The pre-Cotton Club Duke Ellington orchestra in a relatively early recording made at the same Columbia session where “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” and “Hop Head” were cut.
Later in 1927, the band would get the gig that made their fortune – a steady headlining gig at the Cotton Club in Harlem.
The name “Washingtonians” was often used in the early days as Ellington (along with Hardwick and Greer) had moved to NYC in 1922 from Washington D.C. The band that has become so associated with the NYC jazz scene in the 20s and 30s at Harlem’s premier jazz club were out-of-towner Washingtonians!
“Down in our Alley Blues” gets off with a bang – with a short syncopated percussive intro – Sonny Greer’s cymbals are heard very clearly and articulately throughout due to the relatively new electric recording technology used.
Starting at 1:46 we get to hear a piano solo by the Duke himself.
I was lucky enough to get a very clean copy of this one a few years ago and am just now getting around to making a transfer. I’ll also be posting the flip side by the Charleston Chasers – which is also very good – in the near future.
Enjoy!
Recorded in New York City on March 22, 1927.
Released as Columbia 1076-D.
Credits:
Duke Ellington- piano, arranger, director
Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet
Joe Nanton – trombone
Otto Hardwick – soprano sax, alto sax, baritone sax
Prince Robinson (?) (and another ?) – clarinet, tenor sax
Fred Guy – banjo
Henry Edwards – tuba
Sonny Greer – drums
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