Tag Archives: Duke Ellington

Aretha Franklin: Laughing on the Outside

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On August 12, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Laughing on the Outside”, the fourth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in April – June 1963, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York and Hollywood, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Arnome, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Dave Grusin, Andrew Acker, Leon Russell – piano
  • C. Bosler, Ray Pohlman, Melvin Pollan – bass guitar
  • Hindel Butts, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Plas Johnson – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  • Robert Ascher – trombone
  • Bernard Eichenbaum, Julius Schacter, Leo Kahn, Berl Senofsky, Felix Gigol, Max Pollikoff, George Ockner, John Rublowsky, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig, George Poole, Irving Lipschultz, Irving Weinper, Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • R. Dickler, Theodore Israel, Jacob Glick – viola
  • Jesse Erlich, Anthony Twardowsky, Joseph Tekula – cello

Track listing:

  1. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  2. For All We Know – Sam M. Lewis, J. Fred Coots
  3. Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  5. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills
  6. Laughing on the Outside – Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh
  7. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman
  9. If Ever I Would Leave You – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  11. Mr. Ugly – Norman Mapp
  12. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt

Duke Ellington: Ellington Showcase

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In June 1955, “Capitol” label released “Ellington Showcase”, album by Duke Ellington. It was recorded April – December 1953 at “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles and “Universal Studios” in Chicago, January – June 1954 at “Capitol Studios” in New York, and May 1955.

Personnel:

  • Duke Ellington – piano, electric piano
  • Billy Strayhorn – piano
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Rick Henderson – alto saxophone
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpet
  • Quentin Jackson, George Jean, Juan Tizol, Britt Woodman – trombone
  • John Sanders – valve trombone
  • Wendell Marshall, Jimmy Woode – bass
  • Butch Ballard, Dave Black – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

  1. Blossom – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  2. Big Drag
  3. Don’t Ever Say Goodbye
  4. Falling Like a Raindrop
  5. Gonna Tan Your Hide – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  6. Harlem Air Shaft
  7. La Virgen De La Macarena – Bernardo Bautista Monterde
  8. Clarinet Melodrama – Jimmy Hamilton
  9. Theme For Trambean – Jimmy Hamilton
  10. Serious Serenade

Al Cohn And His Orchestra: That Old Feeling

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In June 1956, “RCA Victor” label released “That Old Feeling”, album by Al Cohn and His Orchestra (the fifth Al Cohn album overall). It was recorded in May 1955, at “Webster Hall” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Lewis.

Personnel:

  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Freddie Green – guitar
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Osie Johnson – drums
  • Gene Orloff – concertmaster, violin
  • Fred Buldrini, Max Hollander, Harry Katzman, Leo Kruczek, Milton Lomask, Harry Lookofsky, Harry Melnikoff, Seymour Miroff, Julius Schnachter, Paul Winter – violin
  • Bernie Greenhouse, George Ricci, Lucien Schmidt, Morris Stonzek – viola
  • Manny Albam, Ralph Burns, Al Cohn, Ernie Wilkins – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. That Old Feeling – Sammy Fain, Lew Brown
  2. Gone With The Wind – Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson
  3. Sweet and Lovely – Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules LeMare
  4. Soft as Spring – Alec Wilder
  5. I’ll Take Romance – Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II
  6. Azure-Té (Paris Blues) – Don Wolf, Bill Davis
  7. I’ll Be Around – Alec Wilder
  8. Swingin’ the Blues – Count Basie, Eddie Durham
  9. Trouble Is a Man – Alec Wilder
  10. Honey Blonde – Jerry Leshay
  11. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  12. In a Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington

Henry Mancini: Uniquely Mancini: The Big Band Sound Of Henry Mancini

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On June 4, 1963, “RCA Victor” label released “Uniquely Mancini: The Big Band Sound of Henry Mancini”, album by Henry Mancini and His Orchestra. It was recorded in 1963, at “RCA Victor’s Music Center of the World”, and was produced by Joe Reisman.

Personnel:

  • Conrad Gozzo (lead), Frank Beach, Ray Triscari, Pete Candoli (soloist), Conte Candoli (soloist), Don Fagerquist (flugelhorn soloist) – trumpet
  • Dick Nash (soloist), Jimmy Priddy, John Halliburton, George Roberts (bass trombone) – trombone
  • Vincent DeRosa (soloist), Richard Perissi, John Cave, Art Maebe – French horn
  • Ted Nash (alto saxophone and alto flute solo), Ronny Lang (alto flute soloist), Harry Klee, Gene Cipriano, Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone soloist) – woodwind
  • Bob Bain – guitar
  • Larry Bunker – vibraphone, marimba
  • Rolly Bundock – bass
  • Jack Sperling – drums
  • Bobby Helfer – orchestra manager

Track listing:

  1. Green Onions – Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., Lewie Steinberg
  2. Stairway to the Stars – Mitchell Parish, Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli
  3. Night Train – Oscar Washington, Lewis Simpkins, Jimmy Forrest
  4. Lullaby of Birdland – George Shearing, B.Y. Forster
  5. Chelsea Bridge – Billy Strayhorn
  6. C Jam Blues – Duke Ellington
  7. Banzai Pipeline – Henry Mancini
  8. Rhapsody in Blue – George Gershwin
  9. Cheers! – Henry Mancini
  10. Lonesome – Henry Mancini
  11. The Hot Canary – Paul Nero
  12. Moonlight Serenade – Mitchell Parish, Glenn Miller

Andrew Bird: Sunday Morning Put-On

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On May 24, 2024, “Loma Vista” label released “Sunday Morning Put-On”, the 20th Andrew Bird album. It was recorded in 2024, at “Valentine Studios” in California, and was produced by Andrew Bird.

Personnel:

  • Andrew Bird – vocals, violin, art direction
  • Alan Hampton – bass guitar, upright bass
  • Ted Poor – drums, vibraphone
  • Jeff Parker – electric guitar
  • Larry Goldings – piano
  • Travis Pavur – engineer
  • David Boucher – engineer, mixing
  • Jeff Lipton – mastering
  • MariaRice – mastering
  • Sage Lamonica – package design
  • Christopher Leckie – art direction, package design
  • Alexa Viscius – art direction, photography

Track listing:

  1. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  2. Caravan – Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol
  3. I Fall in Love Too Easily – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  4. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Cole Porter
  5. My Ideal – Leo Robin, Newell Chase, Richard A. Whiting
  6. Django – John Lewis
  7. I Cover the Waterfront – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman
  8. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  9. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Ballon de peut‐être – Andrew Bird

Rosemary Clooney: Blue Rose

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On May 21, 1956, “Columbia” label released “Blue Rose”, the debut Rosemary Clooney studio album. It was recorded January – February 1956, and was produced by Irwing Townsend.

Personnel:

  • Rosemary Clooney – vocals
  • Duke Ellington – piano
  • Billy Strayhorn – arranger, conductor
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpets
  • Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombones
  • John Sanders – valve trombone
  • Jimmy Woode – bass
  • Sam Woodyard – drums

Track listing:

  1. Hey Baby – Duke Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  3. Me and You – Duke Ellington
  4. Passion Flower – Billy Strayhorn, Milton Raskin
  5. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond
  6. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  7. Grievin’ – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  8. Blue Rose – Duke Ellington
  9. I’m Checkin’ Out – Goombye – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  10. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  11. Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills

Hampton Hawes: This Is Hampton Hawes

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In May 1956, “Contemporary” label released “This Is Hampton Hawes”, the second Hampton Hawes label. It was recorded June – December 1955, January 1956, at “Los Angeles Police Academy” in Chavez Ravine, “Contemporary’s Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Chuck Thompson – drums

Track listing:

  1. You and the Night and the Music – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
  2. Stella by Starlight – Victor Young, Ned Washington
  3. Blues for Jacque – Hampton Hawes
  4. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  5. Steeplechase – Charlie Parker
  6. ‘Round About Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  7. Just Squeeze Me – Duke Ellington
  8. Autumn in New York – Vernon Duke
  9. Section Blues – Red Mitchell, Chuck Thompson

Randy Weston Trio: With These Hands…

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In May 1956, “Riverside” label released “With These Hands…”, the fourth Randy Weston album. It was recorded in March 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Randy Weston – piano
  • Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone 
  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik – bass
  • Wilbert Hogan – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Weston, except where noted.

  1. The Man I Love – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. Serenade in Blue – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  3. I Can’t Get Started – Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin
  4. This Can’t Be Love – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  5. These Foolish Things – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey
  6. Lifetime
  7. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  8. Little Niles

Johnny Hodges: Blues A – Plenty

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In May 1958, “Verve” label released “Blues A-Plenty”, the 14th Johnny Hodges album. It was recorded in April 1958, in New York City, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Ben Webster – tenor saxophone
  • Roy Eldridge – trumpet
  • Vic Dickenson – trombone
  • Billy Strayhorn – piano
  • Jimmy Woode – bass
  • Sam Woodyard – drums

Track listing:

 All tracks by Johnny Hodges, except where noted.

  1. I Didn’t Know About You – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  2. Cool Your Motor
  3. Gone With the Wind – Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson
  4. Honey Hill
  5. Blues-a-Plenty
  6. Don’t Take Your Love from Me – Henry Nemo
  7. Saturday Afternoon Blues
  8. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
  9. Reeling and Rocking

Junior Mance: Blue Mance

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On April 25, 1995, “Chiaroscuro” label released “Blue Mance”, the 24th Junior Mance album. It was recorded in May 1994, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Hank O’Neal.

Personnel:

  • Junior Mance – piano
  • Keter Betts – bass
  • Jackie Williams – drums

Track listing:

  1. Falling in Love with Love – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  2. Head Start – Keter Betts
  3. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  4. Teach Me Tonight – Gene de Paul, Sammy Cahn
  5. Blue Monk – Thelonious Monk
  6. Blue Mance – Junior Mance
  7. Shepherd of the Night Flock – Duke Ellington
  8. If I Had You – Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Ted Shapiro
  9. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free – Billy Taylor
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