou's funeral procession

Alphonse Picou's funeral procession in February 1961 was one of the largest New Orleans had seen. There was music and there was dancing; there was also pain but, above all, there was joy. Several brass bands (and many additional musicians) played that day to give Picou a send off, among them The Eureka Brass Band. The American Music DVD called Sing On. A Film Of New Orleans Brass Bands (AMVD-2) includes footage from that performance.

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El desfile del funeral de Alphonse Picou en febrero de 1961 fue uno de los más multitudinarios que jamás había tenido lugar en Nueva Orlans. Hubo música y baile, y también estuvo presente el dolor pero, sobre todo, hubo alegría. Algunas brass bands (y muchos otros músicos) tocaron aquel día para despedir a Picou, entre ellas la Eureka Brass Band. El DVD editado por American Music Sing On. A Film Of New Orleans Brass Bands (AMDV-2) incluye una grabación de esa actuación.

© Robert W. Kelley / LIFE


© Robert W. Kelley / LIFE


© Robert W. Kelley / LIFE


© Robert W. Kelley / LIFE


© Robert W. Kelley / LIFE

The Great Eight on tour

Let's take a glance at this mixed-bag all-star band touring Europe in 1983, doing an uptempo rendition of Charlie Shavers' "Undecided". Under the name of The Great Eight, you can have small pills of Teddy Wilson's swinging piano, Slam Stewart's vocalizing bass, Buddy Tate's powerful Texas-tenor tone and Tal Farlow's modern guitar style, all in the same plate.

During this European tour, this group was recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie on February 20, 1983 and a double LP was issued on Wim Wigt's Timeless label: Swingin' The Forties With The Great Eight (Timeless SPJ185/86). It has never been reissued on CD.

Billy Butterfield (tp), Johnny Mince (cl), Buddy Tate (ts), Red Norvo (vib), Teddy Wilson (p), Tal Farlow (g), Slam Stewart (b), Sam Woodyard (d).

"Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue" on cd

GRABACIONES DE “DIMINUENDO AND CRESCENDO IN BLUE” PUBLICADAS EN CD
Por Agustín Pérez Gasco

Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en Tomajazz (2006).

A) 20 de septiembre de 1937. Nueva York.

Sesión de estudio para ARC-Brunswick.

Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra: Rex Stewart (corneta), Freddy Jenkins, Arthur Whetsel y Cootie Williams (trompetas) (*), Lawrence Brown (trombón), Juan Tizol (trombón de pistones), Barney Bigard (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (clarinete, saxos soprano y alto), Otto Hardwick (saxos alto y bajo), Harry Carney (clarinete, saxos alto y barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitarra), Billy Taylor (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo In Blue (M648-1)

- Diminuendo In Blue (M648-2)

- Crescendo In Blue (M649-1)

- Crescendo In Blue (M649-2)

Las tomas máster (M648-1 y M649-1) se encuentran disponibles en CD en The Chronogical Duke Ellington 1937, vol.2 (Classics 687) y las tomas alternativas (M648-2 y M649-2) en Duke Ellington: The Alternative Takes In Chronological Order Vol. 6: 1937-1938 (Neatwork RP 2042) y en 1932-1941 (Giants Of Jazz CD 53046).

(*) Otras fuentes citan a Danny Barker como trompetista en esta sesión y dejan fuera a Freddy Jenkins y Arthur Whetsel.

B) 9 de junio de 1945. Toledo, Ohio.

ABC Treasury Broadcast No. 9 "Your Saturday Date With The Duke" desde el teatro Paramount.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Rex Stewart (corneta), Cat Anderson, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan y Ray Nance (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Joe Nanton (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Otto Hardwick y Johnny Hodges (saxos altos), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitarra), Junior Raglin (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería), Marie Ellington (voz en “Rocks In My Bed”).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

Blues Cluster :

- Diminuendo In Blue (VP-1492)

- Rocks In My Bed

- Crescendo In Blue(VP-1492)

Disponibles en CD en Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, volume 5 (Storyville/D.E.T.S. DETS 9005).

C) 7 de julio de 1945. Nueva York.

ABC Treasury Broadcast No. 13 "Your Saturday Date With The Duke" desde Radio City, Studio 6B.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Rex Stewart (corneta), Cat Anderson, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan y Ray Nance (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Otto Hardwick (saxo alto y clarinete), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono y clarinete), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitarra), Junior Raglin (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

MEDLEY:

- Diminuendo In Blue (D5TC588)

- Carnegie Blues

- Crescendo In Blue (D5TC588)

Disponibles en CD en Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, volume 7 (Storyville/D.E.T.S. DETS 9007).

D) 21 de septiembre de 1945. Nueva York.

Emisión radiofónica desde el club New Zanzibar.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Rex Stewart (corneta), Cat Anderson, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan y Ray Nance (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Otto Hardwick (clarinete y saxo alto), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete, clarinete bajo y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitarra), Junior Raglin (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería), Joya Sherrill (voz en “Rocks In My Bed”).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo In Blue

- Rocks In My Bed

- Crescendo In Blue

Disponibles en CD en Duke Ellington And His Orchestra: The Treasury Shows, volume 8 (Storyville/D.E.T.S. DETS 9008).

E) 4 de enero de 1946. Nueva York.

Concierto en el Carnegie Hall.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan y Francis Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Wilbur DeParis (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Otto Hardwick (saxo alto y clarinete), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Al Lucas (guitarra), Oscar Pettiford (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería), Kay Davis (voz en “Diminuendo In Blue” y “Transbluency”).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo In Blue

- Transbluency (A Blue Fog You Can Almost See Through)

- Crescendo In Blue

Disponibles en CD en The Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946 (Prestige 2PCD-24074-2).

F) 23 de octubre de 1946. Nueva York.

Sesión de estudio para Musicraft en el WOR Studio 3.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Shorty Baker, Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Francis Williams y Ray Nance (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Wilbur DeParis (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitarra), Oscar Pettiford (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería).

Se grabó, además de “Magenta Haze”:

- Diminuendo In Blue (5765-4)

Disponible en CD en Happy Go Lucky Local (Musicraft MVSCD-52).

G) 31 de agosto de 1947. Los Angeles.

Concierto en el Hollywood Bowl.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Shorty Baker, Dud Bascomb, Shelton Hemphill y Francis Williams (trompetas), Ray Nance (trompeta y violín), Lawrence Brown y Tyree Glenn (trombones), Claude Jones (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Al Sears (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano),Fred Guy (guitarra), Oscar Pettiford (contrabajo), Sonny Greer (batería), Kay Davies (voz en “Transbluency”).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo In Blue

- Transbluency (A Blue Fog You Can Almost See Through)

- Crescendo In Blue

Disponibles en CD en At the Hollywood Bowl 1947 (Unique Jazz RKO1033).

H) 30 de marzo de 1953. Pasadena, California. (*)

Concierto en el Civic Auditorium.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), Juan Tizol (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Rick Henderson (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Oscar Pettiford (violonchelo), Wendell Marshall (contrabajo), Butch Ballard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (**)

Disponible en CD en 1953 Pasadena Concert (GNP 9045).

(*) Otras fuentes citan abril de 1953.

(**) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

I) 7 de julio de 1956. Newport, Rhode Island.

Concierto en el Newport Jazz Festival, Freebody Park.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*) (CO56806)

Disponible en CD en Complete Ellington At Newport (Columbia C2K 64932).

(*) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

J) 28 de julio de 1956. Fairfield, Connecticut.

Concierto en el University Stadium.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue

Disponible en CD en The Happening / Paul Gonsalves (Musica Jazz MJCD 1153).

K) 1 de junio de 1957. Carrolltown, Pennsylvania.

Concierto/Baile en el Sunset Ballroom.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Shorty Baker, Willie Cook, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Joe Benjamin (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en All Star Road Band Vol. II (CBS AGK 39137).

(*) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

L) 24 de junio de 1958. Chicago.

Sesión de grabación en los Universal Studios.

Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Happy Reunion (Sony AK 40030).

(*) Aunque aparece así listado en las ediciones, en realidad se trata únicamente de “Wailing Interval”.

M) 29 de octubre de 1958. París, Francia. (*)

Concierto en el Teatro Alhambra.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Duke Ellington At The Alhambra (Pablo PACD-5313-2).

(*) Otras fuentes citan 28 de octubre de 1958.(**) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

N) 6 de noviembre de 1958. Gotemburgo, Alemania.

Concierto en el Konserthuset.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue

Disponible en CD en (Jazz Life 267322) y (Bandstand BDCD 1509).

Ñ) 14 de noviembre de 1958. Munich, Alemania.

Concierto en el Deutsches Museum.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson y Britt Woodman (trombones), John Sanders (trombón de pistones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en The Duke in Munich (Storyville STCD 8324).

(*) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

O) 20 de septiembre de 1959. París, Francia.

Segundo concierto en la Salle Pleyel.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Andre Ford, Ray Nance y Clark Terry (trompetas), Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman y Booty Wood (trombones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Jimmy Woode (contrabajo), James Johnson (batería).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Top Jazz (Sarpe SJ 1013).

(*) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

P) 27 de mayo de 1960. Santa Monica, California.

Concierto en el Civic Auditorium.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Willie Cook, Andre Ford, Ray Nance y Ed Mullens (trompetas), Lawrence Brown, Britt Woodman y Booty Wood (trombones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Aaron Bell (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabaron, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Duke Ellington in Concert 1960 (Hindsight HCD-268).

(*) Aunque las ediciones no lo mencionan, contiene “Wailing Interval” como interludio entre “Diminuendo” y “Crescendo”.

Q) 22 de julio de 1960. Sacramento, California.

Concierto/baile en la Mather Air Force Base.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Willie Cook, Fats Ford, Ed Mullens y Ray Nance (trompetas), Lawrence Brown, Booty Wood y Britt Woodman (trombones), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Aaron Bell (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo In Blue

- Wailing Interval

Disponible en CD en Hot Summer Dance (Red Baron AK 48631).

R) 22 de enero de 1963. Londres, Reino Unido.

Programa de televisión grabado en los estudios Granada Chelsea, titulado Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra y emitido el 13 de febrero de 1963.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Ray Nance (corneta), Cat Anderson, Roy Burrowes y Cootie Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Buster Cooper (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Ernie Shepard (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en London: The Great Concerts (MusicMasters 65106-2).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, en realidad se trata de “Diminuendo In Blue” seguido de “Wailing Interval”. “Crescendo In Blue” no se interpretó.

S) 14 de enero de 1964. Nueva York.

Retransmisión de la emisora WNEW desde Basin Street East.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Rolf Ericson, Herbie Jones y Cootie Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Buster Cooper (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Ernie Shepard (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Diminuendo and Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en At Basin Street East: The Complete Concert of 14 January 1964 (Music & Arts CD 908).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, en realidad se trata de “Diminuendo In Blue” seguido de “Wailing Interval”.“Crescendo In Blue” no se interpretó.

T) 29 de marzo de 1964. Nueva York.

Concierto en el Carnegie Hall.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Rolf Ericson, Herb Jones y Cootie Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Buster Cooper (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Major Holley (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó, entre otros temas:

- Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Live At Carnegie Hall 1964 (Moon MCD061-2/68-2 y Jazz Up JU322/JU323).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, se trata en realidad de “Wailing Interval”.

U) 31 de mayo de 1964. Chicago.

Concierto/baile en el Holiday Ballroom.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams y Nat Woodard (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Buster Cooper (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Peck Morrison (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Se grabó entre otros:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en All Star Road Band (CBS AGK 40012).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, en realidad se trata de “Diminuendo In Blue” seguido de “Wailing Interval”. “Crescendo In Blue” no está incluido.

V) 26 de julio de 1966. Juan-les-Pins, Francia.

Concierto en el Square Frank Jay Gould.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herb Jones y Cootie Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Buster Cooper (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Johnny Hodges (saxo alto), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinete y saxo tenor), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Ellington (piano), John Lamb (contrabajo), Sam Woodyard (batería).

Entre otros temas se grabaron:

- Diminuendo In Blue- Blow By Blow (*)

Disponibles en CD en Côte d'Azur Concerts (Verve 314 539 033-2) y en Ella and Duke at the Côte d'Azur (Verve V-4072-2).

(*) También llamado “Wailing Interval”.

W) 10 de noviembre de 1969. Colonia, Alemania.

Primer concierto en la Opernhaus.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Benny Bailey, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams y Nelson Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown y Ake Persson (trombones), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Johnny Hodges, Norris Turney (saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harold Ashby (clarinete y saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Wild Bill Davis (órgano), Victor Gaskin (contrabajo), Rufus Jones (batería).

Entre otros temas, se grabó:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en April In Paris (West Wind 2046).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, en realidad se trata de “Diminuendo In Blue” seguido de “Wailing Interval”. “Crescendo In Blue” no está incluido.

X) 20 de noviembre de 1969. París, Francia.

Concierto en el Teatro L’Alcazar.

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: Cat Anderson, Rolf Ericson, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams y Nelson Williams (trompetas), Lawrence Brown (trombón), Chuck Connors (trombón bajo), Russell Procope (clarinete y saxo alto), Johnny Hodges, Norris Turney (saxo alto), Paul Gonsalves (saxo tenor), Harold Ashby (clarinete y saxo tenor), Harry Carney (clarinete y saxo barítono), Duke Ellington (piano), Wild Bill Davis (órgano), Victor Gaskin (contrabajo), Rufus Jones (batería).

Entre otros temas, se grabó:

- Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (*)

Disponible en CD en Top Jazz (Sarpe SJ 1024).

(*) Aunque figura así en las diversas ediciones, en realidad se trata de “Diminuendo In Blue” seguido de “Wailing Interval”. “Crescendo In Blue” no está incluido.

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Notas:

Los músicos e instrumentos citados en cada entrada son los presentes en la sesión de grabación, no necesariamente en la versión correpondiente de “Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue”.

Cuando está disponible, se cita el número de matriz junto al título del tema, entre paréntesis.

La relación de CDs en los que aparece cada versión de “Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue” no es exhaustiva y, en algunos casos, dichos CDs pueden estar descatalogados.

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Otras grabaciones conocidas de “Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue” no publicadas en CD

- 19 de abril de 1947. Concierto en la Universidad de Cornell. Ithaca, Nueva York.

- 30 de junio de 1951. Concierto en el Club Birdland. Nueva York.

©2006, Agustín Pérez Gasco

Anatomy of a jam session [revisited]

Regarding my post from May 4, and thanks to jazz critics (and faithful readers) Fernando Ortiz de Urbina and Michael Steinman, we now have a few more educated guesses for that 1943 picture taken at photographer Gjon Mili's studio in New York: George Wettling is on the right, behind the piano; Al Hall is most probably on bass, and drummer O'Neill Spencer is talking to the white woman on the second picture. On the other hand, jazz scholar C.J. Hazevoet confirms that it is Leo Parker on alto sax.

There are several more pictures from that jam session available at the LIFE magazine on-line archives. As an example, here's a couple, one of them showing Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet.

© Gjon Mili / LIFE

© Gjon Mili / LIFE

When Chopin turned to swing

Jazz music heard at the Carnegie Hall, April 23, 1941.

John Coltrane on Ben Webster

"The sound of that tenor… I wish he’d show me how to make a sound like that. I’ve got to call him up and talk to him!"

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"El sonido de ese tenor... Ojalá me enseñara cómo crear un sonido como ese. ¡Tengo que llamarle por teléfono y hablar con él!

[John Coltrane in Leonard Feather's Blindfold Test, Down Beat, February 19, 1959]

Shuffle Along

After a restricted invitation performance at the Sixty-Third Street Music Hall on May 22, 1921 [see review from NYTimes], Shuffle Along premiered on May 23, 1921. Written by the famous comic duo of Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles, with music and lyrics by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, it was a surprising hit that ran for 504 performances at the Cort Theatre, establishing a new era of African-American participation in American theatre and striking a major blow against racial stereotyping and segregation, not the least because the production did not follow the racist practice of restricting black theatergoers to the balcony, welcoming them to the orchestra seats as well.

This revue legitimized the African-American musical, demonstrating to producers and managers that audiences were ready to pay to see African-American talent on Broadway. With its all-black cast, the musical brought black actors back to Broadway after a 10-year absence and laid the foundation for public acceptance of African-American performers in other than "burlesque" roles.

Florence Mills

Shuffle Along introduced Broadway to Florence Mills, then a rising star who obtained international fame due to the success of the show, and Paul Robeson. The revue also had an innovative female chorus, which included 15-year-old dancer and singer Josephine Baker. They combined jazz dance and jazz music, creating an improvisational style of dancing that encouraged individual expression. Other Broadway producers, including those of the Ziegfeld Follies, were so impressed that they hired several of the Shuffle Along girls.

Noble Sissle with chorus girls

Chorus girls - publicity shot

It also featured the first serious, realistic and somehow sophisticated African-American love story. Until Shuffle Along, love scenes between blacks had been a taboo unless they were stereotyped and often degrading cartoon caricatures, under the belief that white audiences would not accept anything more sophisticated. Loften Mitchell, author of Black Drama: The Story of the American Negro in the Theatre, credits Shuffle Along (1921) with launching the Harlem Renaissance. Written, staged, and performed entirely by black people, Shuffle Along was the first show to make African-American dance an integral part of American musical theatre. It also introduced the song "Love Will Find a Way” and other hits that would be part of the jazz and popular music repertory such as “I’m Just Wild About Henry” or “Bandana Days”. As a bit of trivia, years later President Harry Truman picked the former for his campaign anthem.

Here’s the complete program of Shuffle Along:


Act I
-I'm Simply Full of Jazz - Ruth Little and Syncopation Steppers
-Love Will Find a Way - Jessie Williams and Harry Walton
-Bandana Days - Alderman and Company
-Sing Me to Sleep, Dear Mammy - Harry Walton and Board of Aldermen
-(In) Honeysuckle Time (When Emmaline Said She'd Be Mine) - Tom Sharper
-Gypsy Blues - Jessie Williams, Ruth Little and Harry Walton

Act II
-Shuffle Along - Jimtown Pedestrians and Traffic Cop
-I'm Just Wild About Harry - Jessie Williams and Jimtown Sunflowers
-Syncopation Stenos - Mayor's Staff
-Good Night Angeline - Board of Aldermen
-If You Haven't Been Vamped by a Brownskin, You Haven't Been Vamped at All - Steve Jenkins, Sam Peck and Jimtown Vamps
-Uncle Tom and Old Black Joe - Uncle Tom and Old Black Joe
-Everything Reminds Me of You - Jessie Williams and Harry Walton
-Oriental Blues - Tom Sharper and Oriental Girls
-I Am Craving for That Kind of Love/ Daddy (Won't You Please Come Home) - Ruth Little
-Baltimore Buzz - Tom Sharper and Jimtown's Jazz Steppers
-African Dip - Steve Jenkins and Sam Peck

Road versions of the show toured successfully throughout the country until 1924, and there were several revivals through the years: in 1932, the show was revived at the Mansfield Theatre but closed after seventeen performances and, in 1933, Blake, Sissle, Miller, and Lyles reunited but the production did not gain critical success. Then there was the 1952 revival, starring Sissle and Blake and choreographed by Henry LeTang, but it was also unsuccessful.

Eubie Blake recorded several of the Shuffle Along tunes in 1921. Here’s the discographical information for those recording sessions, according to Brian Rust’s JAZZ AND RAGTIME RECORDS 1897–1942 (Sixth Edition — CD-ROM Version).


New York, June 30, 1921
Piano solos, with probably Vess Williams, as / Leroy Vanderveer, bj added*

-Bandana Days - Victor test (unnumbered)
-I'm Just Wild About Harry - Victor test (unnumbered)
-*Baltimore Buzz - Victor test (unnumbered)

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New York, July 11, 1921
Same personal, with Broadway Jones, v added.

-Baltimore Buzz – Victor test (unnumbered)
-Dah's Gwinter Be Er Landslide [sic] - Victor test (unnumbered)

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New York, July 15, 1921
EUBIE BLAKE AND HIS SHUFFLE ALONG ORCHESTRA: Eubie Blake, p, dir: Billy Hicks, Russell Smith, t / Calvin Jones, tb / Bill Johnson, cl / Vess Williams, as / Sam Yearwood, f / o / Willie Carroll, vn / Leroy Vandervaer, bj / John Ricks, bb / George Reeves, d

-25465-2 - Baltimore Buzz (intro: In Honeysuckle Time) - Victor 18791, Victor 18789 (Canada only), HMV B-1297
-25466-4 - Bandana Days (intro: I'm Just Wild About Harry) - Victor 18791, Victor 18789 (Canada only), HMV B-1297, Zon-O-Phone 3325

NOTE: Both sides of US Victor 18789 are different titles, by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra.

Eubie Blake an his Shuffle Along Orchestra - 1921 - left to right back row: Vess Williams, John Ricks, Calvin Jones, Russell Smith, Billy Hicks. left to right front row: George Reeves, Yarborough, L. Johnson, Eubie Blake, Carroll.

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New York, July, 1921
Piano solos

-41885-4 - Baltimore Buzz - Emerson 10434
-41886-4-5-6 - Sounds Of Africa (African Rag*) - Emerson 10434, Symphanola 4360, Paramount 14004*

NOTE: Paramount 14004 as by “unknown rag pianist”, dubbed from a blank-labeled test bearing the title AFRICA. The selection is a retitling of Blake's CHARLESTON RAG.

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Rust lists only 78 rpm issues. LP reissues of these recordings were scarce and, to my knowledge, there's no CD reissue.

Henry Red Allen - Obituary

As published in The New York Times, April 19, 1967.

Anatomy of a jam session

© Gjon Mili / LIFE

This photograph was taken in 1943 at photographer Gjon Mili's studio in New York. Apart from the obvious Count Basie and Lester Young, and with the invaluable help of the good physiognomists at the organissimo jazz forums, one can recognize Earle Warren just below Prez, with Mezz Mezzrow on clarinet and drummer Kansas Fields next to him. Jo Jones and Sid Catlett flank Kansas Fields to make sure he does not miss a beat! The older bespectacled man on the extreme left is Pops Foster and the trumpeter up front at the left is the great Hot Lips Page. The saxophonist on the right looks like a 19-years-old Leo Parker on alto, his instrument until he turned to baritone around 1944. The following close-up doesn't allow me to recognize the second trumpet player. Any help 'round there?

© Gjon Mili / LIFE