Tag Archives: Mercer Ellington

Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor: Wheelin’ & Dealin’

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In April 1958, “Prestige” label released “Wheelin’ & Dealin’”, album by Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor. It was recorded in September 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Paul Quinichette – tenor saxophone
  • Frank Wess – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Mal Waldron – piano
  • Doug Watkins – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer, lacquer cut
  • Esmond Edwards – design
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes
  • Bob Weinstock – supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Mal Waldron, except where noted.

  1. Things ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons
  2. Wheelin’ (Take 2)
  3. Robbins’ Nest – Illinois Jacquet, Bob Russell, Sir Charles Thompson
  4. Dealin’ (Take 2)

The Three Sounds: Moods

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In February 1961, “Blue Note” label released “Moods”, the sixth Three Sounds (The) album. It was recorded in June 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Gene Harris – piano
  • Andrew Simpkins – bass
  • Bill Dowdy – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, lacquer cut
  • Hugh Bell – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes
  • Ruth Mason – model

Track listing:

  1. Love for Sale – Cole Porter
  2. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington
  3. On Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  4. Loose Walk – Sonny Stitt
  5. Li’l Darlin’ – Neal Hefti
  6. I’m Beginning to See the Light – Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James
  7. Tammy’s Breeze – Gene Harris
  8. Sandu – Clifford Brown

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book

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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

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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

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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

Charles Mingus: Mingus Dynasty

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In May 1960, “Columbia” label released “Mingus Dynasty”, the 18th Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “CBS 30th Street Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Teo Macero. In 1999, the album was inducted in the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • John Handy – alto sax
  • Booker Ervin – tenor sax
  • Benny Golson – tenor sax
  • Jerome Richardson – baritone sax, flute
  • Richard Williams – trumpet
  • Don Ellis – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Nico Bunink – piano
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Teddy Charles – vibes
  • Maurice Brown – cello
  • Seymour Barab – cello
  • Honi Gordon – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus, except where noted.                         

  1. Slop
  2. Diane
  3. Song with Orange
  4. Gunslinging Bird (originally titled If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger, There’d Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats) 
  5. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington
  6. Far Wells, Mill Valley
  7. New Now Know How
  8. Mood Indigo – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  9. Put Me in That Dungeon

The 3 Sounds: Moods

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In February 1961, “Blue Note” label released “Moods”, the seventh  3 Sounds (The) album. It was recorded on June 28, 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Gene Harris- piano
  • Andrew Simpkins- bass
  • Bill Dowdy- drums

Track listing:

  1. Love for Sale – Cole Porter
  2. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington
  3. On Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  4. Loose Walk – Sonny Stitt
  5. Li’l Darlin – Neal Hefti
  6. I’m Beginning to See the Light – Duke Ellington, Don George, Jimmy Hodges, Harry James
  7. Tammy’s Breeze – Gene Harris
  8. Sandu – Clifford Brown