“Louis Bellson is the epitome of what Paul Gonsalves means when he says, “He’s a beautiful cat, man!” For in spite of his outrageous beauty, Louis Bellson is truly a beautiful person. With never a thought about getting even or getting the better of any man, he has the soul of a saint. There is nothing too good for someone he likes, and I don’t know anybody he doesn’t like or anybody who doesn’t like him.”
Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress
Jet Magazine, 13 November 1952
Jet Magazine, 11 December 1952
The recordings heard on this podcast episode:
The Hawk Talks (CD: “Mingus chez Duke – Bandbox, New York 1953,” Maison du Duke MDD 010)
Recorded 4 February 1953, The Band Box, New York City
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Hilton Jefferson, Tony Scott, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Charles Mingus- bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Ting-a-Ling (LP: “The Duke is on the Air,” Aircheck Records #4)
Recorded 13 August 1952, The Blue Note, Chicago
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Hilton Jefferson, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Skin Deep (CD: “The 1952 Seattle Concert,” Bluebird 07863 66531-2)
Recorded 25 March 1952, Seattle
Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance – trumpet; Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, Juan Tizol – trombone; Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Willie Smith, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Johnny Come Lately/Passion Flower/The Jeep Is Jumpin’/Punkin’ (CD: “Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions,” Mosaic MD12-170)
Recorded 23 May 1952, Los Angeles
Clark Terry – trumpet; Juan Tizol – trombone; John Graas – French horn; Willie Smith – alto sax; Wardell Gray – tenor sax; Harry Carney – baritone sax; Billy Strayhorn – piano; Wendell Marshall – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Far-Eastern Weekend (CD: “Lush Life: The Billy Strayhorn Songbook,” Verve Records 529 908-2)
Recorded 24 January 1957, Los Angeles
Harry Edison, trumpet; Juan Tizol, valve trombone; Willie Smith, alto sax; Don Abney, piano; Truck Parham, bass; Louis Bellson, drums; Norman Granz, tambourine; other musicians uncredited.
The Hawk Talks (CD: “Duke’s Big Four,” Pablo 2310 703)
Recorded 8 January 1973, Los Angeles
Duke Ellington – piano; Joe Pass – guitar; Ray Brown – bass; Louie Bellson – drums.
Beyond Category/Intimacy of the Blues (CD: “The Louis Bellson Explosion,” Original Jazz Classics 2310-755)
Recorded 21/22 May 1975, Los Angeles
Blue Mitchell, Snooky Young, Bobby Shew, Dick Mitchell, Dick Cooper, Cat Anderson – trumpet; Nick DiMaio, Gil Falco, Ernie Tack, Mayo Tiana – trombone; Don Menza, Pete Christlieb, Dick Spenser, Larry Covelli, Bill Byrne – saxophone; Nat Pierce, Ross Tompkins – keyboards; Mitch Holder – guitar; John Williams – bass; Paulo Magalhaes, Dave Levine – percussion.
Ellington Reflections 