All The Timex In The World

 

Louis Armstrong expert Ricky Riccardi yesterday posted to That's My Home: Louis Armstrong House Virtual Exhibits a superb recollection of the second day's rehearsals for the fourth Timex All Star Jazz Show featuring Duke Ellington.

The rehearsal took place on 6 January, 1959 at the CBS Broadcast Center, 524 West 57th Street, NYC. 

Understandably, images and text on the web page are both locked. The above screen shot shows Ellington with vocalist Ruth Olay (an extremely interesting surname there which plugs directly into research we are doing at Ellington Live at present).

The photograph is copyright Maynard Frank Wolfe and no copyright infringement is intended.

Ricky's post is superb and may be found here.

A soundtrack to this particular episode of the Timex All Star Jazz Show was released on this LP:

We can present most of the music Ellington played on the show courtesy of the Cathode YouTube...

Rockin' In Rhythm

Sophisticated Lady

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

... and finally, a somewhat blurred video but here is the entire ensemble jamming on...

Perdido

Live: January 2025

It is advisable to book any event listed here in advance when possible and check with the promoter/ organiser to ensure any performance is going ahead as planned before travelling.

Sunday, 19 January 2025, 12:00 (GMT)

Harlem Live with Bob Hunt

Station Road, Blisworth NN7 3DS

Superb 13-piece band featuring a host of Midlands jazz stars and Sarah Spencer (vocals). Do not miss this spectacular band!

Tickets £15.00 in advance.

For reservations and enquiries call Tad Newton on 01604 858549.

Sunday, 19 January 2025, 15:00 (EST)

Ellington Effect Workshop 47 

Echoes of Harlem with David Berger 

From David Berger:

Join us for the 47th Zoom webinar in David Berger's Ellington Effect workshop series, which will focus on Ellington's iconic composition Echoes Of Harlem. The Ellington Effect workshops are monthly Zoom meetings where David dives into a single composition each time, analyzing it musically line by line, as well as relating pertinent stories about Duke and the band, and answering questions from attendees.  This one will take place on Sunday, January 19th at 3:00pm EST. 

Get a ticket here, or an annual membership here.

About Echoes Of Harlem

Originally titled Cootie’s Concerto (not to be confused with the later Concerto For Cootie), this big band version was preceded by a small band version with a slightly different form. The main theme has Cootie playing over an Fm shuffle bass line ostinato. The contrasting theme in the relative major (Ab), first stated by the saxes and then by Cootie, is one of Ellington’s most expressively beautiful cantabile melodies. This theme was first recorded in a small group recording in 1932 as Clouds In My Heart with alternate titles of Harlem Romance and Never Again.

Aside from the minor/major opposites in the themes, the minor vamp repeats the simple i V chords while the major theme begins on the subdominant and goes through a series of chromatic harmonies not resolving to the tonic until the 16th bar. In addition, Cootie plays plunger on the a theme and open on the b. The plunger/open combination will be used again in Concerto For Cootie.

Echoes Of Harlem is part of the series of concertos Ellington composed for Hodges, Bigard, Stewart, and Brown in the late 1930s. Johnny’s Concerto was never recorded. The set of parts that have survived do not include Hodges’ melody. He never got around to writing concertos for Otto, Harry, Artie, Tricky, Tizol, or the rhythm section.

Echoes Of Harlem was a big hit adding to Cootie’s fame and prompting other bands to play and record it. It also inspired similar pieces from other composers, most notably Earl Hagen’s Harlem Nocturne.

Friday, 24 January 2025, 20:30 (GMT)

The Pocket Ellington directed by Alex Webb

Featuring Tony Kofi and Alana Barnes 

Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London, SE11 4RN

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7582 6800

E-mail: info@toulouselautrec.co.uk

A swinging, seven-piece celebration of the Ellington repertoire with Alan Barnes (reeds), Tony Kofi (tenor), Simon Finch (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone), Dave Green (bass) and Winston Clifford (drums). 

Tickets and further details here.

As well as clever adaptations of Ellington classics by pianist / MD Alex Webb, the group also plays music from arranger/composers influenced by the Duke, including Mingus, Monk and Gil Evans.  Music for the heart, ears and feet.

Alan Barnes (reeds): A highly regarded British saxophonist and clarinetist known for his versatility and skill across multiple reed instruments. He’s an active performer, recording artist, and arranger in the jazz scene, blending traditional and modern jazz styles.

Tony Kofi (tenor saxophone): A prominent British jazz saxophonist who has gained recognition for his powerful playing and contribution to hard bop and contemporary jazz. He’s a former member of the Jazz Warriors and has collaborated widely in the jazz world.Tony Kofi (tenor saxophone): My bio here is also solid. Tony Kofi is a prominent jazz saxophonist, widely respected for his work, including as a member of the Jazz Warriors and various solo projects.

Dave Green (bass): A legendary British double bassist known for his long-standing contributions to jazz. He has played with numerous iconic figures, including Stan Tracey, Humphrey Lyttelton, and even American jazz stars like Ben Webster and Sonny Rollins when they toured the UK.

Winston Clifford (drums): A versatile and dynamic British drummer with a wide-ranging career. Known for his work in both traditional and contemporary jazz settings, his playing is characterized by a deep sense of groove and musicality.

The Jasmine Releases: Discography

The Capitol Singles Plus

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

6 April 1953

Capitol Recording Session, Capitol Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Butch Ballard(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Satin Doll

Without A Song vJG

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

7 April 1953

Capitol Recording Session, Capitol Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Butch Ballard(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Nothin', Nothin', Baby v JG 

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra 

9 April 1953

Capitol Recording Session, Capitol Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Billy Strayhorn(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Butch Ballard(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Boo-Dah

Ballin' The Blues vJG

Warm Valley

Blue Jean Beguine

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

30 June 1953 

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago IL 

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Butch Ballard(d); Jimmy Grissom(v) 

Give Me The Right vJG

Is It A Sin? vJG

Don't Touch Me v JG

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

1 July 1953

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Butch Ballard(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Hear My Plea vJG

What More Can I Say? vJG

Duke Ellington 

15 December 1953

Capitol recording session, Capitol Studios, New York City, NY

Ray Nance(vl); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Dave Black(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Chili Bowl

Blue Moon vJG

Ray Nance out

Oh! Well vJG

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

21 December 1953

Capitol recording session, Capitol Studios, New York City, NY

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Alfred Cobbs(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Billy Strayhorn(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Dave Black(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Ultra De Luxe

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

28 December 1953

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, George Jean(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Wendell Marshall(sb); Dave Black(d)

Night Time

Duke Ellington & his famous Orchestra

26 April 1954

Capitol recording session, Hollywood, Los Angeles CA

Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson, t; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, tb; John Sanders, vtb; Russell Procope, as, cl; Rick Henderson, as; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Harry Carney, bs, bcl; Duke Ellington p; Wendell Marshall, b; Dave Black, d; Ralph Collier, conga.

All Day Long

Bunny Hop Mambo

Isle Of Capri

Band Call

Duke Ellington & his famous Orchestra

1 September, 1954. Los Angeles.

Capitol recording session, Capitol Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson, t; Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman, tb; John Sanders, vtb; Russell Procope, as, cl; Rick Henderson, as; Paul Gonsalves, ts; Jimmy Hamilton, cl, ts; Harry Carney, bs, bcl; Duke Ellington, p; Wendell Marshall, b; 

Dave Black, d; Ralph Collier, conga.

Smile

Echo Tango

If I Give My Heart To You

Chile Bowl

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

8 October 1954

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Oscar Pettiford(sb); Frank Rollo(bo); Dave Black(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

Twelfth Street Rag

Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra

17 May 1955

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Gerald Wilson, Clark Terry(t); Ray Nance(t,vl,v); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Rick Henderson(as); Paul Gonsalves(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Jimmy Woode(sb); Dave Black(d)

Harlem Air-Shaft

Duke Ellington

19 May 1955

Capitol recording session, Universal Studios, Chicago, IL

Ray Nance(t); Quentin Jackson(tb); Russell Procope(cl,ss,as); Duke Ellington(ep); Jimmy Woode(sb); Dave Black(d); Jimmy Grissom(v)

So Long vJG