“Spanning over five decades (1923-1974), the Duke Ellington orchestra was nursery, proving ground and finishing school for dozens of jazzmen. ” – Jazzmessengers.com

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

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Everything But You (CD: “Cootie Williams and his Orchestra 1945-1946” Classics 981)

Recorded 19 July 1945, New York City

Cootie Williams, Ermit V. Perry, George Treadwell, Billy Ford, Clarence “Gene” Redd – trumpet; Ed Burke, Robert Horton, Dan Logan – trombone; Rupert Cole, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson – alto sax; Lee Pope, Sam Taylor – tenor sax; George Favors – baritone sax; Arnold Jarvis – piano; Leroy Kirkland – guitar; Carl Pruitt – bass; Sylvester “Vess” Payne – drums.

I’m Beginning to see the light (CD: “Cootie Williams and his Orchestra 1945-1946” Classics 981)

Recorded 26 February 1945, New York City

Cootie Williams, Ermit V. Perry, George Treadwell, Harold “Money” Johnson – trumpet; Ed Burke, Robert Horton – trombone; Rupert Cole, Frank Powell – alto sax; Lee Pope, Sam Taylor – tenor sax; Ed de Verteuil – baritone sax; Arnold Jarvis – piano; Leroy Kirkland – guitar; Carl Pruitt – bass; Sylvester “Vess” Payne – drums, Warren Evans – vocal.

The Mooche (CD: “The Legendary Sidney Bechet” Bluebird – 6590-1-RB

Recorded 14 October 1941, New York City

Sidney Bechet (Henry Goodwin –trumpet; Vic Dickenson – trombone; Sidney Bechet – soprano sax; Don Donaldson – piano; Ernest Williamson – bass; Manzie Johnson – drums.) Recorded 14 October 1941 NYC

The Mooche/Mood Indigo (CD: “Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions” Mosaic MD12-170)

Recorded 24 February 1945. Los Angeles

Taft Jordan – trumpet, Otto Hardwicke – alto sax, Barney Bigard – clarinet, Emanuel “Duke” Brooks – piano; Fred Guy – guitar, Red Callender – bass, Sonny Greer – drums.

Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (CD: “Cootie Williams And His Orchestra – 1941-1944” Classics 827)

Recorded 6 January 1944, New York City

Cootie Williams, Ermit V. Perry, George Treadwell, Harold “Money” Johnson- trumpet; Ed Burke, George Stevenson, Robert Horton- trombone; Charlie Holmes, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson- alto sax; Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis- tenor sax; Bud Powell- piano; Norman Keenan- bass; Sylvester “Vess” Payne- drums, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson – vocal.

It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (CD: “Shoutin’ Swingin’ & Makin’ Love” Chess – CHD-9327)

 Recorded 1948 or 1949, New York City

Al Hibbler – vocal; Ray Nance – trumpet; Tyree Glenn – trombone; Ben Webster – tenor sax; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Oscar Pettiford or Alvin “Junior” Raglin – bass; Fletcher Jackson – drums. 

I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good (CD: “Ben Webster, Harry Carney – With Strings (Music For Loving / Music With Feeling” Verve Records – 314 527 774-2)

Recorded December 1954, New York City

Harry Carney – baritone sax; Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet; Ray Nance – trumpet, violin; Tony Miranda – French horn; Mac Ceppos, Martin Donegan, Ben Gerrard, Howard Kay, Eugene Orloff, Sylvan Shulman, Zelly Smirnoff, Isadore Zir – violin; Sidney Edwards, Doris Johnson, Alan Shulman – cello; Leroy Lovett – piano; Billy Bauer – guitar; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.

Caravan (CD: “Duke Ellington & Friends” Verve Records – 833 291-2)

Recorded 26 January 1955, New York City

Lawrence Brown – trombone; Sam “The Man” Taylor – tenor sax; Leroy Lovett – piano; Lloyd Trotman – bass; Louis Bellson – drums.

Caravan (CD: “Do Nothing Till You Hear From . . . Cootie” Collectables – COL-CD-6121”)

Recorded c. 1960, New York City

Cootie Williams – trumpet; other musicians unidentified

Warm Valley (CD: “Jimmy Hamilton Live at The Buccaneer” Jazz Time JTM 8159)

Recorded 24 September 1982 in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (The Buccaneer)

Jimmy Hamilton – alto sax, tenor sax; Gary Mayone – piano; Joe Straws – bass; Delroy Thomas – drums.

I’m Beginning to see the light (LP: “Cootie & Rex, The Big Challenge” Jazz Greats JG-602)

Recorded 7 May 1957, New York City

Rex Stewart – cornet; Cootie Williams – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, J. C. Higginbotham – trombone; Coleman Hawkins, Bud Freeman – tenor sax; Hank Jones – piano; Billy Bauer – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Gus Johnson – drums.

— Our closing music —-

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.