Tag: Duke Ellington and his Orchestra

A few weeks ago I posted a blazing side by Charlie Parker’s All Stars called “Merry Go Round”:
https://youtu.be/5aQPz0bnx78

Today we’ll hear a different tune with the same name: Duke Ellington’s “Merry-Go-Round.”

Duke first recorded this tune in 1933 – but this earlier version was only released in Europe and Australia on the Columbia label. An alternate take of “Merry-Go-Round” from this earlier session was reissued domestically in a Columbia “Hot Jazz Classics” album set in the 1940s called “The Duke”. Being the person that I am, I of course had to dig it up for comparison.

Here’s the 1933 version:
https://youtu.be/ajEY3dzGo-k

This later recording sounds great and seems to be the better recording overall. Listening to both versions – this one feels fresh and immediate. You get the feeling that Duke’s fellahs had been working on perfecting every aspect of this arrangement and knew it backwards and forwards by this point. The 1933 version, while of course, still very good, seems just a bit more tenuous in the soloing and has just a bit less energy to it.

There does seem to be some disagreement about the credits between Rust and other sources.

Recorded in New York City on April 30, 1935.
Released as Brunswick 7440.

Credits:
Duke Ellington – piano, arranger, director
Rex Stewart – cornet
Freddy Jenkins, Cootie Williams – trumpet
Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown – trombone
Juan Tizol – valve trombone
Johnny Hodges – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Otto Hardwick – clarinet, alto sax, bass sax
Barney Bigard – clarinet, tenor sax
Fred Guy – guitar
Hayes Alvis – string bass
Fred Avendorf – drums

Source:
Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942), 6th edition by Brian Rust.

It’s been called one of Ellington’s “most exuberant records” – which is a high bar – and indeed, “In a Jam” from July of 1936 does not disappoint. The head begins with a simple but insistent swing riff, which serves as a recurring chorus that appears between solos.

Recorded in New York City on July 29, 1936.
Released as Brunswick 7734.

Duke Ellington – piano, arranger, director
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams – trumpet
Rex Stewart – cornet
Joe Nanton, Lawrence Brown – trombone
Juan Tizol – valve trombone
Barney Bigard – clarinet
Johnny Hodges – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Otto Hardwick – alto sax, bass sax
Ben Webster – tenor sax
Fred Guy – guitar
Billy Taylor – bass
Sonny Greer – drums

“Old Man Blues” is an energized contrafact of “Old Man River” – the hit by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein from the Broadway play “Showboat”. Duke dials up the tempo and gives it an innovative arrangement full of engaging moments and showboating solos.

Duke and the band were in Hollywood to appear in the Amos ‘n Andy film “Check and Double Check” and while there, recorded three songs: this one, “Ring Dem Bells” and “Three Little Words.”

If you’d like to watch Duke and the band play this tune in the film, head over to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGb6fpS4Ais

It’s a rare opportunity to see an early jazz band playing live, complete with the showmanship that they exhibited nightly at the Cotton Club.

Recorded in Hollywood, California on August 26, 1930.
Released as Victor 23022.

Credits:
Duke Ellington – piano, arranger, director
Cootie Williams, Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins – trumpet
Joe Nanton – trombone
Juan Tizol – valve trombone
Johnny Hodges – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Barney Bigard – clarinet, tenor sax
Fred Guy – banjo
Wellman Braud – bass
Sonny Greer – drums

A scorcher by the Ellington band from 1928 – an altered version of Tiger Rag. Hot and bothered, indeed!

Recorded in New York City on October 1, 1928.
Released as Okeh 8623.

Credits
Duke Ellington – piano, arranger, director
Bubber Miley, Arthur Whetsel – trumpet
Joe Nanton – trombone
Johnny Hodges – clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Barney Bigard – clarinet, tenor sax
Fred Guy – banjo
Lonnie Johnson – guitar
Wellman Braud – string bass
Sonny Greer – drums
Baby Cox – vocals

For your78 rpm Halloween playlist: “Haunted Nights” by Duke Ellington’s Orchestra.

Recorded in New York on September 16, 1929.
Originally released as Victor V-38092 – but this reissued Bluebird master pressing sounds mighty fine (B-6727).

Credits :
Duke Ellington – piano, director, arranger
Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams – trumpet
Joe Nanton – trombone
Teddy Bunn – guitar
Johnny Hodges -clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax
Harry Carney – clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax
Barney Bigard – clarinet, tenor sax
Fred Guy – banjo
Wellman Braud – string bass
Sonny Greer – drums