Tag Archives: Ray Nance

Beyond the Usual Suspects & Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #26-001)

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Ellington Reflections

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! Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, Ray Nance | Leave a comment

Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part III (Podcast #24-005)

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Ellington Reflections

A look at the years Mercer Ellington led the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1974 to 1996). Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Barrie Lee Hall, Billy Strayhorn, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, Jazz, Johnny Hodges, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Burrell, Mercer Ellington, music, news, Paul Ellington, Ray Nance, saxophone | Leave a comment

Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part I (Podcast #24-002)

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Ellington Reflections

Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington, is an underrated contributor to the world of Ellingtonia. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged concerts, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Jazz, Johnny Hodges, Johnny Mercer, Mercer Ellington, music, news, Ray Nance, Sonny Greer | Leave a comment

Portrait of Harold “Shorty” Baker (Podcast #23-011)

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

Duke Ellington said of trumpeter Harold “Shorty” Baker that “his way of playing a melody was absolutely personal, and he had no bad notes at all.” Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Duke Ellington, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Lawrence Brown, Ray Nance | Leave a comment

Side by Side and Back to Back (Podcast #23-009)

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

The recordings heard on this podcast episode: (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2) I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Recorded 30 October 1928 and 10 November 1928, NYC) Arthur Whetsel, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton … Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Ivie Anderson, Lawrence Brown, Mae West, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart | Leave a comment

Portrait of Norris Turney (Podcast #23-007)

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

Multi-reedman Norris Turney became the first flute soloist featured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was with the band for 4 years, leaving in 1973. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Duke Ellington, Jazz, Norris Turney, podcast, Ray Nance, Rufus Jones | Leave a comment

Suite Thursday (Podcast #23-005)

Posted on May 29, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

“Then in 1960 we came up with Suite Thursday for the Monterey Festival that year…we tried to parallel John Steinbeck’s story, “Sweet Thursday,” which was set in Monterey’s Cannery Row.” Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress The recordings heard … Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, John Steinbeck, Lawrence Brown, Paris, Ray Nance, Stockholm | Leave a comment

Parisian Birthday Celebration (Podcast #23-004)

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

Celebrating the 124th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington and the 6th birthday for Ellington Reflections with a Parisian themed episode in honor of the 2023 Ellington Conference being held in the City of Lights. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, France, Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Lawrence Brown, Paris, Paul Gonsalves, podcast, Ray Nance | Leave a comment

Reminiscing In Tempo (Podcast #23-001)

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Ellington Reflections

Reminiscing In Tempo is one of Duke Ellington’s most personal compositions. In was written in memory of his mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Daisy Ellington, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Juan Tizol, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Sonny Greer | Leave a comment

Portrait of Louie Bellson (Podcast #22-010)

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Ellington Reflections

Drummer/Composer/Arranger Louie Bellson (1924-2009) was a musician’s musician. Although he was only with the Ellington for a short period, he created a huge impact in the Ellington legacy. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Cat Anderson, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Harry James, Johnny Hodges, Juan Tizol, Lawrence Brown, Louie Bellson, Pearl Bailey, Ray Nance, Wardell Gray, Willie Smith | Leave a comment

Portrait of Russell Procope, Part II (Podcast #22-007)

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Ellington Reflections

The second part of a survey of Russell Procope’s work with the Ellington band. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Alice Babs, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Hamilton, Ray Nance, Russell Procope | Leave a comment

Beyond the Usual Suspects, Part I (Podcast #22-003)

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Ellington Reflections

Another look at less commonly covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Cat Anderson, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa, Harry Carney, Henri Chaix, Jimmy Jones, Johnny Hodges, Kenny Burrell, Lambert Hendricks and Ross, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Russell Procope, Scott Hamilton | Leave a comment

And the Trumpets Sing! (Podcast #21-003)

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Ellington Reflections

Featuring the singing trumpeters of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Clark Terry, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Harold "Money" Johnson, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Louis Bacon, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Trumpet | Leave a comment

My Favorite (Ellington) Things, according to the iPod (Podcast #21-002)

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Ellington Reflections

Here’s a selection of what my iPod says are my most listened-to Ellington songs. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Alice Babs, Billy Strayhorn, Cat Anderson, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Ray Nance | Leave a comment

Portrait of Joya Sherrill (Podcast #20-006)

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Ellington Reflections

Joya Sherrill was a featured vocalist with the Ellington orchestra from 1944 to 1946, but returned periodically in subsequent years. One of Ellington’s best vocalists, she deserves wider recognition. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Harold Ashby, Joya Sherrill, Mercer Ellington, Ray Nance, Rex Stewart | 2 Comments

Variations on a Theme Song (Podcast #20-003)

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Ellington Reflections

Billy Strayhorn wrote “Take the “A” Train,” which became the band’s theme song in 1941. We survey a number of diverse treatments from a thirty year period. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Al Killian, Billy Strayhorn, Cootie Williams, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Hamilton, Oscar Peterson, Ray Nance, Take the "A" Train | Leave a comment

The Treasury Shows, Pt. V (Podcast #19-015)

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Ellington Reflections

This is the last part of our look at the 25 double CD set of Storyville’s Treasury Show series…. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Cat Anderson, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Juan Tizol, Lawrence Brown, Paul Gonsalves, Radio, Ray Nance, Russell Procope, Sonny Greer, U. S. Treasury Department | Leave a comment

The Treasury Shows, Pt. IV (Podcast #19-012)

Posted on July 7, 2019 by Ellington Reflections

A few selections from Volumes 16 thru 20 of Duke’s Treasury Shows…. Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Kay Davis, Lawrence Brown, Mercer Ellington, Nat Jones, Ray Nance, Sonny Greer, Storyville Records, U. S. Treasury Department | Leave a comment

Portrait of Bubber Miley (Podcast #19-008)

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Ellington Reflections

“Bubber Miley was from the body and soul of Soulville. He was raised on soul and saturated and marinated in soul. Every note he played was soul filled with the pulse of compulsion….. Bubber was born in South Carolina, but … Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Barney Bigard, Bing Crosby, Bix Beiderbecke, Bubber Miley, Cootie Williams, Cotton Club, Duke Ellington, Fred Guy, Freddy Guy, Harry Carney, Hoagy Carmichael, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Paul Whiteman, Ray Nance, Sonny Greer, Wellman Braud | Leave a comment

The Treasury Shows, Pt. II (Podcast #19-004)

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Ellington Reflections

A look at some of the music on Volumes 6 through 10 of Storyville Records’ release of the Duke Ellington Treasury Series radio shows.
Continue reading →

Posted in podcast | Tagged Al Hibbler, Al Sears, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, Johnny Hodges, Joya Sherrill, Kay Davis, Lawrence Brown, Otto Hardwicke, Ray Nance, Sonny Greer, Storyville Records, Taft Jordan, U. S. Treasury Department, War Bonds, World War II | Leave a comment

And Now For Something Completely Different…. (Podcast #19-003)

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Ellington Reflections

Ellington playing the electric piano, Billy Strayhorn on harpsichord and the 1932 band in stereo are just some of the different items you’ll hear from the Ellington oeuvre.
Continue reading →