Tag Archives: Billy Strayhorn

Duke Ellington: Uptown Ellington

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In March 1953, “Columbia” label released “Ellington Uptown”, the fifth Duke Ellington album. It was recorded in December 1951 in New York City, February – June – July 1952 in Fresno, California.

Personnel:

  • Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano
  • Betty Roché, Al Hibbler – vocal
  • Willie Smith, Johnny Hodges, Hilton Jefferson – alto saxophone
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Paul Gonsalves, Al Sears – tenor saxophone
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker, Willie Cook, Shelton Hemphill, Al Killian, Clark Terry, Francis Williams – trumpet
  • Ray Nance – trumpet, violin
  • Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombone
  • Tyree Glenn – trombone, vibraphone
  • Claude Jones, Juan Tizol – valve trombone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
  • Fred Guy – guitar
  • Wendell Marshall, Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin – bass
  • Louis Bellson, Sonny Greer – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

  1. Skin Deep – Louis Bellson
  2. The Mooche – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  3. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  4. A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)
  5. Perdido – Juan Tizol
  6. Controversial Suite Part 1: Before My Time
  7. Controversial Suite Part 2: Later

The Impressions: The Never Ending Impressions

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On January 9, 1964, “ABC-Paramount” label released “The Never Ending Impressions”, the second Impressions (The) album. It was recorded in 1963, and was produced by Johnny Pate.

Personnel:

  • Curtis Mayfield – lead vocals, guitar
  • Fred Cash – tenor vocals
  • Sam Gooden – bass vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Curtis Mayfield, except where noted.

  1. Sister Love
  2. Little Boy Blue
  3. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn
  4. Girl You Don’t Know Me
  5. I Gotta Keep on Moving
  6. You Always Hurt the One You Love – Doris Fisher, Allan Roberts
  7. That’s What Love Will Do
  8. I’m So Proud
  9. September Song – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill
  10. Lemon Tree – Will Holt
  11. Ten to One
  12. A Woman Who Loves Me

Ella Fitzgerald And Duke Ellington: Ella At Duke’s Place

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In December 1965, “Verve” label released “Ella at Duke’s Place”, album by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. It was recorded in October 1965, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Ella Fitzgerald – vocals
  • Duke Ellington – piano, conductor, arrangements
  • Jimmy Jones – arrangements
  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Cat Anderson – trumpet
  • Mercer Ellington – trumpet
  • Herb Jones – trumpet
  • Cootie Williams – trumpet
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Buster Cooper – trombone
  • Chuck Connors – bass trombone
  • John Lamb – bass
  • Louis Bellson – drums
  • Val Valentin – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

  1. Something to Live For – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  2. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing – Billy Strayhorn
  3. Passion Flower – Billy Strayhorn
  4. I Like the Sunrise
  5. Azure – Irving Mills
  6. Imagine My Frustration – Billy Strayhorn, Gerald Stanley Wilson
  7. Duke’s Place – Bill Katz, Ruth Roberts, Bob Thiele
  8. Brown-skin Gal (in the Calico Gown) – Paul Francis Webster
  9. What Am I Here For? – Frankie Laine
  10. Cotton Tail

Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown: The Poll Winners

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In October 1957, “Contemporary” label released “The Poll Winners”, album by Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown. It was recorded in March 1957, at “Contemporary Records Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Ray Brown – bass
  • Shelly Manne – drums

Track listing:

  1. Jordu – Duke Jordan
  2. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer
  3. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  4. Mean to Me – Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk
  5. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me – Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
  6. On Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  7. You Go to My Head – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
  8. Minor Mood – Barney Kessel
  9. Nagasaki – Harry Warren, Mort Dixon

Johnny Hodges: Creamy

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In October 1955, “Norgran” label released “Creamy”, the tenth Johnny Hodges album. It was recorded in September 1955, in New York City, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Clark Terry – trumpet
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Billy Strayhorn – piano
  • Jimmy Woode – bass
  • Sonny Greer – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Johnny Hodges, except where noted.

  1. The Ballad Medley: Whispering/Tenderly/Don’t Take Your Love from Me/Prelude to a Kiss/Polka Dots and Moonbeams/Passion Flower – Vincent Rose, John Schonberger, Richard Coburn/Walter Gross, Jack Lawrence/Henry Nemo/Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills/Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke/Billy Strayhorn
  2. Scufflin’ – Cue Hodges
  3. Honey Bunny
  4. Passion – Billy Strayhorn
  5. Pretty Little Girl – Billy Strayhorn
  6. No Use Kicking

John Hicks: Steadfast

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On September 19, 1991, “Strata-East” and “Bellaphon” labels released “Steadfast”, album by John Hicks. It was recorded in May 1975, in London.

Personnel:

  • John Hicks – piano
  • Duncan Stanbury – digital transfer
  • Malcolm Addey – digital mastering
  • Ulrich Hofmann – design
  • Manfred Rinderspacher – photography

Track listing:

  1. One for Mixon – John Hicks
  2. Lush Life – Billy Strayhorn
  3. Pensativa – Clare Fischer
  4. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  5. Hamp’s Dance – John Hicks
  6. My One and Only Love – Robert Mellin, Guy Wood
  7. Steadfast – John Hicks
  8. Serenade – J. Walters
  9. Without a Song – Vincent Youmans
  10. In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington, Manny Kurtz
  11. Soul Eyes – Mat Waldron
  12. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square – Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin
  13. The Bright Eyes – John Hicks

McCoy Tyner: Nights Of Ballads And Blues

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In July 1963, “Impulse” label released “Nights of Ballads & Blues”, the third McCoy Tyner album. It was recorded in March 1963, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • McCoy Tyner – piano
  • Steve Davis – double bass
  • Lex Humphries – drums
  • Rudy van Gelder – recordings

Track listing:

  1. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn
  2. We’ll Be Together Again – Carl Fischer, Frankie Laine
  3. ‘Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  4. For Heaven’s Sake – Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer
  5. Star Eyes – Gene De Paul, Don Raye
  6. Blue Monk – Thelonious Monk
  7. Groove Waltz McCoy Tyner
  8. Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer

Johnny Hodges: Johnny Hodges With Billy Strayhorn And The Orchestra

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In June 1962, “Verve” label released “Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra”, the 22nd Johnny Hodges album. It was recorded in December 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Billy Strayhorn – arrangements, conductor
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, reeds, clarinet
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, reeds
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone, reeds
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, reeds, bass clarinet
  • Bill Berry – trumpet
  • Cat Anderson – trumpet
  • Ed Mullens – trumpet
  • Shorty Baker – trumpet
  • Howard McGhee – trumpet
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Chuck Connors – bass trombone
  • Jimmy Jones – piano
  • Aaron Bell – bass
  • Sam Woodyard – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Stanley Dance – liner notes
  • Charles Stewart – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Get Around Much Any More – Bob Russell, Duke Ellington
  2. I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  3. Gal from Joe’s – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  4. Your Love has Faded – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
  5. I’m Just a Lucky So and So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  6. Jeep’s Blues – Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
  7. Day Dream – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, John Latouche
  8. Juice-A-Plenty – Johnny Hodges
  9. Azure – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  10. Tailor Made – Ed Mullins, Johnny Hodges
  11. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish

John Hicks: Same

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In May 1982, “Theresa” label released the self-titled, fifth John Hicks album. It was recorded in 1982, at “Different Fur Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Allen Pittman.

Personnel:

  • John Hicks – piano
  • Bobby Hutcherson – vibraphone
  • Olympia Hicks – piano
  • Walter Booker – bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Mark Needham – recording, mixing
  • John Golden – lacquer cut
  • Paul Arslanian – producer assistant

Track listing:

  1. Pas De Trois (Dance for Three) – Paul Arslanian
  2. Steadfast – John Hicks
  3. For John Chapman – John Hicks
  4. Star-Crossed Lovers – Billy Strayhorn
  5. Littlest One of All – Bobby Hutcherson
  6. After the Morning – John Hicks
  7. That Ole Devil Called Love – Allan Roberts, Doris Fisher
  8. Gypsy Folk Tales – Walter Davis

David “Fathead” Newman: The Blessing

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On May 5, 2009, “High Note” label released “The Blessing”, the 38th and the final David “Fathead” Newman studio album. It was recorded in December 2008, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Houston Person and David “Fathead” Newman.

Personnel:

  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • David Leonhardt – piano
  • Peter Bernstein – guitar
  • Steve Nelson – vibraphone
  • John Menegon – bass
  • Yoron Israel – drums

Track listing:

  1. SKJ – Milt Jackson
  2. Someone to Watch Over Me – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  3. As Time Goes By – Herman Hupfeld
  4. Manhã de Carnaval – Luiz Bonfá, Antônio Maria
  5. Smile – Charlie Chaplin
  6. Romantic Night – David Leonhardt
  7. Chelsea Bridge – Billy Strayhorn
  8. Whispers of Contentment – David Leonhardt
  9. The Blessing – David “Fathead” Newman