Tag Archives: In a Mellow Tone

Al Cohn And His Orchestra: That Old Feeling

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

Erroll Garner: Contrasts

In December 1954, “EmArcy” label released “Contrasts”, the 16th Erroll Garner album. It was recorded in July 1954, at “Universal Recording Studio” in Chicago.

Personnel:

  • Erroll Garner – piano
  • Wyatt Ruther – double bass
  • Fats Heard – drums
  • Candido Camero – percussion, congas

Track listing:

  1. You Are My Sunshine – Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell
  2. I’ve Got the World on a String – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  3. 7-11 Jump – Erroll Garner
  4. Part Time Blues – Erroll Garner
  5. Rosalie – Cole Porter
  6. In a Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler
  7. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me – Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
  8. (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings – Jean Marie Blanvillain, Henri Herpin, Harold Rome
  9. There’s a Small Hotel – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  10. Misty – Erroll Garner
  11. I’ve Got to Be a Rug Cutter – Duke Ellington

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book

In February 1960, “Verve” label released “Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song”, the 70th Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded July – August 1959, at “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Ray Brown – double bass
  • Ed Thigpen – drums
  • John Altoon – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – lyrics by Bob Russell, music by Duke Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – lyrics by Mitchell Parish, music by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  3. Rockin’ in Rhythm – music by Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Irving Mills
  4. Prelude to a Kiss – lyrics by Mack Gordon, Music by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  5. In a Mellow Tone – lyrics by Milt Gabler, music by Duke Ellington
  6. Cotton Tail – lyrics and music by Duke Ellington
  7. Just A-sittin’ and A-Rockin’ – lyrics by Lee Gaines, music by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  8. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – lyrics by Ted Persons, music by Mercer Ellington
  9. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  10. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, music by Duke Ellington
  11. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me – lyrics by Bob Russell, music by Duke Ellington
  12. John Hardy’s Wife – Mercer Ellington

Oscar peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington

In December 1952, “Clef Records” label released “Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington”, the sixth Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded in December 1952, and was produced by Norman Granz. This is the first of two Oscar Petersons Duke Ellington songbook albums (released in the 50’s as 10”).

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Ray Brown – double bass
  • David Stone Martin – artwork
  • Norman Granz – liner notes, supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

  1. John Hardy’s Wife – Mercer Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  3. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons
  4. Just A-Sittin’ and A-Rockin’ – Lee Gaines, Billy Strayhorn
  5. In a Mellow Tone
  6. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – Paul Francis Webster
  7. Prelude to a Kiss – Mack Gordon, Irving Mills
  8. Cotton Tail
  9. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  10. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  11. Rockin’ in Rhythm – Irving Mills
  12. Never No Lament (Do Nothin’ Til You Hear from Me) – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell

Clark Terry: Duke With A Difference

In October 1957, “Riverside” label released “Duke with a Difference”, the fourth Clark Terry album. It was recorded in September 1957, at “Reeves Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  1. Clark Terry – trumpet, arrangements
  2. Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone 
  3. Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone 
  4. Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombone
  5. Tyree Glenn – trombone, vibraphone
  6. Billy Strayhorn – piano
  7. Luther Henderson – celeste
  8. Jimmy Woode – bass
  9. Sam Woodyard – drums
  10. Marian Bruce – vocals
  11. Mercer Ellington – arrangements
  12. Jack Higgins – engineer
  13. Jack Matthewes – engineer
  14. Paul Bacon – design
  15. Paul Weller – photography
  16. Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington except where noted.

  1. C Jam Blues – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  2. In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Manny Kurtz
  3. Cotton Tail
  4. Just Squeeze Me
  5. Mood Indigo – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  6. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  7. In a Mellow Tone
  8. Come Sunday

Curtis Fuller: Up Jumped Spring

On March 16, 2004, “Delmark” label released “Up Jumped Spring”, the 24th Curtis Fuller album. It was recorded in August 2003, at “Riverside Studio” in Chicago, and was produced by Robert G. Koester and Jacey Falk.

Personnel:

  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Brad Goode – trumpet
  • Karl Montzka – piano
  • Larry Gray – bass
  • Stewart Miller – bass
  • Tim Davis – drums
  • Jacey Falk – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Cantaloupe Island – Herbie Hancock
  2. Up Jumped Spring – Freddie Hubbard
  3. In a Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler
  4. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  5. Bags’ Groove – Milt Jackson
  6. Equinox – John Coltrane
  7. I’m Old Fashioned – Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer
  8. Alone Together – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
  9. Whisper Not – Benny Golson
  10. Black Night – Jessie Mae Robinson
  11. Star Eyes – Gene de Paul, Don Raye

Jimmy Smith: The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith

In May 1962, “Verve” label released “Bashin’: The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith”, the 20th Jimmy Smith album. It was recorded in March 1962, at “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and was produced by Cred Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Smith – organ
  • Oliver Nelson – arranger, conductor
  • Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone
  • Bob Ashton, Babe Clarke – tenor saxophone
  • George Barrow – baritone saxophone
  • Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Doc Severinsen, Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman – trombone
  • Tom Mitchell – bass trombone
  • Barry Galbraith – guitar
  • Quentin Warren – guitar
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Donald Bailey – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Del Shields – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Walk on the Wild Side – Elmer Bernstein, Mack David
  2. Ol’ Man River – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern
  3. In a Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler
  4. Step Right Up – Oliver Nelson
  5. Beggar for the Blues – Ray Rasch, Dotty Wayne
  6. Bashin’ – Jimmy Smith
  7. I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) – Johnny Mercer