Raiders of the Lost Archive: 2

Saving every recorded note the Ellington orchestra ever blew is probably an impossible task on a Herculean scale. Archival work on the recorded and printed legacy of Duke Ellington is something we take great interest in. 

Here is one that got away in a recent eBay auction, the details posted here for the record...

From the vendor's description...

2 Vintage Reel to Reel Audio Recordings Duke Ellington Jazz 30's 60's Music

Item description from the seller

2 Vintage Reel to Reel Duke Ellington Audio Recordings

Concert    9/7/1961 

Concert    7/26/1939

NOT TESTED

Trusting What is on Box is Actually What's on Reel in Box

The 26 July 1939 recording is readily available. The interesting 'find' in this listing is the recording from Houston, Texas, 1961.

This, too, has clearly done the rounds on the collectors' circuit, back in the day.

Discographical details here come from ellingtonia.com

Most of the non-commercial recordings listed on this site originate from privately held recordings which exchanged hands on the collectors' circuit. To what extent a 'complete' set of these recordings is held in one place, an archive which could be accessed by researchers, we do not know. To quote the Bard, however, " 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished"!

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA Houston, TX  7 September 1961

Dance, Music Hall

Willie Cook, Edward Mullens, Cat Anderson(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Louis Blackburn, Lawrence Brown(tb); Chuck Connors(btb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope (cl,as); Johnny Hodges(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,bcl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Aaron Bell(sb); Sam Woodyard(d); Milt Grayson(v)

Take The ‘A’ Train (theme)                        

¬ Black And Tan Fantasy               

 | Creole Love Call               

_|The Mooche                      

Newport Up              

Tenderly                    

Cops (Asphalt Jungle)                   

Congo Square                     

Summertime                        

Autumn Leaves                    

Rockin' In Rhythm               

Passion Flower                   

All Of Me                    

Day In, Day Out - vMG                     

Why Was I Born - vMG                    

One More once - vMG                     

Jones             

Take The "A" Train (theme)                       

V.I.P. Boogie             

Jam With Sam                     

Skin Deep                 

Medley                       

1. In A Sentimental Mood               

2. Don't Get Around Much Anymore                     

3. Mood Indigo                     

4. I'm Beginning To See The Light                       

5. Sophisticated Lady                     

6. Caravan                

7. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - vMG                    

8. Just Squeeze Me - vRN              

9. It Don't Mean A Thing - vRN                   

10. I Let A Song & Don't Get Around Much                      

 

¬ Diminuendo In Blue                    

_| Wailing Interval                

Take The ‘A’ Train (theme)