Cool Cats

Cool Cats is a new Danish documentary about the relationship between Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon whilst they lived and worked in Copenhagen. It is directed by Janus Køster-Rasmuss who talks about the film here:

You can read more about Ben and Dexter's relationship at the newly formed Dexter Gordon Society and this fascinating post by Dexter's widow, Maxine here.

Jones

New CD: rare and unreleased. Available to members of La Maison du Duke.

Quebec 49

Duke Ellington & his Full Band Original Autographs, Quebec Sept. 11, 1949

PROGRAMME SOUVENIR - DUKE ELLINGTON  LA TOUR  QUEBEC  11 SEPT. 1949

What a find... from a French Canadian estate the Original program No. 104 

for the Duke Ellington and his band concert at "La Tour" in Quebec City, Canada on September 11th, 1949 

with his and his band's Original Autographs

The program was autographed on the front cover by Duke Ellington and 10 members of his band 

for this Quebec concert including:

Duke Ellington,   

Ray Nance,   Jazz Trumpeter, violinist and singer

Quentin Jackson,  

Jimmy Forrest,   Jazz Musician, Tenor Saxophone

Harold Baker,   

Al Killian,   Jazz Trumpeter

Nelson Williams,   Jazz Trumpeter - Nicknamed "Cadillac"

Wendell Marshall,  Jazz Double-Bassist  

Lou...... ,  

Jimmy Hamilton,   Jazz Clarinetist, Tenor Saxophonist, Arranger, Composer (25 years with Duke Ellington)   

Tyree Glenn, Trombone Player

The program is on a strong green paper, it is 18 5/8 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches long, folded in 3 parts 

(each page is 6 3/8" x 9 1/2"). There is a 3/4" rip at the bottom of the first page.

On the back of the cover

Bienvenue a DUKE ELLINGTON et son Orchestre

Will Brodrigue Inc.

Tout en Musique et Disques

ACCESSOIRES ELECTRIQUES - CADEAUX - QUINCAILLERIE

35, Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec

Tels: 2-78284-6888

Produits "NORTHERN ELECTRIC"

WILL BRODRIQUE  President

OMER BROUSSEAU  Vice-President

"The Friendly shop"

Picture of Will Brodrique...

WILL BRODRIQUE  Fameux Chef D'Orchestre  Imprime par J.-B. Bedard Enr.  -  595, 5ieme Rue, Limoilou, Quebec.

Inside the program:  Picture of JIMMY DORSEY - who had a previous concert in Quebec May 10th of the same year.

"Toutes les personnes qui etaient presentes lors de la venue de JIMMY DORSEY et son Orchestre, 

le 10 mai dernier, gardent encore un souvenir vivace de ce fameux Orchestre"

Inside the trifold - Page 1

Picture of HARRY CARNEY - saxophoniste baryton par excellence

Picture of RAY DAVIS  -  la jolie vocaliste a la voix d'or

Picture of JOHNNY HODGES - saxophoniste alto no 1 d'Amerique

Inside the trifold - Page 2

en personne!

Caricature of BENNY GOODMAN - "Son Orchestre et sa revue"

Une nouvelle presentation musicale

Vous avez eu le plaisir d'applaudir BENNY GOODMAN et son Orchestre ici a La TOUR, le 21 Juin dernier.

Inside the trifold - Page 3

Picture of CHARLIE SPIVAK

Les commentaires ont ete les plus elogieux lors de la visite de CHARLIE SPIVAK et son Orchestre, 

ici a La TOUR le 14 juin 1949.

A unique piece of Duke Ellington & his orchestra history.

Notes on:  "LA TOUR"  Quebec City (See Picture  http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2015/09/25/22555646.html)

Voice of America

The University of North Texas continues to upload fascinating Ellingtonian material from the Willis Conover Voice of America Archive.

Firstly, an interview with Johnny Hodges was uploaded (which may be heard here).

Now, there is a two part interview with Ellington himself.

Part One is here.

Part Two may be heard here.

The entire Ellington-related list of contents (most of which accessible only to the UNT community, unfortunately)is here.

New from Storyville: Rotterdam 1969

From the Storyville Records website:

"Duke Ellington & His Orchestra toured Europe in November 1969, a time when Duke was still at the top of his powers. The new CD is a recording of the whole of an excellent concert held at De Doelen Concert Hall in Rotterdam—a venue famous for its splendid acoustics.

The ambience is remarkable: The audience is audibly enthusiastic and these high spirits clearly influence the band. Duke Ellington and the orchestra gave two concerts on November 7th, and even though this is the second one, the musicians sound nothing but lively and fresh.Still in a brilliant mood after two concerts, Duke Ellington even played an after-party concert with a quartet—Storyville Records hopes to issue these recordings in the future."

The repertoire includes classics such as “Take the A Train” and Don’t Get Around Much Any More rarely heard as swinging as on this day, vigorous and fresh versions of Kinda Dukish and Rockin’ In Rhythm and the newer 1966 composition La Plus Belle Africaine, the centerpiece of the concert.

Personnel:

Cat Anderson (tp), Cootie Williams (tp), Ambrose Jackson (tp), Mercer Ellington (tp), Nelson Williams (tp), Benny Bailey (tp), Lawrence Brown (tb), Chuck Connors (tb), Russel Procope (as,cl), Johnny Hodges (as), Norris Turney (as,ts,cl,fl), Harold Ashby (ts, cl), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bar,cl,b-cl), Duke Ellington (p), Victor Gaskin (b), Rufus Jones (d), Tony Watkins (vcl)

Track listing:

Take The ‘A’ Train (theme)

C-Jam Blues  

Kinda Dukish/ Rockin' In Rhythm 

Take The "A" Train  

Up Jump        

La Plus Belle Africaine         

Come Off The Veldt 

El Gato           

Black Butterfly          

Things Ain't What They Used To Be          

Don't Get Around Much Anymore   

Medley          

  1. Caravan           

  2. Mood Indigo   

  3. Sophisticated Lady     

Making That Scene - vTW   

It Don't Mean A Thing - vTW          

Be Cool And Groovy For Me - vTW 

Satin Doll       

Satin Doll       

R.T.M. 

Wailing Interval       

Satin Doll 

The disc may be ordered online here.

And that additional quartet performance which Storyville promise to release on another occasion, by the way:

Duke Ellington(p); Wild Bill Davis(o); Victor Gaskin(sb); Rufus Jones(d)

Black Swan    

The Lake       

Satin Doll       

Just Squeeze Me