“I enjoyed every day I was a member of the Ellington band even though it was grueling trying to keep up with Duke. I knew I was a part of something that was very special, something that would never die. But the biggest joy I had, and I think the other musicians had too was the music. Duke constantly surprised me. Musically, I could never predict what was going on in Duke’s head.”
Russell Procope, Swing and Beyond
Russell Procope’s alto saxophone solo on “Jump for Joy.” Transcribed by Dr. Tom Reed
Dr. Tom Reed’s thesis Jimmy Hamilton and Russell Procope : the clarinet soloists of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1943-1974 can be found here.
An Albert system clarinet
Russell Procope (and Barney Bigard) played Albert system clarinets as opposed to the more common Boehm system clarinets. Here are two articles explaining the history differences between them:
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
Idiom ’59, Part I (CD: “Festival Session” Sony Music Distribution COL4684022)
Recorded 8 September 1959, New York City
Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Andres Marenguito, Willie Cook, Ray Nance – trumpets, Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Jimmy Johnson, Sam Woodyard – drums.
Jones (CD: “Duke Ellington Live! At the Newport Jazz Festival ’59” Emarcy 842071-2)
Recorded 4 July 1959, Newport, Rhode Island
Cat Anderson, Harold Baker, Andres Marenguito, Willie Cook, Ray Nance – trumpets, Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn; Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Jimmy Johnson, Sam Woodyard – drums.
When It’s Sleepy Time Down South (CD: “Recollections of the Big Band Era” Warner Bros. 7411628)
Recorded 14 December 1962, New York City
Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Bill Berry, Roy Burrowes – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Ernie Shepard – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Jump for Joy (CD: “Jump for Joy” Jazz Life CD CD 15012)
Recorded 3 July 1962, New York City
Bill Berry, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
More (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)
Recorded 16 April 1964, New York City
Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Rolf Ericson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Major Holley – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
All My Loving (CD: “The Reprise Studio Recordings” Mosaic Records #193)
Recorded 19 January 1965, New York City
Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Ray Nance, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope; Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb – bass; Sam Woodyard – drums.
Swamp Goo (CD: “The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World” Pablo 2625-704)
Recorded 26 March 1967 in Carnegie Hall, New York City
Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington, Cootie Williams – trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper – trombones; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; John Lamb– bass; Rufus Jones– drums.
Almighty God (LP: “Second Sacred Concert” Prestige P-24045)
Recorded 22 January 1968, New York City
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jeff Castleman – bass; Sam Woodyard, Steve Little – drums; Alice Babs – vocal.
In A Mellotone (CD: “Togo Brava Suite” Blue Note CDP 7243 8 30082 2 3)
Recorded 22 October 1971, Colston Hall, Bristol, UK
Cootie Williams, Johnny Coles, Harold “Money” Johnson, Eddie Preston, Mercer Ellington – trumpet; Booty Wood, Malcolm Taylor, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Harold Minerve, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
4:30 Blues (CD: “Duke Ellington’s 70th Birthday Concert” Solid State SS 19000)
Recorded 26 November 1969, Manchester, England
Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Rolf Ericson – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors – trombone; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Victor Gaskin – bass; Rufus Jones – drums.
Second Line (CD: “New Orleans Suite,” Warner Bros. 7411644)
Recorded 27 April 1970, New York City
Cootie Williams, Al Rubin, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone – trumpets; Booty Wood, Julian Priester, Malcolm Taylor – trombones; Russell Procope, Norris Turney, Johnny Hodges, Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Benjamin – bass; Rufus Jones – 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.
Ellington Reflections 