Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.). The Duke Ellington Society refers to these songs as “the usual suspects.” While they are worthy of their status as standards, Ellington wrote thousands of compositions; there is plenty of his oeuvre that is ripe for exploration!

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

Azure (CD: “The Complete 1933-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra” Mosaic Records #248)

Recorded 22 April 1937, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Billy Taylor, Hayes Alvis – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

Azure (CD: “The Original Ellington Suite” Pacific Jazz ‎– 7243 5 24567 2 7)

Recorded 22 August 1958, Los Angeles

Eric Dolphy – flute; John Pisano – guitar; Nat Gershman – cello; Hal Gaylor – bass; Chico Hamilton –drums.

I Don’t Know What Kind of Blues I’ve Got (CD: “The Blanton-Webster Band” Bluebird RCA 5659-2-RB35)

Recorded 2 December 1941, Los Angeles

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

What Am I Here For (CD: “The Blanton-Webster Band” Bluebird RCA 5659-2-RB35)

Recorded 26 February 1942, Chicago

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, Ben Webster, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Junior Raglin – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

What Am I Here For/I Don’t Know What Kind of Blues I’ve Got (CD: “Jon Hendricks & Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Four Classic Albums” Avid Jazz AMSC1342)

Recorded  May/June 1960

Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross – vocal; Gildo Mahones – piano; Ike Isaacs – bass; Jimmy Wornsworth – drums.

Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “Highlights of the Great 1940-1942 Band” Avid, AMSC1143)

Recorded 15 February 1941, Los Angeles

Wallace Jones, Ray Nance –trumpets; Rex Stewart – cornet; Lawrence Brown, Juan Tizol, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton – trombones; Otto Hardwicke, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Jimmie Blanton – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “The Complete Candid Recordings of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger” Mosaic 127)

Recorded 9 January 1961 in New York City

Cecil Taylor – piano; Clark Terry – trumpet; Roswell Rudd – trombone; Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Archie Shepp – tenor sax; Charles Davis – baritone sax; Buell Neidlinger – bass; Billy Higgins – drums.

Jumpin’ Punkins (CD: “Buell Neidlinger’s String Jazz – Locomotive” Soul Note – 121 161-2)

Recorded 24 and 25 June 1987 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy

Brenton Banks – violin; John Kurnick – mandolin; Marty Krystall – tenor sax; Buell Neidlinger – bass; Billy Osborne – drums.

Bird of Paradise (CD: “The Jimmie Lunceford Collection, 1930-47” Acrobat Music FADCD2042)

Recorded 29 May 1935, New York City

Jimmie Lunceford – director; Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver – trumpet; Elmer Crumbley, Russell Bowles, Eddie Durham – trombone; Jimmie Lunceford, Willie Smith, Earl Carruthers, Laforet Dent, Dan Grissom, Joe Thomas – reeds; Edwin Wilcox – piano; Al Norris – guitar; Moses Allen – bass; Jimmy Crawford – drums.

Bird of Paradise (CD: “New York Concert” MusicMasters Jazz – 01612-65122-2)

Recorded 20 May 1964, Wollman Auditorium, Columbia University, New York

Duke Ellington – piano.

— 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.