“In the fall of 1926, Irving Mills became Duke
Ellington's manager, publisher, and business partner. Recognizing Ellington's
special talents and character, Mills designed and carried out a vastly
influential blueprint for marketing that made Ellington an international
figure, and cemented his reputation as an important composer.”
“Irving Mills presents Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” is an advertising brochure published in 1933 to promote the music and artistry of Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.Physically, it is composed of a black faux leather cover with silver lettering, measuring 11 ¼” wide and 14 ¾” high.Inside are 12 leaves of glossy stock, measuring 11” wide and 14” high.These pages are affixed to the cover by three brass round-head paper fasteners.On a back page credit is given as follows:“The Brochure Designed and Written by K. K. Hansen, Cover by Leff. Photographs by Wendell MacRae.Laurel Printing Co. Inc.New York, NY.”On the pages is told the story of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra in word and photograph.There are eleven black-and-white photos and a page devoted to a listing of Ellington recordings on various labels -- from “Parlor Social Stomp” released on Perfect in 1926 to “Drop Me Off in Harlem” released in June of 1933.The producer of this brochure was Irving Mills (1894-1985), a giant in the music industry of the twentieth century.As co-founder of the publishing house, Mills Music, he helped promote the careers of many of the big band leaders of the era, including Cab Calloway, Ben Pollack, Benny Goodman and, of course Duke Ellington.This brochure is in exceptionally fine shape with no tears, creases nor any other discernible flaws.I obtained this item from my father who, as counsel for National Ballroom Operators’ Association until his death in 1964, had friends in the business, one of whom may have passed this Ellington document on to himCondition as noted, VG to E. SOLD FOR £261.07
The Music of Duke Ellington with Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Jazz
Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Directed by Martin Hathaway
A spectacular evening of Duke Ellington’s music. This concert represents the School’s relationship with the Duke Ellington Society UK, which tirelessly supports the revival of the music of the most important composer in jazz.
What makes the evening's music so spectacular is that, according to my information, the Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra will be performing the complete music from Ellington's final Columbia album All American In Jazz, transcribed by Michael Kilpatrick.
I'm not aware that Ellington himself ever performed any of this music live outside the recording studio, much less the complete work.
Here is a real rarity I have never seen before, uploaded very recently to Youtube: Duke Ellington's appearance on the television programme Atlantic Showboat, hosted by Hughie Green of Opportunity Knocks! fame.
The filming took place on board The Empress of Britain sailing from Liverpool to Montreal via Greenock. Ellington is accompanied by the Malcolm Mitchell Trio. George Formby (heh! heh! Never touched me!)was also apparently featured in the programme. Duke Ellington accompanied by George Formby... the mind boggles.
I think I'm right in saying that Malcolm Mitchell accompanied Ellington on his trip to Britain ten years earlier in 1948 when Musicians' Union rules meant that Ellington could work only with Ray Nance from the States. This particular performance of Take The 'A' Train, from 1959 is available on the CD The British Connexion.
Just missed out today bidding on three reel-to-reel recordings of Duke Ellington on Ebay. Drat!
The bidding finished at 6:30-ish Greenwich Meantime and I had failed to rouse from a Chateauneuf du pape (we do things in style at Villes Ville) induced slumber to check that I had not been out bid. I awoke at seven.
The listing description ran:
"3 Reels - Duke Ellington California Concert Vintage
10.5" Reel to Reel Recordings
I had approximately 900 of these most of which were
classical music recorded in the early 1950's, I would assume these were from a
similar time period, but not sure. Come to find out, they were very high
quality FM recordings. I have no idea if these are as well, and I don't have
any more information on these than what you will see in the pictures. I haven't
verified the music noted on the reels, cards, or cans, is actually on the
reels, but so far, all have been on the ones checked by other buyers. These
came from a very organized collection of almost 1000 reels, so most likely
they're good, but you are buying these as is."
The cans are labelled "Bakersfield Concert" and the date given on one of the reels is May 1952.
This is interesting because no mention is made of any concert in Bakersfield during May 1952 in any of the Ellington reference works. is this a hitherto unknown concert recording? Unless the lucky bidder gets in touch, I shall probably never know now.
The problem is, studying the band's itinerary (here), it is highly unlikely that they could have performed in Los Angeles during this month. Is the recording simply mis-labelled?
The band was in Bakersfield in March 1952, however. A recorded performance from the month of March does exist (details here)but no specific date nor location is known. Could this be the recording on the tape? Or is it a completely 'fresh' and unknown date?
Well, the world of Ellington aficionados is quite small so something might turn up about this tape and this sale one day. I'll keep you posted!
25 February, 2016 sees the fiftieth anniversary of Duke Ellington's performance to celebrate the then newly restored and newly re-opened Le Chateau de Goutelas. To commemorate the occasion, French cinematographer Laurent Lukik spent two years creating a documentary which features interviews with people who were there for the occasion. In order to finance the film, he sought sponsorship through the French equivalent of Kickstarter. The campaign reached its target only days ago and now the film is to be premièred at Le Chateau Goutelas next Thursday, the fiftieth anniversary of Duke's appearance. The following article appeared in Aartur Magazine. This version is taken wholesale from Google Translate. One day when I have the time I will attempt to tidy up the translation, but in essence, the article reads:
A hen on a piano
At Castle Goutelas, in the municipality of Marcoux is currently effervescence. And for good reason. Volunteers, led by their president Marie-Claude Mioche, prepares the celebration on February 25, the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the famous American jazz musician Duke Ellington. It was in 1966, all the national press was looking towards the mountains of Drill. 50 years later, the castle of Goutelas and his men make in turn tribute to Duke Ellington who set in stone its passage Goutelas.
While volunteers are actively preparing for the festivities at the castle on February 25, the director Etienne Laurent Lukic finishes editing his documentary on Goutelas. This incredible film, true memory of the mountains of Drill, now belonging to the French heritage, will be screened on this occasion.
The project idea of this documentary A hen on a Piano was born in March 2012 following an article on Drill Info read describing the coming of Duke Ellington in February 1966 in a ruined castle of Drill, amid the French countryside. However, this is meeting with Laurent Mignard, head of a specialized orchestra in Ellington's repertoire, which triggered the director Laurent Lukic, jazz enthusiast, the will to make this documentary.
If this title is amazing, it simply is the photo taken by Paris Match in February 1966 at the Château de Goutelas, Duke Ellington playing the piano with a hen raised above. For the Path of the documentary is over the famous American jazz musician to spend three days in Goutelas Castle in reconstruction. Very touched by the humanity from these men who volunteered rebuilt this building, home to the 18th century humanism, Duke Ellington wrote in tribute to these men the "Goutelas result", composed of six musical pieces. And also devote five pages Goutelas in his autobiography.
In the film, centerpiece of the evening of 25 February, the writer-director shows both archival testimonies of these men who have rebuilt this house humanist Goutelas but also testimonies from people who knew him and Duke Ellington the inhabitants of the Forez Mountains.
Preview Thursday, February 25 at Castle Goutelas
18.00 | Premiere of the documentary "A hen on a piano" directed by Laurent Lukic
Today Goutelas regained its former glory. The castle has again become a meeting place (accredited by the Ministry of Culture "Meeting of Cultural Center" in May 2015) advocating its ancestral values of openness, solidarity and humanism. The youth of the country is invited in the courtyard to dance to the Duke Ellington revisited with the remix Do not mean a thing DJ Etienne The Architect.
This film participated in the meeting of all those who lived these three days of February 1966 by American artist company. Telling these three days, it is necessary to reconstitute the five years to the rebirth of the castle.
Lawrence wished lukic and show through the film why all the protagonists of the rebirth Goutelas have much invested in reconstruction? What this human adventure marked them?
"Meeting these men helped me realize that Goutelas had a strong impact on the economic and cultural development of the country of Astrea. Raise awareness, but also to question what has been accomplished and understand how this achievement was an amazing adventure. And if it was simply an example to follow for living together? "(Laurent Lukic)
A hen on a piano is a citizen documentary, full of common sense, of anecdotes and full of humanism. Humanism, an abstract value that only the protagonists of this film will explain ...
"If the television have not adhered to date on this project, I hope to film a career Festival. For the film to be releasable, I will have to pay footage at INA (8 minutes in total, ca expensive!). I'll also have to pay music rights on pieces of Goutelas Suite used in the film. I must also pays Philippe Milanta, pianist Laurent Mignard Duke Orchestra, for the work of reconstruction of a piece of Ellington.
The shooting of this film saw involve many, many volunteers. Again thank you to them! Thank you to the DWA Association for initiating this movie, thank you to Goutelas Cultural Centre for facilitating the shoot, thank you for having Dove Production partially funded this project.
Laurent Lukic. Here are two teasers for the documentary:
