“In 1946, we might remind ourselves, the American South was a one-party apartheid society, the Klu Klux Klan still operated without police intervention and lynchings were still an accepted form of justice; in Congress, Southern senators and representatives prevented the passage of any civil rights legislation. The political intent of the Deep South Suite was originally recited by Leonard Feather as an introduction to the Vdisc recording.”

• David Schiff, Going South: Going South: Representation in The Deep South Suite, Keynote address to Duke Ellington Conference 2014, Amsterdam

The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

The Deep South Suite: Magnolias Dripping With Molasses/Hearsay/No One Was Looking/Happy-Go-Lucky Local (CD: “V Disc, A Musical Contribution by America’s Best for our Armed Forces Overseas.” Collectors’ Choice Music)

Recorded 23 November, 1946, Carnegie Hall, New York City

Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Francis Williams, Harold Baker(t); Ray Nance – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris, Claude Jones – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton,  Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Al Sears, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

Happy-Go-Lucky Local (CD: “The Amory Concert,” Squatty Roo Records SR-300)

Recorded 25 April 1955, The National Guard Armory, Washington, DC

Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Rick Henderson,  Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Jimmy Woode – bass; Dave Black – drums.

Happy-Go-Lucky Local (CD: “Duke Ellington and his Orchestra featuring Paul Gonsalves,” Fantasy OJC 623 (F-9636))

Recorded 1 May 1962, New York City

Bill Berry, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance – trumpet; Leon Cox, Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Aaron Bell – bass; Sam Woodyard – 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.