New Mosaic Box - Duke Ellington: 1936-40 Small Group Sessions (#235)

Ellington is widely regarded as one of the most important composers in the history of music. Few would argue that at the time of these recordings, Ellington was at the beginning of his creative peak.

In the years just preceding their production, he had ensconced himself in residence at the Hollywood (later The Kentucky) Club in Times Square, and after that at Harlem's The Cotton Club. Radio broadcasts brought his music coast to coast, until there was no way to satisfy the demand short of touring; Ellington remained on the road the rest of his life.

But those years in New York were instrumental in allowing him to establish “The Ellington Effect." With a small group of musicians who accompanied him from his native Washington, later augmented and replaced by others who would stay with him for decades, Ellington created music that wasn't so much composed on music paper as it was fashioned expressly for the men who would play it - Rex Stewart's talking cornet; Juan Tizol's giant valve trombone and “Tricky Sam" Nanton's plunger-muted slide instrument; Barney Bigard's lush, silvery, slithering clarinet; Harry Carney's riveting, full, rich baritone saxophone; Cootie Williams' coy trumpet; Sonny Greer's subtle drums, especially alongside Jimmie Blanton's swinging bass. And how can you say enough about alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, the commanding presence in Ellington's band for his melodious and warmly expressive solos?

Within the idiom of a popular form, Ellington achieved something extraordinarily rare. His intricate compositions were uncommon for the time, or any time. An added talent was his insight into each player's personality and how to build an ensemble sound from those elements. The final piece of the puzzle was creating solo opportunities that gave individual musicians a spotlight.

These songs will be played again and again through the ages. But these records stand alone.

Ellington's orchestra records were released on premium-priced 78s; in order to cater to the jukebox trade and churn out more product, these small group sides were priced three for a dollar and credited by Mills and his partner Helen Oakley to Ellington's sidemen. But whether you are listening to Cootie Willaims and his Rug Cutters, Rex Stewart and his 52nd Street Stompers, Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra, or Barney Bigard and his Jazzopators, you're hearing pure Ellingtonia.

Considered Classics Today

In fact, many of these songs--now considered standards and jazz classics--were heard first in these exceptional small group recordings. Juan Tizol's composition “Caravan" from a Barney Bigard session; Cootie Williams' “Echoes of Harlem;" vocal versions by the forgotten Mary McHugh on “Lost In Meditation" and “Prelude To A Kiss;" Rex Stewart's peerless cornet conceptions on “Rexatious" and “The Back Room Romp." And the Johnny Hodges masterpieces alone consist of “Blue Reverie," “Jeep's Blues," “The Jeep Is Jumpin'," a trio side with Duke and bassist Billy Taylor on “Finesse" and one of the most plaintive of these Hodges releases, “Wanderlust."

The set also includes small group sessions led by Ellington during this period and a special bonus session recorded a few years earlier; Ellington's piano solos; and the duet sides with bassist Jimmie Blanton. There is also the Gotham Stompers session that comprises both the Ellington band and the Chick Webb band with Chick at the drums.

As an extra special bonus, Ellington collector Steven Lasker (who co-produced the collection, wrote the extensive essay accompanying the set, and provided the track-by-track analysis) included his own, rare treasure: a rehearsal disc of “Echoes of Harlem."

All known alternate takes are included here as well, some of which only came out on short-lived bootleg LPs in the 1960s and 1970s. There are 173 tracks in all with rare photographs and a complete, updated discography.

We have worked on this one long and hard. It's truly a labor of love and a set that is not to be missed. But like all Mosaic releases, the numbered collectors' sets are extremely limited, and will never be available again when they are sold out. Please order yours today.