1940, Vol. 2

by Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

Overview

The Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1940 may not have been as popular with the general public as that of Glenn Miller, but they were one of the great big bands of all time. The best way to acquire their music is to get all of the alternate takes, which are available through RCA/Bluebird, but the Classics series has done a fine job of reissuing all of the master takes. This particular disc has a small-group session apiece led by altoist Johnny Hodges and cornetist Rex Stewart along with nine songs from the big band. Among the gems are "In a Mellotone," "Five O'Clock Whistle," "Warm Valley" (heard twice), "Daydream," and "Linger Awhile." In addition, the four classic Jimmy Blanton-Duke Ellington bass-piano duets (which include "Pitter Panther Patter" and "Mr. J.B. Blues") are included and find Blanton sounding quite futuristic, almost like Charles Mingus 15 years later. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	11/19/1996
Label:	Classics
UPC:	3307517082022

Tracks

1. There Shall Be No Night
2. In a Mellotone
3. Five O'Clock Whistle
4. Warm Valley
5. Pitter Panther Patter
6. Body and Soul
7. Sophisticated Lady
8. Mr. J.B. Blues
9. The Flaming Sword
10. Warm Valley
11. Across the Track Blues
12. Chloe (Song of the Swamp)
13. I Never Felt This Way Before
14. Day Dream
15. Good Queen Bess
16. That's the Blues, Old Man
17. Junior Hop
18. Without a Song
19. My Sunday Gal
20. Mobile Bay
21. Linger Awhile

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Rex Stewart   Primary Artist,Cornet
Rex Stewart & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Johnny Hodges   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano)
Duke Ellington   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Director
Jimmy Blanton   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano
Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton   Trombone
Sonny Greer   Drums
Fred Guy   Guitar
Ivie Anderson   Vocals
Juan Tizol   Trombone (Valve)
Otto Hardwick   Sax (Alto),Sax (Bass)
Cootie Williams   Trumpet
Lawrence Brown   Trombone
Barney Bigard   Clarinet
Ben Webster   Sax (Tenor)
Harry Carney   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Herb Jeffries   Vocals
Wardell Jones   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Performer
Kim Gannon   Composer
Frank Eyton   Composer
Gene Irwin   Composer
Edward Eliscu   Composer
Josef Myrow   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Duke Ellington   Arranger,Composer
Neil Moret   Composer
Jimmy Blanton   Composer,Performer
Billy Strayhorn   Arranger,Composer
Milt Gabler   Composer
Johnny Hodges   Composer,Performer
Harry Owens   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Vincent Youmans   Composer
Al Dubin   Composer
Edward Heyman   Composer
Vincent Rose   Composer
Johnny Green   Composer
Robert Sour   Composer
Rex Stewart   Composer,Performer
Abner Silver   Composer
Gladys Shelley   Composer
Anatol Schenker   Liner Notes
John Latouche   Composer