Hello-I have been working on this project for a number of years (amongst
other things) The following text is my liner notes and all the tracks from
14 discs of the set. It's a lot - but was a lot of work to put it all
together-Mickey
Ella Fitzgerald frequently had accompaniment by a bewildering array
of great musicians including Billy Kyle, John Kirby, Red Norvo and so many
more. And of course she started with Chick Webb, but that was a year after
the period that this volume covers. Though Ella inspired this set, she
won't be found until volume two. Born in 1905, Chick had an amazing but very
brief career, and was first recording in 1927 and continued until 1939 when
his tuberculosis of the spine finally claimed his life. He soldiered on with
his uplifting music, often leaving him exhausted and passing out at the end
of a set. Vocalists in the early days were Taft Jordan, Charles Linton,
and Ella joined in 1935. In researching this project I discovered that Billy
Kyle was ubiquitous in the thirties, being featured by Louis Armstrong, John
Kirby, Harry Sosnik, Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Milt Herth Trio, Jimmy Mundy,
Vic Schoen, Mezz Mezzrow and Henry 'Red' Allen. As a result, the concept for
this compilation grew to expand to include all John Kirby's recordings (at
least from my collection), and everything with Billy Kyle whether as solo or
sideman. Decca 2640 is unusual, being the only Kyle Trio record ever
recorded without a vocal : Dave Barbour-g/ Marty Kaplan-sb/ O'Neill
Spencer-d. O'Neill's name will come up many times over the course of this
compilation, as well as trombonist Claude Jones. Trumpeter Bobby Stark
possibly is on the sessions with Bessie Brown. Bessie was born in Ohio in
1890. She had a career in music from 1925 - 1929, with very good musicians
backing her up. He also played with Horace Henderson, Fletcher Henderson's
bands, the Chocolate Dandies, Putney Dandridge, and Ella's Famous Orchestra.
Delmar Kaplan played withTracy-Brown's Orchestra in 1928, along with Bill
Anthens on trombone. Anthens would later accompany Ella Mae Morse many years
later. Delmar went on to play in the Dorsey Brothers Band, and Ray Noble's
American Orchestra, and Glenn Miller's band. Ray had moved to the US in late
1934, and because of musician's union rules, he could only take his
drummer/manager Bill Harty, so he hired American musicians. Bill Anthens
went on to play with Freddie Slack in the forties. ~Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist Disc 1 CD253
FLETCHER HENDERSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Fletcher Henderson, p, a, dir: Russell
Smith-Joe Smith-Bobby
Bobby Stark-t/ Charlie Green-Benny Morton-tb/ Buster Bailey-Jerome
Pasquall-as/ Coleman Hawkins-ts/
Charlie Dixon-bj/ June Cole-bb/ Kaiser Marshall-d/ Bill Challis-a.
1-Hop Off Br 4119 09/14/28 C-2315-A WALLER
Tracy-Brown's Orchestra Clark Warren-Harry Fischer-t/ Bill Anthens-tb/ Art
Kassel-Nelson Brown-as/ Les Greissler-ts/ Manny Strand-p/ Jimmy Burson-bj/
Delmar Kaplan-bb/ Bus Dillon-d/
2-CHLOE(SONG OF THE SWAMP)TRACEY-BROWN'S ORCHESTRA SAM COSLOW COL 1344-D
03/20/28 145817 KAHN-MORET
3-SH-H HERE COMES MY SUGAR TRACY-BROWN'S ORCHESTRA COL 1405-D SAM COSLOW
03/20/28 145818 SIZEMORE-GROSSMAN
4-BEAUTIFUL TRACEY-BROWN'S ORCHESTRA SAM COSLOW COL 1344-D 03/20/28 145819
SHAY-GILLESPIE
5-JOLINE TRACEY-BROWN ORCHESTRA'S SAM COSLOW COL 1541-D 03/20/28 145820
WILLARD ROBISON
6-DANGER LOOK OUT FOR THAT GAL TRACY-BROWN'S ORCHESTRA COL 1405-D 03/20/28
145821 O'FLYNN-KILFEATHER
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Don Redman-cl-as-bar-v-a, dir: John Nesbitt-t-a/
Langston Curl-t/ Claude Jones-tb/ Milton Senior-cl-as/
George Thomas-cl-ts-v/ Prince Robinson-cl-ts/ Todd Rhodes-p-cel/ Dave
Wilborn-bj-g-v/ Ralph Escudero-bb/ Cuba Austin-d-vib/ Jean Napier-v.
Chicago, July 11, 1928.
7-Cherry - vJN ,aDR Vic 21730 07/11/28 46098-2 REDMAN
8-Some Sweet Day Vic 21730 07/11/28 46401-2 ROSE-JACKSON-OLMAN
9-CHLOE(SONG OF THE SWAMP) BESSIE BROWN BR 3817 01/25/28 1669
KAHN-MORET
10-SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE THERE WHILE I'M GONE BESSIE BROWN BR 3817 01/25/28
1672 BERLIN
Bessie Brown Acc. by Rex Stewart or Bobby Stark-t/ Charlie Green-tb/ Harvey
Boone-cl/ Coleman Hawkins-ts/ Fletcher Henderson or Porter Grainger-p/
Clarence Holiday-bj/ ? Del Thomas, bb there seems to be a kick drum playing
on 'He Just Don't Appeal To Me'. New York, c. March 29, 1929.
11-Song From A Cotton Field Br 4409 03/29/29 E-29531 GRAINGER
12-He Just Don't Appeal To Me Br 4409 03/29/29 E-29532 GRAINGER
Acc. by ?-t/ Charlie Green-tb/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Coleman Hawkins-ts/
Fletcher Henderson-p, possibly Porter Grainger, 2nd p. New York, c. April 1,
1929.
13-'Tain't Nobody's Fault But My Own Br 4346 04/01/29 E-29538 LAWNHURST
14- The Blues Singer From Alabam' Br 4346 04/01/29 E-29539
CASTLETON-WILLIAMS
Louis Armstrong-t-v-ldr/ Louis Bacon-Louis Hunt-Billy Hicks-t/ Charlie
Green-tb/ Pete Clark-cl-as/ Edgar
Sampson-as-vn/ Elmer Williams-ts/ Don Kirkpatrick-p/ John Trueheart-g/ Elmer
James-bb-sb/ Chick Webb-d/ Mezz Mezzrow-bells, where shown. Camden, NJ,
December 8, 1932.
15-THAT'S MY HOME LOUIS ARMSTRONG LOUIS ARMSTRONG VIC 40-0102 12/08/32 74820
RENE-LEON-RENE-OTIS-BEN
16-I HATE TO LEAVE YOU NOW LOUIS ARMSTRONG LOUIS ARMSTRONG VIC 40-0102
12/08/32 74822 DICK-LINK-WALLER
17-YOU'LL WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN LOUIS ARMSTRONG VIC 40-0105 12/21/32
74823 BOB MILLER-ARMSTRONG
Fletcher Henderson-a-dir: Russell Smith-Bobby Stark-t/ Henry Allen-t-v/
Dicky Wells-Claude Jones-tb/ Russell
Procope-Hilton Jefferson-cl-as/ Coleman Hawkins-cl-ts/ Horace Henderson-p-a/
Bernard Addison-g/ John
Kirby-sb/ Walter Johnson-d/ Will Hudson-a
18-It's The Talk Of The Town - aFH Col 2825-D 09/22/33 265136-3
SYMES-NEIBURG-LIVINGSTON
19-Nagasaki - vHA Col 2825-D 09/22/33 265138-2
WARREN-DIXON
20-DAY YOU CAME ALONG COLEMAN HAWKINS PAR R1685 09/29/33 265143
COSLOW-HAWKINS
21-JAMAICA SHOUT COLEMAN HAWKINS INST PAR R1685 09/29/33 265144-2 HORACE
HENDERSON
CHICK WEBB'S SAVOY ORCHESTRA: Chick Webb-d-dir/ Mario Bauza-Reunald Jones-t/
Taft Jordan-t-v/ Sandy Williams-tb/ Pete Clark-as/ Edgar Sampson-as-a/ Elmer
Williams-ts/ Joe Steele-p/ John Trueheart-bj-g/ John Kirby-sb/ Chuck
Richards, v.
22-STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY TAKE 2 INST PAR R2088 05/18/34 152740
SAMPSON
Ethel Waters acc. by Taft Jordan-t/ Sandy Williams-tb/ Edgar Sampson-as-vn/
Elmer Williams-ts-vn/ vl / vc / ? Joe Steele-p/ John Trueheart-g/ John
Kirby-sb, or Sampson and the three rhythm only*. New York, September 5,
1934.
23-Give Me A Heart To Sing To Dec 141 09/05/34 38548-A
YOUNG-JUDELL-WASHINGTON
24-I Ain't Gonna Sin No More Dec 141 09/05/34 38549-A CONRAD-MAGIDSON
Ella With A Twist #2 Recorded 1934 - 1939 CD253B
This volume continues with Taft Jordan, John Trueheart and John Kirby with
the band backing up Ethel Waters. Kirby would also accompany Teddy Grace
(starting on Volume 5) and Mildred Bailey (on volume 6)
Ethel Waters acc. by Taft Jordan-t/ Sandy Williams-tb/ Edgar Sampson-as-vn/
Elmer Williams-ts-vn/ vl / vc / Joe Steele-p/ John Trueheart-g/ John
Kirby-sb Taft Jordan, John Kirby and Hilton Jefferson played with Chick
Webb's band, with Ella Fitzgerald's Famous Orchestra, and Hilton with
Fletcher Henderson (this volume)and Cab Calloway (on volume 3 and 4). Taft
Jordan Jr. was born on February 15, 1915 in Florence, South Carolina. Louis
Jordan was not related to Taft Jordan. Louis was born in Brinkley, Arkansas
in 1908. Taft Jordan was a member of the Washboard Rhythm Kings, who
recorded quite extensively, but their records are very hard to find, most
being on a rare 23,000 Victor series.In 1933, Taft Jordan joined the Chick
Webb Orchestra and stayed to play with Ella Fitgerald's Famous Orchestra,
after Webb's passing in 1939. He joined Duke Ellington for four years in
1943. He toured Europe, first with Don Redman, and then with Benny Goodman
in the 1950's. He was in the stage band on Broadway in the 1960's,
performing "Hello, Dolly". Ella Fitzgerald was born in 1917, and joined
Chick Webb's band in 1935. Her first vocal in this collection is in 1936.
She recorded two sides with Benny goodman for Victor in 1936, but she had a
contract with Decca records at the time, and the record label states "with
vocal refrain." This was a common occurrance in the twenties but by the
thirties, the vocalists were almost always given label credit. Chick Webb's
band as of 1936: Chick Webb, d, dir: Mario Bauza, Bobby Stark, Taft
Jordan-t/ Sandy Williams-Claude Jones-tb/ Pete Clark-cl-as/ Edgar
Sampson-as-a/ Ted McRae-cl-ts/ Wayman Carver-ts-f/ Don Kirkpatrick-p/ John
Trueheart-g/ Bill Thomas-sb/ Ella Fitzgerald-Charles Linton-vocals ~
Mickey Clark
Disc 2 CD253B
1-You're Going To Leave The Old Home, Jim DEC 234 38551-A TRADITIONAL
Fletcher Henderson-p(track 2 only)-a-dir: Russell Smith-Irving
Randolph-Henry Allen-t/ Claude Jones-Keg Johnson-tb/ Buster Bailey-cl/
Russell Procope-Hilton Jefferson-as/ Ben Webster-ts/ Horace Henderson-p-a(on
tracks 3 & 4) / Lawrence Lucie-g/ Elmer James-sb/ Walter Johnson-d/ Benny
Carter-a. New York,
September 11, 1934.
2-Limehouse Blues - aBC Dec 157 09/11/34 38598-A BRAHAM-FURBER
3-Happy As The Day Is Long - aBC Dec 214 09/11/34 38601-B ARLEN-KOELER
4-WRAPPIN' IT UP(THE LINDY GLIDE)FLETCHER HENDERSON DEC 157 09/12/34 38604
HENDERSON
Chick Webb And His Orchestra
5-ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET TAFT JORDAN DEC 3318 09/10/34 38594
FIELDS-MCHUGH
6-IT'S OVER BECAUSE WE'RE THROUGH TAFT JORDAN DEC 483 11/19/34 39138
BRYANT
7-DON'T BE THAT WAY DEC 483 11/19/34 39140 SAMPSON
8-SING ME A SWING SONG DEC 3319 06/02/36 61124 CARMICHAEL-ADAMS
9-A LITTLE BIT LATER ON DEC 3319 06/02/36 61126 LEVINSON-NEIBURG
10-GOODNIGHT, MY LOVE - vEF VIC 25461 11/05/36 102463-1 GORDON-REVEL
STOWAWAY
11-TAKE ANOTHER GUESS - vEF VIC 25461 11/05/36 102464-1
SHERMAN-NEWMAN-MENCHER
12-YOU SHOWED ME THE WAY vEF DEC 1220 06/24/37 62067
GREEN-MCRAE-WEBB-FITZGERALD
13-CLAP HANDS,HERE COMES CHARLIE DEC 1220 03/24/37 62068
MEYER-ROSE-MACDONALD
14-IN A LITTLE SPANISH TOWN AND HIS LITTLE CHICKS DEC 3320 09/21/37 62618
WAYNE-LEWIS-YOUNG
CHICK WEBB AND HIS LITTLE CHICKS: Chauncey Haughton-cl/ Wayman Carver-f/
Tommy Fulford-p/ Beverley Peer-sb/ Chick Webb-d. New York, September 21,
1937
15-THE DIPSY DOODLE DEC 3320 12/17/37 62887 CLINTON
16-SPINNIN' THE WEBB DEC 2021 05/03/38 63707 WEBB-FITZGERALD
17-LIZA DEC 1840 05/03/38 63708 GERSHWIN-KAHN
18-A-TISKET A-TASKET DEC 1840 05/02/38 63693 FELDMAN-FITZGERALD
19-WACKY DUST DEC 2021 08/17/38 64459 LEVANT-ADAMS
Hilton Jefferson-as replaces Louis Jordan on August 18,1938 and continued
until January 1940
20-UNDECIDED DEC 3318 02/17/39 65039 SHAVERS-ROBIN
21-SUGAR PIE DEC 2665 03/02/39 65094 BEAL-WEBB
22-THAT WAS MY HEART DEC 2665 04/21/39 65448 WEBB-JOHNSON
At this point, after Webb's passing, Ella took over leadership of the band
for two years as ELLA FITZGERALD AND HER FAMOUS ORCHESTRA
Bill Beason replaces Chick Webb on drums
ELLA FITZGERALD AND HER FAMOUS ORCHESTRA: Dick Vance-Bobby Stark-Taft
Jordan-t/ George Matthews-Nat Story-Sandy Williams-tb/ Garvin Bushell-cl-ss/
Hilton Jefferson-as/ Wayman Carver-as-ts-f/ Teddy McRae-ts-bar/ Tommy
Fulford-p/ John Trueheart-g/ Beverley Peer-sb/ Bill Beason-d
23-STAIRWAY TO THE STARS DEC 2598 06/29/39 65904
SIGNORELLI-MALNECK-PARISH
24-I WANT THE WAITER DEC 2628 06/29/39 65905 WERNER-WERNER
25-THAT'S ALL BROTHER DEC 2628 06/29/39 65906
LIVINGSTON-DAVID-HAGER
Ella With A Twist #3 Recorded 1930 - 1941 CD253C
This volume kicks off with ELLA FITZGERALD AND HER FAMOUS ORCHESTRA: Dick
Vance-Bobby Stark-Taft Jordan-t/ George Matthews-Nat Story-Sandy
Williams-tba/ Garvin Bushell-cl-ss/ Hilton Jefferson-as/ Wayman
Carver-as-ts-f/ Teddy McRae-ts-bar/ Tommy Fulford-p/ John Trueheart-g/
Beverley Peer-sb/ Bill Beason-d Claude Jones-tb was with McKinney's Cotton
Pickers and Fletcher Henderson (please see volume 1), with Chick Webb's band
starting in 1934 (on volume 2) until June 1936, when he was replaced with
Nat Story. He played with Bing Crosby and Don Redman's Orchestra in this
volume, doing 'Lawd you Made The Night Too Long', and is also with Jelly
Roll Morton's New Orleans Jazzmen and with Louis Armstrong on tracks 14 and
15. on this volume, with Don Redman including the Brunswick recording of
'Chant Of The Weed'and plays with Harlan Lattimore's Connie's Inn Orchestra
on volume 5 on the Columbia recording of 'Chant Of The Weed.'
Ella Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. She
was the daughter of a commonlaw couple William Fitzgerald and Temperance
"Tempie" Henry. Sometime around 1920, her parents split up and her Mom met
a Portuguese immigrant named Joseph Da Silva,[3] moved to Yonkers. Ella's
half sister, Frances Da Silva, was born in 1923. 1925 found the family on
School Street, in an Italian area. She did well in grade school, ending up
at Franklin Junior High School in 1929. By the age of nine, she grew to love
dancing, and performed on the way to school for her friends. Her parents
were active at Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she got a
Christian education, and where she was exposed to music. She adored jazz
recordings by Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and The Boswell Sisters. Connee
Boswell was a great inspiration for her and later said "My mother brought
home one of her records, and I fell in love with it...I tried so hard to
sound just like her."
At the age of fifteen, her mother died from injuries sustained in a car
accident, leaving her in the care of her abusive step-father until 1933,
when she moved to her aunt's house in Harlem. Soon, school became less
important to her, and she started as a lookout in a bordello.
After a while, she was placed in the Colored Orphan Asylum in Riverdale in
the Bronx, and then to the New York Training School for Girls, a reformatory
school. By 1935, at the age of 18, she started singing with Chick Webb's
band.
Ella With A Twist #3 Recorded 1930 - 1941 CD253C
1-OUT OF NOWHERE DEC 2598 06/29/39 65907 GREEN-HEYMAN
2-YOU'RE GONNA LOSE YOUR GAL DEC 2816 10/12/39 91836 MONACO-YOUNG
Acc. by Don Redman and his Orchestra: Don Redman-cl-as-dir: Langston
Curl-Sidney de Paris-Shirley Clay-t/ Claude
Jones-Fred Robinson-Benny Morton-tb/ Edward Inge-Rupert Cole-cl-as/ Robert
Carroll-ts/ Horace Henderson-p-a / Talcott Reeves-bj/ Bob Ysaguirre-bb/
Manzie Johnson-d/ The Boswell Sisters-v. New York, April 13, 1932.
3-Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long Br 20109 04/13/32 BX-11701-A
LEWIS-YOUNG
DON REDMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Don Redman-as-v-a-dir:/ Leonard Davis-Bill Coleman-Henry Allen-t/ Claude
Jones-Fred Robinson-Benny Morton-tb/ Edward Inge-Rupert Cole-cl-as/ Robert
Carroll-ts/ Horace Henderson-p-a/ Talcott Reeves-bj-g/ Bob Ysaguirre-bb-sb/
Manzie Johnson-d-vib/-Lois Deppe-v
4-CHANT OF THE WEED DON REDMAN DON REDMAN BR 6211 09/24/31 37225
REDMAN-MILLS
5-SHAKIN' THE AFRICAN DON REDMAN DON REDMAN BR 6211 10/15/31 37291
KOELER-ARLEN
6-SOPHISTICATED LADY DON REDMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA ORI 2724 04/26/33 13284
ELLINGTON
THE CHOCOLATE DANDIES: Bobby Stark-t/ Jimmy Harrison-v/ Benny
Carter-cl-as-v-a/ Coleman Hawkins-ts/ Horace Henderson-p/ Benny Jackson or
Clarence Holiday-g/ John Kirby-sb
7-Dee Blues 12/03/30 S10006 404599-8 CARTER
JELLY ROLL MORTON'S NEW ORLEANS JAZZMEN: Jelly Roll Morton-p-v-dir: Sidney
de Paris-t/ Claude Jones-tb/ Albert Nicholas-cl/ Sidney Bechet-ss/ Happy
Caldwell-ts/ Lawrence Lucie-g / Wellman Braud-sb/ Zutty Singleton-d
8-Oh, Didn't He Ramble? - prCJ HMV B-9217 09/14/39 041456-1 HANDY
9-High Society HMV B-9216 09/14/39 041457-1 WILLIAMS-STEELE
10-I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say - vJRM HMV B-9216 09/14/39 041458-1
MORTON
11-Winin' Boy Blues - vJRM HMV B-9217 09/14/39 041459-2 MORTON
COLEMAN HAWKINS AND HIS RHYTHM: Coleman Hawkins-ts/ Bernard Addison-g/ John
Kirby-sb /Sid Catlett-d. New York, May 25, 1940.
12-Smack Com 533 05/25/40 R-2995-1 FEATHER
13-Dedication Com 533 05/25/40 R-2998-1 FEATHER
LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Louis Armstrong-t-v/ Claude Jones-tb/
Sidney Bechet-cl-ss/ Luis Russell-p/ Bernard Addison-g/ Wellman Braud-sb/
Zutty Singleton-d.
14-Perdido Street Blues Dec 18090 05/27/40 67817-A LIL ARMSTRONG
15-2:19 Blues - vLA Dec 18090 05/27/40 67818-A MAMIE DESDUME
16-RUBBER DOLLY EFFO DEC 2816 10/12/39 91839 WERNER
At this point, Hilton Jefferson left Ella's band and joined Cab Calloway's
outfit.
17-BABY,WON'T YOU PLEASE COME HOME? EFFO DEC 25124 02/15/40 67195
WILLIAMS-WARFIELD
18-TAKE IT FROM THE TOP EFFO DEC 3236 03/20/40 67358 MCRAE
19-JUBILEE SWING EFFO DEC 3236 03/20/40 67360 MCRAE-HALE-FIELDS
20-CABIN IN THE SKY DEC 25125 11/08/40 68330 DUKE-LATOUCHE
21-I'M THE LONESOMEST GAL IN TOWN EFFO DEC 25123 11/08/40 68331 VON
TILZER-BROWN
Cab Calloway, v, dir: Mario Bauza-Dizzy Gillespie-Lammar Wright-t/ Tyree
Glenn-tb-vib/ Quentin Jackson-Keg
Johnson-tb/ Jerry Blake(as JACINTO CHABANI)-cl-as/ Hilton Jefferson-as/
Andrew Brown-as-bar/ Chu Berry-Walter Thomas-ts/ Bennie Payne-p/ Danny
Barker-g/ Milton Hinton-sb/ Cozy Cole-d / Andy Gibson, Benny Carter, Edgar
Battle, Buster Harding, Don Redman, a.
22-Pickin' The Cabbage Voc 5467 03/08/40 WC-2983-A GILLESPIE
23-Paradiddle Voc 5467 03/08/40 WC-2985-A GILLESPIE-COLE
24-YOU ARE THE ONE IN MY HEART COL 452 01/16/41 3520 CALLOWAY
25-TAKE THE A TRAIN INST COL C402 07/03/41 30835 STRAYHORN
Ella With A Twist #4 Recorded 1941 - 1947 CD253D
This volume continues with Hilton Jefferson with Cab Calloway's
Orchestra. Born in Danbury, Connecticut, 1903, Hilton Jefferson was an alto
saxophonist born in perhaps best known for leading the saxophone section
from 1940–1949 in the Cab Calloway band. Said to have been "a soft, delicate
saxophone player, with an exquisite sensibility." Jefferson began his
professional career as a banjoist in 1925, with Julian Arthur's Orchestra in
Philadelphia, soon switching permanently to alto and joining Claude Hopkin's
band in 1929. Through the 30s played with Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson,
Benny Carter, Henry 'Red' Allen and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. In the early
fifties he performed with Duke Ellington, replacing Willie Smith, but chose
to become a bank guard to get a more regular income. He continued to perform
In the 1950s, with Rex Stewart and alumni of the Fletcher Henderson band,
and with drummer Harry Dial and Noble Sissle. He was inspired by Benny
Carter, a musician four yoears his junior. Cab Calloway, v, dir:
Mario Bauza-Dizzy Gillespie-Lammar Wright-t/ Tyree Glenn-tb-vib/ Quentin
Jackson-Keg Johnson-tb/ Jerry Blake(as JACINTO CHABANI)-cl-as/ Hilton
Jefferson-as/ Andrew Brown-as-bar/ Chu Berry-Walter Thomas-ts/ Bennie
Payne-p/ Danny Barker-g/ Milton Hinton-sb/ Cozy Cole-d / Andy Gibson, Benny
Carter, Edgar Battle, Buster Harding, Don Redman, a. Ella
sang on the streets of Harlem in the early thirties and made her debut on
the stage at the Apollo Theatre for an amateur night in August of 1934. She
chose the songs 'Judy' and 'The Object of My Affection' winning first prize.
Unfortunately, because of her disheveled appearance, an additional prize of
performing at the Apollo for a week was denied her. In 1935,she performed
with the Tiny Bradshaw Band for a week gig at the Harlem House, where she
met Chick Webb. Singer with the Chick Webb Band, Charlie Linton encouraged
the matchup and the diamond in the rough was about to get polished, with
Chick Webb's guidance. A gig at Yale University followed and history was set
in motion. It was her hit of 'A-Tisket A-Tasket' that launched her career.
In 1936, she formed 'Ella Fitzgerald and Her Savoy Eight' with Taft
Jordan-t/ Sandy Williams-tb/ Pete Clark-cl/ Teddy McRae-ts-bar/ Tommy
Fulford-p/ John Trueheart-g/ Beverley Peer-sb/ Chick Webb-d. In May of 1937,
Louis Jordan-as, replaced Pete Clark, And Bobby Johnson-g replaced John
Trueheart. Track 25 has Eddie Barefield-as/ Tommy Fulford-p/ Ulysses
Livingston-g/ Beverley Peer-sb/ Bill Beason-d ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #4 Recorded 1941 - 1947 CD253D
Hilton Jefferson continued with Cab Calloway until 1949
1-CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO COL C402 07/03/41 30836 GORDON-WARREN
SUN VALLEY SERENADE
2-ST.JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES COL C452 07/24/41 30838 PRIMROSE
3-WE GO WELL TOGETHER COL C424 07/24/41 30938 ROBIN-KENT
4-HEY DOC! CAB CALLOWAY & TYREE GLENN COL C471 07/24/41 30939
SAMPSON-GANNON
5-I SEE A MILLION PEOPLE CAB CALLOWAY & THE PALMER BROTHERS COL C424
07/24/41 30940 SOUR-CARLISLE
6-CONCHITA COL C471 07/24/41 30941 CALLOWAY-BARKER
7-BLUES IN THE NIGHT CAB CALLOWAY & PALMER BROTHERS OK 6422 09/10/41 31300
MERCER-ARLEN
8-SAYS WHO? SAYS YOU,SAYS I! OK 6422 09/10/41 31303 MERCER-ARLEN
9-NAIN,NAIN COL C568 11/03/41 31640 RAM-CALLOWAY
10-TAPPIN' OFF INST COL C568 11/03/41 31641 HARDING
11-OGEECHEE RIVER LULLABY CAB CALLOWAY & THE CABALIERS COL C693
07/27/42 885 CALLOWAY-WOOD-PALMER
12-I GET THE NECK OF THE CHICKEN CAB CALLOWAY & THE PALMER BROTHERS COL
C693 07/27/42 886 LOESSER-MCHUGH SEVEN DAYS LEAVE
13-BLUE SERGE SUIT WITH A BELT IN THE BACK COL C818 07/11/45 35188
FIELDING-SPICOL-FORTIS
14-AFTERNOON MOON COL C818 11/13/45 35421 DE LANGE-ELLINGTON
15-GIVE ME TWENTY NICKELS FOR A DOLLAR COL C903 05/01/47 37686
WOLF-BRANDT
16-JUNGLE KING COL C903 05/01/47 37687 DIXON
17-TWO BLOCKS DOWN-TURN TO THE LEFT COL 38227 12/11/47 38506 JAMES-ROGERS
18-CALLOWAY BOOGIE COL 38227 12/11/47 38508 CALLOWAY-GIBSON
19-THE ONE I LOVE EFFO DEC 25123 01/08/41 68561 JONES-KAHN
20-I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME EFFO DEC 25124 07/31/41 2607
GASKILL-MCHUGH
21-I MUST HAVE THAT MAN EFFO DEC 25126 07/31/41 2608 MCHUGH-FIELDS
22-WHEN MY SUGAR WALKS DOWN THE STREET EFFO DEC 18587 07/31/41 2609
AUSTIN-MCHUGH-MILLS
23-I GOT IT BAD EFFO DEC 25125 07/31/41 2610 ELLINGTON-WEBSTER
24-CAN'T HELP LOVIN' THAT MAN EFFO DEC 25126 07/31/41 2612 KERN-HAMMERSTEIN
SHOWBOAT
25-SOMEBODY NOBODY LOVES EFFO DEC 4082 10/28/41 69876 MILLER
Ella With A Twist #5 Recorded 1941 - 1947 CD253E
Ella would have associations with various vocal groups-the Delta
Rhythm boys, the Ink Spots, the Day Dreamers and the Four Keys. 1943's 'Cow
Cow Boogie' is one of the earliest recordings she did with the Ink Spots. On
this disc, you will find her singing with Johnny Long, Randy Brooks, and
VicSchoen with 'Flying Home' - an early scat vocal, and Billy Kyle. Billy
also backed up Teddy Grace, Mildred Bailey , and other singers. Sub-themes
of this set is Billy Kyle and Claude Jones. Claude was with Harlan
Lattimore's band and is heard on 'Chant of the Weed,' and Billy Kyle is with
Rex Stewart's Big Four on two sides from the HRS label in 1947 - Flim Flam
and Loopin' Lobo. Cuts 11 and 22 feature a singular record with the Billy
Kyle trio, Finishin' Up A Date and Between Sets. Rust shows this to be the
only record - at least before 1943 - of Kyle's trio playing without a vocal.
In the fifties, Kyle would be playing with Louis Armstrong's All Stars.
Track one has Ella with Eddie Barefield-as/ Tommy Fulford-p/ Ulysses
Livingston-g/ Beverley Peer-sb/ Bill Beason-d. Teddy Grace, born in 1905 in
Arcadia, Louisiana and was twenty six before she performed in public, having
been dared to sing with a band. She sang with Blue Steele's Orchestra, Al
Stanley's Arcadians, Al Katz's Kittens, Bob Crosby and Lou Holden’s
Disciples of Rhythm. A move to New York followed and she sang with Mal
Hallett's Orchestra and made a number of recordings with the band from
February to October of 1937, for Decca. She had a number of sessions as a
leader, from 1937 - 1940. Some are presented here, because of the presence
of Billy Kyle. Decca didn't support her interest in jazz singing, and she
quit the music business in 1940. By 1943, she joined the WACS, singing at
bond rallies and other functions, to such an extent that she lost her voice,
preventing her from talking for six months. She never sang again as her
singing voice never came back. Louis Bacon was with Louis Armstrong,
Benny Carter and Chick Webb in the early thirties. Included are two sides
by him recorded in Paris in 1939 for the Swing label. Born in 1904, he
played trumpet and sang. In 1938, he, and O'Neill Spencer, like Chick Webb,
who was afflicted with the disease from childhood, contracted tuberculosis,
but was playing again in 1939 and toured Europe with Willie Lewis and Freddy
Johnson. HARLAN LATTIMORE AND HIS CONNIE'S INN ORCHESTRA-Don
Redman-cl-as-a-v-dir: Langston Curl-Shirley Clay-Sidney de Paris-t/ Claude
Jones-tb-v/ Quentin Jackson-Benny Morton-tb/ Edward Inge-Rupert Cole-cl-as/
Robert Carroll-ts/ Horace Henderson-p-a/ Talcott Reeves-bj-g/ Bob
Ysaguirre-bb-sb/ Manzie Johnson-d/ Harlan Lattimore-v. ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #5 Recorded 1941 - 1947 CD253E
1-YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS EFFO DEC 4082 10/28/41 69876 RAYE-DE
PAUL
2-COW COW BOOGIE ELLA FITZGERALD INK SPOTS DEC 18587 11/03/43 71482
RAYE-DEPAUL-CARTER
DEC 18605 Johnny McGhee-t/ Unknown-tb/ Bernie McKay-g/Bob Haggart-sb/Johnny
Blowers-d
3-ONCE TOO OFTEN DEC 18605 01/17/44 71889 MONACO-GORDON
4-TIME ALONE WILL TELL DEC 18605 03/16/44 71890 MONACO-GORDON
5-AND HER TEARS FLOWED LIKE WINE JOHNNY LONG DEC 18633 11/01/44 72483
KENTON-LAWRENCE-GREENE
6-CONFESSIN' JOHNNY LONG DEC 18633 11/01/44 72484
NEIBURG-DOUGHERTY-REYNOLDS
7-BENNY'S COMING HOME ON SATURDAY RANDY BROOKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA DEC 18713
08/29/45 73021 ROBERTS-FISHER
8-KISS GOODNIGHT RANDY BROOKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA DEC 18713 08/29/45 73030
SLACK-VICTOR-HERMAN
9-FLYING HOME VIC SCHOEN ELLA FITZGERALD BR 03879 10/04/45 73066
GOODMAN-HAMPTON-ROBIN
10-DUPREE BLUES BILLY KYLE TEDDY GRACE DEC 2602 05/09/39 65557 WHITE
11-FINISHIN' UP A DATE BILLY KYLE-PIANO DEC 2740 05/23/39 65628 KYLE
12-ARKANSAS BLUES BILLY KYLE TEDDY GRACE DEC 2602 05/09/39 65558
LADA-WILLIAMS
13-Chant Of The Weed - aDR Col S-10006 06/17/32 152217-2
LOUIS BACON AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Louis Bacon-t-v/ Eddie Brunner-Albert Ferreri-cl-ts/ Freddy Johnson-p/ Roger
Chaput-g/ Wilson Myers-sb/ Tommy Benford-d. Paris, June 30, 1939.
14-Shine Swing 185 06/30/39 OSW-92-1 DABNEY-MACK-BROWN
15-Panama Swing 185 06/30/39 OSW-93-1 TYESS
Rex Stewart-c/ Billy Kyle-piano/ John Levy-sb/ Cozy Cole-d
16-FLIM FLAM REX STEWART'S BIG FOUR HRS 1041 07/01/47 1072 STEWART
17-LOOPIN' LOBO REX STEWART'S BIG FOUR HRS 1041 07/01/47 1075 STEWART
Decca 23844 Leonard Graham-t/ Al King-tb/ Jimmy Powell-as/ Eddie Heywood-p/
Billy Taylor-sb/ William Purnell-d
18-GUILTY DEC 23844 01/24/47 73786 KAHN-AKST-WHITING
19-SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY DEC 23844 01/24/47 73787 GREEN-BROWN-HOMER
20-LADY BE GOOD BOB HAGGART BR 03879 03/19/47 73820 GERSHWIN
21-THAT OLD FEELING DAY DREAMERS DEC 28049 12/01/47 74301 BROWN-FAIN
22-BETWEEN SETS BILLY KYLE-PIANO DEC 2740 05/23/39 65629 KYLE
23-I'M JUST A LUCKY SO-AND-SO BILLY KYLE TRIO DEC 18814 02/21/46 73388
ELLINGTON-DAVID
24-I DIDN'T MEAN A WORD I SAID BILLY KYLE TRIO DEC 18814 02/21/46 73389
MCHUGH-ADAMSON
Ella with A Twist #6 Recorded 1938 - 1940 CD253F
This album is devoted to Billy Kyle, John Kirby and O'Neill Spencer and the
different bands they played with. Billy Kyle's band accompanied Ella in
1946. The story that has come out of this project is about illness.
Tuberculosis. Chick Webb had contracted the diesase as a child, and his
foray into drumming was as a therepy for the spinal issues he had to deal
with. It was felt that the rigorous physical activity wou help to 'loosen
his spine,' which was curved because of the effects of tuberculosis. Even
John Kirby who had diabetes, had his health challenges. Born in 1908, he was
adopted out as a baby and brought up by a minister and his wife. His birth
name was John Kirk. At the age of nine, he took up the trombone and in 1927,
trombonist Jimmy Harrison suggested that he switch to tuba, which was still
popular at the time. Thelma Terry and her Playboys was led by a female
string bass player who had a very young Gene Krupa in her band. They waxed
seven sides in 1928. Other string bass leaders were Oliver Bibb and His Joy
Boys in ca. 1929, London based Spike Hughes,and Walter Page (bb-sb-bar).
Slam Stewart recorded with Slim Gaillard but never seems to have directed a
band. Maybe if Ella Fitzgerald had partnered with Slam Stewart they could be
called Slam 'n Ella. Maybe not.
It seems that John Kirby was the only bass playing band leader during the
swing era. He did have formal training with Professor Powell Gibson and was
knowledgeable about classical music, and interested in playing the notes as
written. Anitra's Dance is a testament to his subtle blend of modern chamber
jazz and classical music. At the age of fifteen, he embarked on a musical
career, leaving school behind. By the age of twenty four, he had graduated
to the New York music scene. John Kirby's first recording was with Bill
Brown and his Brownies in 1929 for Brunswick. At that time he was still
playing tuba as well as string bass. I don't have the 78s from that session,
but on 'Zonky,' Kirby plays very strong tuba, switches to string bass
midstream and finishes again with tuba. An inspiring precurser to what was
to come. He would record with Fletcher Henderson (first playing tuba then
graduating to string bass), Red Allen, Mezz Mezzrow, Wingy Manone, Mildred
Bailey and Ethel Waters. He was taking bass lessions from Wellman Braud and
Pops Foster and opted to focus on the bass after 1932. 1934 found him
playing with Chick Webb's band, but he was desired so much as a session
musician that he can be found all over the place. July of 1935 found him
recording on Teddy Wilson's first session with his orchestra, and by January
1937, he was in a session with Billie Holiday when she organized her own
orchestra. He started as leader at the Onyx Club. His association with
Maxine Sullivan, Midge Williams and Teddy Grace would follow. I have
included both their Vocalion and Decca recordings of Loch Lomond. Midge
Williams would also record with Teddy Wilson. Charlie Shavers replaced Frank
Newton on trumpet, resultin in the ensemble that you hear on this volume.
John Kirby would be gone by forty-three years of age, leaving a legacy of
his wonderful chamber jazz. ~ Mickey Clark
Ella with A Twist #6 Recorded 1938 - 1940 CD253F
Teddy Grace acc by Jack Teagarden-tb/ Billy Kyle-p/ Dave Barbour-g/ Delmar
Kaplan-sb/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d. New York,
1-Love Me Or Leave Me TEDDY GRACE Dec 2050 09/01/38 64493-A
DONALDSON-KAHN
Lionel Hampton: Harry James-t/ Benny Carter-cl-as-a/ Dave Matthews-as/
Herschel Evans-Babe Russin-ts/ Billy Kyle-p /John
Kirby-sb/ Joe Jones-d/ Lionel Hampton-vib-v. New York, July 21, 1938.
2-SHOE SHINER'S DRAG LIONEL HAMPTON HMV JO-23 07/21/38 24066 MORTON
3-Crazy Blues TEDDY GRACE Dec 2050 09/01/38 64495-A BRADFORD
4-YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY RED NORVO THREE ICKEYS BR 8240
09/29/38 23517 MERCER-WARREN HARD TO GET
Charlie Shavers-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Russell Procope-as/ Billy Kyle-p/ John
Kirby-sb/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d/ Red
Norvo-x. New York, September 29, 1938.
5-HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN SO SOON? MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4432 09/29/38 23519
HEYMAN-COSLOW-SILVER
Mildred Bailey acc. by Harry Sosnik's Orchestra: Harry Sosnik dir: Billy
Butterfield-t/ Jack Jenney-tb/ Jimmy Lytell-cl/ Sal Franzella-bcl/ Billy
Kyle-p/ Carmen Mastren-g / Charlie Barber-sb / O'NEILL SPENCER-d. New York,
February 12, 1942.
6-SOMETIMES HARRY SOSNIK MILDRED BAILEY DEC 4252 02/12/42 70310
LOMBARDO-KAHN
7-WHEREVER YOU ARE HARRY SOSNIK MILDRED BAILEY DEC 4252 02/12/42 70311
FRIEND-TOBIAS
Vic Schoen, t, dir: Don Lipsey, t / Murray McEachern, tb / Tony Zimmers, cl
/ Billy Kyle, p / Frank Victor, g / Haig
Stephens, sb / O'NEILL SPENCER, d. New York, March 31, 1939.
8-You Don't Know How Much You Can Suffer (Until You Fall In Love)Dec 2414
03/31/39 65325-B Franklin-Friend
9-Rock, Rock, Rock-A-Bye Baby Dec 2414 03/31/39 65327-A Robins-Andrews
Teddy Grace Acc. by Charlie Shavers-t/ Sonny Lee-tb/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Billy
Kyle-p/ Dave Barbour-g/ Delmar Kaplan, sb /
O'NEILL SPENCER-d. New York, May 9, 1939
10-OH DADDY BLUES DEC 2606 05/09/39 65586-A RUSSELL-HERBERT
Sonny Lee or Will Bradley, tb, added. New York, May 23, 1939.
11-Graveyard Blues DEC 2606 05/23/39 65625-A LAWSON-WHITE
JOHN KIRBY AND HIS ONYX CLUB BOYS: John Kirby-sb-dir: Charlie Shavers-t/
Buster Bailey-cl/ Russell Procope-as/ Billy Kyle-p-a/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d-v.
12-REHEARSIN' FOR A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN INST DEC 2367 10/28/38 64708
SHAVERS-SHAW
13-PASTEL BLUE O'NEILL SPENCER DEC 2367 10/28/38 64710 SHAVERS-SHAW
14-ANITRA'S DANCE VOC 4890 05/19/39 24677 GRIEG-SHAVERS
15-DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES VOC 4890 05/19/39 24679 JONSON
16-MOON LOVE MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4939 06/14/39 24765
DAVID-DAVIS-KOSTELANETZ
17-IT SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4939 06/14/39 24768
TOBIAS-STEPT
18-IMPROMPTU COL C14 08/10/39 24995 CHOPIN-YOUNG
19-I CRIED FOR YOU MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4619 09/28/39 23986
FREED-ARNHEIM-LYMAN
20-BEGIN THE BEGUINE MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4619 09/28/39 23987 PORTER
JUBILEE
21-WHAT SHALL I SAY? MILDRED BAILEY VOC 4632 09/28/39 23988
TINTURIN
22-LITTLE BROWN JUG COL C14 10/12/39 2781 SHAVERS
23-MILUMBU COL 206 04/22/40 26758 SHAVERS-KIRBY
24-CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS COL 206 07/09/40 26998 JAMES-SWIFT
25-FRASQUITA SERENADE COL C63 07/09/40 28001 LEHAR
26-CHI MI FRENA COL C63 07/09/40 28002 DONIZETTI LUCIA
Ella With A Twist #7 Recorded 1937 - 1944 CD253G
This volume starts in May of 1941 with the full John Kirby Sextet Charlie
Shavers-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Russell Procope-as/ Billy Kyle-p/ John
Kirby-sb/ O'Neill Spencer-d Born in 1917 - the same year as Ella, trumpeter
Charlie Shavers had worked with Tiny Bradshaw and Lucky Millinder before
joining Kirby. Luckey Millinder has recently gained attention by his
recordings with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was inducted into the Grammy Hall
Of Fame in 2014, and into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017. In October
of 1941 Specs Powell-d replaces O'Neill Spencer and arranger Lou Singer
joined the band. O'Neill had tuberculosis and had to take a year off but
returned in 1942. Larry Adler is best known from his later recordings but
was already recording by the late twenties.
Rudy Vallée had connected him to a theatre gig, resulting in orchestra
leader Paul Ash who got a placement for him as "a ragged urchin, playing for
pennies". I have two takes by Grace Hayes of 'I Can't Give You Anything
But Love' take four has Del Staigers, while take three has an obligato by
Larry Adler. Born in Baltimore,Maryland in 1914, he was best known for his
harmonica playing, but was also proficient at the piano. In 1994, he was an
integral part of the album 'The Glory of Gershwin', which was promoted by a
series of live concerts where he played the piano and harmonica at the same
time. Including Peter Gabriel, Oleta Adams, Elton John, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi
and Richie Sambora, Meat Loaf, Kate Bush, Sinéad O'Connor, Robert
Palmer,Cher, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Courtney Pine, Issy Van Randwyck,
Lisa Stansfield and Carly Simon, who sang Gershwin songs with Adler adding
harmonica solos with an orchestra. Cerys Matthews and Larry paired for a
2001 television special, the Cerys and Larry Show.
The last four sides are by Bob Howard's Orchestra Howard's real name was
Howard Joyner. His reason for the change was simple. He wanted to be next to
Lena Horne in Brian Rust's Personality Book. He wasn't there - I looked.
Bob's orchestra had Manny Klein-t/ Benny Carter-t-as/ Buster Bailey-cl/
Teddy Wilson-p/ Clarence Holiday-g/ Elmer James-sb/ Cozy Cole-d when he
strted in 1935. Ben Webster-ts would join slightly after and then Rex
Stewart. And then Bunny Berigan-t/ Artie Shaw-cl/ Babe Russin-ts/ Frank
Signorelli-p. O'Neill Spencer started with him in 1938. Around 1936, he had
both Stan King-d and Dave Barbour-g in his band. The sides on this disc are
all from the last session of this band. Frank Froeba was replaced by
Billy Kyle in July of 1938 the personnel of which featured Billy Kyle-p/
Teddy Bunn-g/ Haig Stephens-sb / O'NEILL SPENCER-d ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #7 Recorded 1937 - 1944 CD253G
Una Mae Carlisle Acc. by Charlie Shavers-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Russell
Procope-as/ Billy Kyle-p/ John Kirby-sb/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d.
1-YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME UNA MAE CARLISLE BB 11159 05/01/41 1063839
BATTLE-BYRON
2-OH! I'M EVIL UNA MAE CARLISLE BB 11159 05/23/41 1063838 IRVING KIRBY
WALKER
Maxine Sullivan acc by Frank Newton-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Pete Brown-as/ Babe
Russin-ts/ Claude Thornhill-p/ John
Kirby-sb/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d
3-Loch Lomond Voc S-116 08/06/37 21472-1 TRADITIONAL-THORNHILL
4-I'm Coming, Virginia Voc S-116 08/06/37 21473-1
Acc. by John Kirby and his Orchestra: Charlie Shavers-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/
Russell Procope-as/ Billy Kyle-p/ John
Kirby-sb/ O'NEILL SPENCER-d.
5-LOCH LOMOND MAXINE SULLIVAN DEC 3954 06/17/41 69364
TRADITIONAL-THORNHILL
6-JUST LIKE A GYPSY MAXINE SULLIVAN DEC 3954 06/17/41 69369 SIMONS-BURKE
7-CLOSE SHAVE VIC 27568 07/25/41 1066895 SHAVERS-KIRBY
8-BUGLER'S DILEMMA VIC 27568 07/25/41 1066896 SINGER
9-IT'S ONLY A PAPER MOON VIC 27598 07/25/41 1066897 HARBURG-ROSE-ARLEN
10-FIFI'S RHAPSODY VIC 27598 07/25/41 1066898 KIRBY-SHAVERS
11-NIGHT WHISPERS VIC 27667 10/07/41 1067977 SINGER
12-TWEED ME VIC 27667 10/07/41 1067978 KYLE
13-MOVE OVER VIC 27712 10/07/41 1067979 CHARLIE SHAVERS
14-WONDERING WHERE vocal by RUSSELL PROCOPE-BUSTER BAILEY-CHARLIE SHAVERS
VIC 27712 10/07/41 1067980 SHAVERS
LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY
15-BLUES IN THE NIGHT LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23524 01/20/44 71699
ARLEN-MERCER
16-BEGIN THE BEGUINE LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23319 01/27/44 71710
PORTER
17-STARDUST LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23674 02/02/44 71700 HOAGY
CARMICHAEL
18-THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23674 02/02/44 71725
ARLEN-MERCER
19-ST.LOUIS BLUES LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23524 02/02/44 71726
HANDY
20-HAND TO MOUTH BOOGIE LARRY ADLER JOHN KIRBY DEC 23319 02/02/44 71727
ADLER-LE WINTER
LEONARD FEATHER’S ALL-STAR JAM BAND: Bobby Hackett-c-g/ Benny Carter-Pete
Brown-t-as/ Joe Marsala-cl/ Billy Kyle-p/ Hayes Alvis-sb/ Cozy Cole-d. New
York
21-Twelve Bar Stampede Blues Dec 18111 04/20/39 65437-A
FEATHER
22-Feather Bed (Concentration Camp Lament) Dec 18111 04/20/39 65438-A
FEATHER
Bob Howard Orchestra Billy Kyle-p/ Teddy Bunn-g/ Haig Stephens-sb / O'NEILL
SPENCER-d / Bob Howard, v.
23-ANY RAGS? BOB HOWARD DEC 2112 07/26/38 64348 ALLAN
24-KENTUCKY,SURE AS YOU'RE BORN BOB HOWARD DEC 2112 07/26/38 64347
LESLIE-GILLESPIE-SHAY
25-KEEPIN' OUT OF MISCHIEF NOW BOB HOWARD AND HIS BOYS BOB HOWARD DEC
2730 07/26/38 64344 WALLER-RAZAF
26-YOU BETTER COME BACK BOB HOWARD AND HIS BOYS BOB HOWARD DEC 2730
06/27/38 64232 MCCARTHY-BIRD-HOWARD
Ella With A Twist #8 Recorded 1937 - 1952 CD253H
This volume continues with Billy Kyle and O'Neill Spencer playing with Milt
Herth's outfit O'Neill does all the vocals. Frank Newton was Charlie
Shaver's predecessor in the Kirby outfits. He played with Cecil Scott and
his Bright Boys in 1929, Sam Wooding's Orchestra from 1929 - 1934 in Benny
Carter's Orchestra in 1932, Bessie Smith in 1933, Teddy Hill, Mezz Mezzrow
and his Swing Band and Art Karle in 1936, Charlie Barnet's band and Jerry
Kruger and her Knights of Rhythm in 1937, Buster Bailey's Rhythm Busters,
and replaced Hoy Lips Page for Billie Holiday's Commodore session in April
of 1939, as well as having his own band, Frank Newton and his Uptown
Serenaders from 1937 - 1939, The Port of Harlem Jazzmen in 1939, Maxine
Sullivan, Teddy Wilson's Orchestra, just to name a few. Born in 1908, he was
a strong advocate for black rights, and was a member of the communist party.
Even Larry Adler (see disc 7) was accused of being a communist. Milt Herth's
specialty was the Hammond organ which was new in 1935. Amplified pianos were
already around in 1930, with instruments such as the Neo-Bechstein Grand and
the Storeytone piano.In the mid thirties, there were amplified reed organs
such as the Everett Orgatron. The Neo-Bechstein Grand had no soundboard -
just a microphone for the audio. Both the storeytone piano and the Everett
had pickups like a guitar. The Storeytone had a speaker behind the strings
which resulted in a very long sustain capabilities. This album features the
first recordings Ella made with Sy Oliver. Starting on disc eleven, the
focus will be on Sy Oliver, and his work as musician and arranger for Jimmie
Lunceford, Tommy Dorsey, followed by his own orchestra. Ella really is
coming into her own distinctive sound about this time. I feel that in her
time with Chick Webb, she didn't sing the songs that required subtlety. In
the mid forties, she had a little bit more capacity to lay back and sing
more gently and fluidly. Of course, the development of amplifiers was well
on it's way by the mid thirties, but having a monitor so one can her one's
self over a large orchestra was a fairly new thing, and allowed for a much
more intimate style that she would use to great effect in the Gershwin and
other sonbook albums she would record so much later. ~Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #8 Recorded 1937 - 1952 CD253H
Frank Newton-t/ Buster Bailey-cl/ Pete Brown-as/ Willie "The Lion" Smith-p/
Jimmy McLin-g/ John Kirby-sb/ O'Neill Spencer-d-v. New York, July 14, 1937.
1-GET ACQUAINTED WITH YOURSELF WILLIE THE LION SMITH O'NEILL SPENCER DEC
1380 07/14/37 62372 CAHN-CHAPLIN
2-THAT OLD STAMPING GROUND WILLIE THE LION SMITH O'NEILL SPENCER DEC 1380
07/14/37 62375 BISHOP-SMITH-LA FRENIERE
3-BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN MILT HERTH-WILLIE SMITH-O'NEILL SPENCER O'NEILL
SPENCER DEC 1612 01/07/38 63136 CAHN-CHAPLIN-SECUNDA-JACOBS
4-BIG DIPPER MILT HERTH-WILLIE SMITH-O'NEILL SPENCER O'NEILL SPENCER DEC
1612 01/07/38 63137 CLINTON
5-MONKEYS HAVE NO TAILS IN PAGO PAGO MILT HERTH TRIO O'NEILL SPENCER
DEC 2964 10/13/39 91843 RAYE-SCHOEN-ZARET-SECLAN
6-HEZEKIAH MILT HERTH TRIO O'NEILL SPENCER DEC 3032 10/13/39 91845 JACOBS-DE
PAUL-CLINTON
7-GOOFUS MILT HERTH TRIO INST DEC 3251 04/15/40 67542 KING
8-DARDANELLA MILT HERTH TRIO INST DEC 3284 04/15/40 67544
FISHER-BERNARD-BLACK
9-I DON'T WANT THE WORLD SY OLIVER DEC 27061 08/20/48 5595 HEATH-LANGE
10-IT'S TOO SOON TO KNOW ILLINOIS JACQUET DEC 24497 08/20/48 74590 DEBORAH
CHESSLER
11-I CAN'T GO ON ILLINOIS JACQUET DEC 24497 08/20/48 74591 HENRY
B.GLOVER-SALLY NIX
12-BLACK COFFEE GORDON JENKINS DEC 24646 04/27/49 74864 WEBSTER-BURKE
13-LOVER'S GOLD GORDON JENKINS DEC 24646 04/27/49 74865
NEVINS-MERRILL
14-IN THE EVENING SY OLIVER DEC 24780 09/20/49 75279 CARR
15-TALK FAST,MY HEART,TALK FAST SY OLIVER DEC 24780 09/20/49 75280 RAYE-DE
PAUL
16-I'M WAITING FOR THE JUNKMAN SY OLIVER DEC 24868 09/20/49 75281 DEMETRIUS
17-BASIN STREET BLUES SY OLIVER DEC 24868 09/20/49 75282 WILLIAMS
18-I'VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING SY OLIVER DEC 27120 03/06/50 75937
ARLEN-KOELER
19-PEAS AND RICE SY OLIVER DEC 27120 03/06/50 75939
POLLARD-GABLER
20-M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I SY OLIVER DEC 27061 05/01/50 5594
WILLIAMS-SIMMONS
21-LONESOME GAL SY OLIVER DEC 27453 01/12/51 80337 SCHUMANN-BROOKS
22-BEANBAG SONG SY OLIVER DEC 27453 01/12/51 80338 LESTER-DE LUGG
23-THERE NEVER WAS A BABY LIKE YOU SY OLIVER DEC 27724 07/18/51 81288
STYNE-COMDEN-GREEN TWO ON THE AISLE
24-GIVE A LITTLE-GET A LITTLE SY OLIVER DEC 27724 07/18/51 81289
STYNE-COMDEN-GREEN TWO ON THE AISLE
25-GUY IS A GUY SY OLIVER DEC 28049 05/24/52 82319 BRAND
Ella With A Twist #9 Recorded 1940 - 1953 CD253I
Louis Jordan was born on July 8, 1908, in Brinkley, Arkansas, son of
a James Aaron Jordan, a music teacher and bandleader for the Brinkley Brass
Band and the Rabbit's Foot Minstrels. The 'Foot' was a travelling minstrel
show founded by Pat Chapelle, a theatre owner and entrepreneur from
Jacksonville, Florida in 1900. Chapelle was instrumental in forming
'LaVilla' an African-American region of Jacksonville. A talented
musician, he played guitar, piano and was renowned for playing the banjo.
By 1913, blues singer Ida Cox had joined the troupe, and Louis was to start
his music lessons two years later, at seven years of age. Other performers
for the 'Foot' were Arthur "Happy" Howe, Ma Rainey, Ida Cox, Bessie Smith,
Butterbeans and Susie, Tim Moore, Big Joe Williams, Louis Jordan, Brownie
McGhee, Rufus Thomas, and Charles Neville. A few years later, Louis
continued his studies at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. The
following personnel includes a twenty-one year old Louis. Chick Webb's
Orchestra in 1929 - this session would have Ward Pinkett-t-v/ Edwin
Swayzee-t/ Robert Horton-tb/ Hilton Jefferson-Louis Jordan-cl-as/ Elmer
Williams-cl-ts/ Don Kirkpatrick-p/ John Trueheart-bj-g/ Elmer James-bb/
Chick Webb-d Louis Jordan-ts was with Chick Webb's band on it's first
session with an issued take, replacing Ed Williams, but didn't stay very
long and was gone after recording two titles, returning in October of 1936,
replacing Edgar Sampson-ts-a, but was gone again by February of 1939. 1930
found him in Philadelphia with Charlie Gaines's Orchestra. In 1932, a trip
to New York with the band resulted in a recording session with Clarence
William's band.He played in Louis Armstrong's band in 1932 and replaced Pete
Clark in Ella Fitzgerald's Savoy Eight in May of 1937 and would remain until
Hilton Jefferson replaced him in 1938. He had formed his Elks Rendezvous
Band in December of 1938, backing up vocalist Rodney Sturgis. His lineup was
Courtney Williams-t/ Louis Jordan-as/ Lem Johnson-ts/ Clarence-Johnson-p/
Charlie Drayton-sb/ Walter Martin-d. In 1936, he re-connected with Chick
Webb, joined his band and did his first vocal, 'Gee, But You're Swell,' and
made a foray into being the frontman for the band. As Chick Webb had a
spinal deformity from tuberculosis, a necessary position in the band was
filled with Louis Jordan bringing energy and humor to an already feel-good
band. His band was invited to open for the Mills Brothers at the
Capitol Theatre. This explains the presence of the Mills Brothers in his
radio show 'Here Comes Louis Jordan,' as well as Dorothy Donegan. ~ Mickey
Clark
Ella With A Twist #9 Recorded 1940 - 1953 CD253I
1-TRYING LEROY KIRKLAND DEC 28375 08/11/52 83243 VAUGHN
2-MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN LEROY KIRKLAND DEC 28375 08/13/52 83247
TRADITIONAL
3-I CAN'T LIE TO MYSELF JERRY GRAY DEC 28589 02/04/53 6955 JIMMIE
JAMES-BOB HART
4-DON'T WAKE ME UP JERRY GRAY DEC 28589 02/04/53 6956 BENNIE
BENJAMIN-GEORGE WEISS
5-MELANCHOLY ME SY OLIVER DEC 29008 12/23/53 85592 THOMAS-BIGGS
LOUIS JORDAN AND HIS TYMPANY FIVE
Here Comes Louis Jordan - Radio Show Featurine The Mills Brothers and
Dorothy donegan
6-a)Intro
7-b)IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN'T MY BABY LOUIS JORDAN TRA 01/01/42
AUSTIN-JORDAN
8-c)LUCY BROWN-MILLS BROTHERS RENE-RENE
9-d)AFTER YOU'VE GONE DOROTHY DONEGAN CREAMER-LAYTON
10-e)DON'T WORRY 'BOUT THAT MULE LOUIS JORDAN TRA 01/01/42 JORDAN
11-f)Closing
12-YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH LOUIS JORDAN DEC 7705 01/25/40 67112 ARMSTRONG
13-HARD LOVIN' BLUES YACK TAYLOR DEC 7705 01/25/40 67114 UNKNOWN
14-WHAT'S THE USE OF GETTING SOBER? LOUIS JORDAN DEC 23629 07/21/42 71126
MEYERS
15-CHICKS I PICK ARE TENDER,SLENDER AND TALL LOUIS JORDAN DEC 23629 07/21/42
71127 JACKSON
16-THAT'LL JUST ABOUT KNOCK ME OUT LOUIS JORDAN DEC 10126 07/21/42 71129
WILLIAMS-WILSON
17-FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE LOUIS JORDAN DEC 10126 07/21/42 71132 BRESLER-WYNN
18-RATION BLUES DEC 8654 10/04/43 3204
JORDAN-COSEY-CLARK
19-IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN'T MY BABY? DEC 8659 10/04/43 3205 AUSTIN-JORDAN
FOLLOW THE BOYS
20-DEACON JONES DEC 8654 10/04/43 3206
LANGE-HEATH-LORING
21-G.I.JIVE DEC 8659 03/15/44 71872 MERCER
22-MY BABY SAID YES BING CROSBY DEC 23417 07/26/44 3477 WALTERS-ROBIN
23-YOUR SOCKS DON'T MATCH BING CROSBY DEC 23417 07/26/44 3479 CARR-CORDAY
24-CHOO CHO CH'BOOGIE DEC 23610 01/23/46 73305 HORTON-DARLING-GABLER
25-AIN'T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN? DEC 23669 01/23/46 73306
DEMITRIUS-MOORE
26-THAT CHICK'S TOO YOUNG TO FRY DEC 23610 01/23/46 73307
EDWARD-HILLIARD
27-IF IT'S LOVE YOU WANT... DEC 23669 06/26/46 73643 ROBIN
28-AIN'T NOBODY HERE BUT US CHICKENS DEC 23741 06/26/46 73644
WHITNEY-KRAMER
Ella With A Twist #10 Recorded 1944 - 1956 CD253J
Louis left Webb's band in 1938 to form a new band at the the Elk's
Rendezvous in Harlem, making a number of recordings in 1939. Louis
Jordan-cl-as-bar-v-dir: Courtney Williams-t/ Lemuel Johnson-ts/ Clarence
Johnson-p/ Charlie Drayton-sb/ Walter Martin-d The name Tympany Five came
in December of 1939. In November of 1939, Stafford Simon would replace
Lemuel Johnson on tenor sax. Female vocalist Yack Taylor would join in 1940.
March, 1940, Kenneth Hollon-ts, would replace Stafford Simon, and Arnold
Thomas-p would replace Clarence Johnson on piano. By April of 1941, the
lineup would be Freddy Webster-t/ Stafford Simon-cl-ts/ Arnold Thomas-p/
Henry Turner-sb/ Walter Martin-d . In the November 1941 Chicago session the
lineup would be Eddie Roane-t/ Louis Jordan-ts/ Arnold Thomas/p/ Dallas
Bartley/sb/ Walter Martin/d. His R&B and country music would have been very
popular during the war as being distinctively American. His 1945
recording of Caldonia was a million seller. From 1946 -1960, he set up home
in Phoenix, Arizona. 1954 saw his last side for Decca and started with
Aladdin Records. By 1956, he was with Mercury. In 1987, he was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. His life story would be written into
the musical 'Five Guys Named Moe' in 1990. The Delta Rhythm Boys, formed at
Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, in 1934. Bass Lee Gaines was
asked to select singers for the group. He chose first tenor Elmaurice
Miller, second tenor Traverse Crawford, and baritone Essie Atkins to be the
original lineup for the group. Lee would still be there in 1987. First tenor
Miller would stay until 1944, replaced with Carl Jones until 1960, replaced
with Herb Coleman, until 1974, then Walter Trammell until 1987. First tenor
Clinton Holland was with the group from 1940 - 1944. The original secontd
tenor was Traverse Crawford, replaced with Ray Beatty in 1975, who stayed
with the goup until 1987 The original baritone was Essie Atkins, replaced in
1940 by Harry Lewis, who was replaced by Kelsey Pharr in 1943, who stayed
until 1960.Cliff Holland stood in for Kelsey Pharr, and Hugh Bryant took the
baritone chair in 1962 until 1987. The original group had moved to Dillard
University, under the names Frederick Hall Quinetette and the New Orleans
Quintette. Frederick Hall had been the director at Jackson University and
Dillard's musical departments. Ella had sung with Jerry Gray's Orchestra in
1953. A composer and arranger, Gray had worked with Glenn Miller. Jerry
is best known for 'A String Of Pearls,' 'Here We Go Again' and 'Caribbean
Clipper, 'all recorded by Glenn Miller's band and others.Cuts 24 and 25 are
here to show what else was happening with the Jerry Gray's band - aside from
the ones with Ella Fitzgerald. ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #10 Recordeed 1944 - 1956 CD153J
1-LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL DEC 23741 06/26/46 73645 SPO-DE-ODE
FLEECIE MOORE
2-OPEN THE DOOR,RICHARD DEC 23841 10/10/46 4351
MCVEA-HOWELL-FLETCHER-MASON
3-EVERY MAN TO HIS PROFESSION DEC 24633 04/23/47 73884 JORDAN-TENNYSON
4-WE CAN'T AGREE DEC 24483 11/24/47 4573 GRAY-JORDAN
5-YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK,BABY MARTHA DAVIS DEC 24502 12/10/47 4631
GORDON-CARTER
6-DADDY-O MARTHA DAVIS DEC 24502 12/10/47 4634
RAYE-DE PAUL A SONG IS BORN
7-DON'T BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS DEC 24483 12/18/47 4632
CARTER-GORDON-JORDAN
8-COLE SLAW DEC 24633 04/12/49 74834 STONE
9-BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE LOUIS JORDAN-ELLA FITZGERALD LOUIS JORDAN ELLA
FITZGERALD DEC 24644 04/28/49 74866 LOESSER-STYNE
10-DON'T CRY CRY BABY LOUIS JORDAN ELLA FITZGERALD DEC 24644 04/28/49
74877 TEPPER-MARTINI-MAHER
11-SATURDAY NIGHT FISH FRY-PARTS DEC 24725 08/09/49 75123 JORDAN-WALSH
12-ALL OF ME VALLI FORD DEC 28335 11/28/51 81913 SIMONS-MARKS
13-COCK-A DOODLE DOO DEC 27784 01/01/52 81321 HORTON
14-TRUST IN ME DEC 27784 05/01/52 81122 AGER-WAVER-SCHWARTZ
15-THERE GOES MY HEART DEC 28335 06/01/52 81914 SILVER-DAVIS
16-YOU DIDN'T WANT ME BABY DEC 28543 10/01/52 83683 MOORE-WASHINGTON
17-MAN'S BEST FRIEND IS A BED DEC 28543 10/01/52 83684 RAY MCKINLEY
18-BIG BESS MER 70993 10/23/56 YB14370 MCCRAE-THOMAS
19-CAT SCRATCHIN' MER 70993 10/23/56 YB14371 REFOND
0
Acc DEC 23425-:Rene De Knight-p/ Hy White-g/ Haig Stephens-sb/ George
Wettling-d
20-IT'S ONLY A PAPER MOON ELLA FITZGERALD AND DELTA RHYTHM BOYS DEC 23425
03/27/45 72798 ARLEN-ROSE-HARBURG
21-CRY YOU OUT OF MY HEART ELLA FITZGERALD & DELTA RHYTHM BOYS DEC 23425
03/27/45 72799 LANGE-HEATH-LORING
22-INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL ELLA FITZGERALD & INK SPOTS DEC 23356
08/30/44 72370 ROBERTS-FISHER
23-I'M MAKING BELIEVE ELLA FITZGERALD & INK SPOTS DEC 23356 08/30/44 72371
GORDON-MONACO SWEET AND LOW DOWN
24-I DON'T CARE IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE JERRY GRAY CREW CHIEFS DEC 27179
08/14/50 5776 DAVID
25-VAGABOND SHOES JERRY GRAY CREW CHIEFS DEC 27179
08/14/50 5776 SAXON-GALLOP
Ella With A Twist #11 Recorded 1929-1945 CD253K
I couldn't leave out Leonard Feather as he was such an integral part
of the jazz scene in the forties. This volume kicks off with 'A Suite in
Four Comfortable Quaters - a piano duo with Dan Burley. Sy Oliver started
away back in 1929 with Zach Whyte's Chocolate Beau Brummels. I have included
a Biltmore issue of West End Blues, featuring trumpet work by Sy himself. He
was with Zach Whyte from January, 1929 until November,1931. He was with
Jimmie Lunceford from June of 1930, playing trumpet in their first session
for Victor in1930, until Gerald Wilson took over the trumpet seat in August
of 1939, with
Sy was arranging only after that session. Gerald Wilson would also
arrange for Lunceford. Sy was with Tommy Dorsey from May 1939,
continuing to arrange sporadically for Lunceford until 1942 during which
time, arrangements were also done by Bill Finegan, who along with Eddie
Sauter, formed the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra. Sy Oliver also did vocals but
it was not his particular forte. Vocals were mostly by Dan Grissom, and
occasionally by Trummy Young. Melvin James "Sy" Oliver was born in 1910 in
Battle Creek, Michigan to a piano teacher mother, and his father who was
talented musician, playing multiple instruments. He demonstrated saxophones
when they were rarely used outside of marching bands. Sy left home at 17 to
play with Zack Whyte and his Chocolate Beau Brummels and later with Alphonse
Trent, singing, playing trumpet and arranging. He became known for his
"growling" horn. He wrote many songs including "Yes Indeed" and "Swingin' on
Nothin'" and "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)", which he
co-wrote with Trummy Young in 1939. In 1933, he joined Lunceford's unit and
played until February of 1940, when he started devoting his energy to
arranging such tunes as "My Blue Heaven" and "Ain't She Sweet", as well as
his original composition "For Dancers Only" which became Lunceford's theme
song. Pianist Ed Wilcox was to arrang the ballads while Sy was given the job
of arranging the up-tempo numbers. He was doing vocals with Jimmie
Lunceford, and arranging until 1939, when he was hired by Tommy Dorsey who
offered a pay increase of over $5,000 a year, becoming part of a small group
of African-Americans to work with a white band, on the heels of Goodman's
hiring of Fletcher Henderson. His arrangements were the basis of Dorsey's
transition to swing. At the time, other arrangers with Dorsey would be Axel
Stordahl, for ballads. You'll find some of his arrangements with Tommy
Dorsey on volume twelve of this set. ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #11 Recorded 1929-1945 CD253K
SUITE IN FOUR COMFORTABLE QUARTERS (BURLEY-FEATHER) LEONARD FEATHER-DAN
BURLEY-p/ Tiny Grimes-g/ Jack Lesberg-sb/ Morey Feld-d/ 1945
1-(a)-BEDROOM BLUES
2-(b)-LIVINGROOM ROMP
3-(c)-KITCHEN CONNIPTION
4-(d)-BATHROOM BOOGIE
Sy Oliver - trumpet and arranger
Zach Whyte-bj-dir: Sy Oliver-Bubber Whyte-Henry Savage-t/ Floyd Brady-tb/
Earl Tribble-Snake Richardson-Clarence Paige-as/ Al Sears-ts-bar/ Herman
Chittison-p/ Montgomery Morrison-bb/ William Benton-d/
5-WEST END BLUES ZACH WHYTE'S CHOCOLATE BEAU-BRUMMELS GEN 6798/BIL 1024
02/26/29 14837-A OLIVER-WILLIAMS
Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra
6-WHITE HEAT BB 5713 01/26/34 81324 WILL HUDSON aWH
7-JAZZNOCRACY BB 5713 01/26/34 81325 WILL HUDSON aWH
8-SOPHISTICATED LADY DEC 129 09/04/34 38531 ELLINGTON aWS
9-MOOD INDIGO DEC 131 09/04/34 38532 ELLINGTON-MILLS-BIGARD aWS
10-ROSE ROOM DEC 131 09/04/34 38533 WILLIAMS-HICKMAN aWS
11-UNSOPHISTICATED SUE TRIO DEC 129 09/05/34 38543 SIMON-RAYMOND-RAZAF
aSO
12-I'M WALKING THROUGH HEAVEN WITH YOU HENRY WELLS DEC 682 12/18/34 39173
LUNCEFORD-TURNER aEW
13-CHARMAINE DAN GRISSOM DEC 514 09/30/35 60015 RAPEE-POLLOCK aSO
14-MY BLUE HEAVEN TRIO DEC 3520 12/23/35 60274 DONALDSON-WHITING
aSO
15-I'M NUTS ABOUT SCREWY MUSIC WILLIE SMITH DEC 682 12/23/35 60275 FRED
ROSE-JIMMIE LUNCEFORD aEW
16-COUNT ME OUT DAN GRISSOM DEC 1229 01/18/37 61532 LUNCEFORD-CURTIS-TAFT
aED
I have included all Jimmie Lunceford tracks where Sy Oliver is playing, and
any subsequent tracks he composed or arranged
17-LINGER AWHILE DAN GRISSOM DEC 1229 01/26/37 61551 ROSE-OWENS aSO
18-FOR DANCERS ONLY DEC 1340 06/15/37 62223 OLIVER aSO
19-COQUETTE DAN GRISSOM DEC 1340 06/15/37 62259 KAHN-LOMBARDO aSO
20-POSIN' WILLIE SMITH DEC 1355 07/08/37 62344 SAMMY CAHN-SAUL
CHAPLIN aSO
21-HONEY,KEEP YOUR MIND ON ME DAN GRISSOM DEC 1355 07/08/37 62346
PORTER-ROBERTS-LUNCEFORD aED
22-LIKE A SHIP AT SEA DAN GRISSOM DEC 1617 11/05/37 DLA1011
LUNCEFORD-WELCHER aEW
23-MARGIE TRUMMY YOUNG DEC 1617 01/06/38 63133 DAVIS-CONRAD-YOUNG aSO
24-BABY,WON'T YOU PLEASE COME HOME? JOE THOMAS VOC 4667 01/31/39 24051
WARFIELD-WILLIAMS aSO
25-MIXUP PAR R2797 02/07/39 24084 OLIVER aSO
26-BLUE BLAZES VOC 4667 02/07/39 24086 OLIVER aSO
Ella With A Twist #12 Recorded 1939 - 1950 CD153L
Sy Oliver continued with Tommy Dorsey, sharing arranging with Axel Stordahl
until 1946 when he formed his own band. I have included both Tommy Dorsey's
and Gene Krupa's recordings of Oliver's composition Opus One, with the
vocal sung by Anita O'Day. One of his final his with Tommy Dorsey was his
1946 arrangement of
'On the Sunny Side of the Street,' which proved to be a big hit. He went on
to be musical director for Decca throughout the fifties. You will find his
band accompanying various vocalists such as Ethel Mermen, Ray Borger, Sammy
Davis Jr. Jack Owens and the Mills Brothers on this disc and disc 14. He
arranged an album for Frank Sinata in 1961, 'I Remember Tommy,' a tribute
in remembrance of their time with Tommy Dorsey.June 26, 1950, Sy Oliver and
his Orchestra recorded the first American versions of 'C'est Si Bon and 'La
Vie En Rose' with Louis Armstrong, both can be found on volume 14 of this
set.In 1974 he was playing every night with a small combo at the Rainbow
Room in Manhattan, continuing until his retirement in 1984, occasionally
taking time off to make festival or other dates, including at the Roseland
Ballroom, again in New York. Composer-pianist-vocalist John Milton "Jack"
Owens was born in 1912, in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
and had started with small, local Chicago radio stations holding up applause
signs then went on to vaudeville, evolving to radio fame on NBC and ABC as a
singing star. His music found it's way into film scores, being used in
1941's San Antonio Rose and 1953's 'From Here to Eternity.' He starred in
'Don McNeil's Breakfast Club,' the longest running network radio show, and
became known as "The Cruising Crooner" with his routine of singing directly
to an audience member, sitting on their laps, causing blushes and giggles.
He signed with Decca in 1948 and was one of the most popular of male singers
during the swing era. His songs were performed by Gene Autry,Pat Boone, Nat
"King" Cole, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Woody Herman, Don Ho, Ferlin Husky,
Spike Jones, Sammy Kaye, Kay Kyser, Freddy Martin, The Merry Macs,Glenn
Miller, Vaughn Monroe,The Platters, Roy Rogers, Dinah Shore,Frank Sinatra
Orrin Tucker, Andy Williams and many more. He also had his own show, The
'Jack Owens Show' also known as 'The Brunch Bunch,' an early TV show, and
received two Emmy nominations. ~ Mickey Clark
Ella With A Twist #12 Recorded 1939 - 1950 CD253L
1-EASTER PARADE TRUMMY YOUNG PAR R2754 04/07/39 24351 BERLIN aSO
Sy does not play on the following Lunceford recordings but is
composer,arranger or both.
2-DINAH JOE THOMAS COL 36054 02/28/40 LA2164 LEWIS-YOUNG-AKST aSO
3-BLUES IN THE NIGHT ORCHESTRA DEC 4125 12/22/41 70094 ARLEN-MERCER aSO
4-BABY,ARE YOU KIDDING? DELTA RHYTHM BOYS DEC 23451 08/08/45 L3906 SY
OLIVER-CHOLLY ATKINSON
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Sy Oliver arrangements
Dorsey info
https://www.colorado.edu/amrc/sites/default/files/attached-files/gma_3_1.09_1943.pdf
5-QUIET PLEASE TOMMY DORSEY BB 10810 07/17/40 1051280 OLIVER
6-SO WHAT! TOMMY DORSEY BB 10810 07/17/40 1051878 OLIVER
7-SWING HIGH TOMMY DORSEY VIC 27249 10/16/40 1055109 OLIVER
8-SWANEE RIVER TOMMY DORSEY VIC 27233 10/16/40 1055112 FOSTER
9-STARDUST TOMMY DORSEY FRANK SINATRA AND THE PIED PIPERS VIC 27233
11/11/40 1055158 CARMICHAEL
10-FOR YOU TOMMY DORSEY JO STAFFORD VIC 36399 01/20/41 1060348 DUBIN-BURKE
11-DEEP RIVER TOMMY DORSEY VIC 36396 02/17/41 1060905 TRADITIONAL
12-YES INDEED! TOMMY DORSEY JO STAFFORD SY OLIVER VIC 20-1550 02/17/41
1060908 OLIVER
13-YES INDEED BOB CROSBY'S BOB CATS BING CROSBY-CONNEE BOSWELL DEC 3689
12/13/40 2272 OLIVER
14-WELL,GIT IT TOMMY DORSEY VIC 27887 03/09/42 72172 OLIVER
15-MANDY,MAKE UP YOUR MIND TOMMY DORSEY VIC 20-1522 07/01/42 1075404
CLARKE-TURK-MEYER-JOHNSTON
16-OPUS ONE TOMMY DORSEY VIC 20-1608 11/14/44 D4VB1033 OLIVER
17-OPUS ONE GENE KRUPA ANITA O'DAY COL 37224 08/21/45 35110 OLIVER
18-OPUS TWO TOMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA DEC 27211 08/29/50 W76763T14
19-BLUE AND SENTIMENTAL SY OLIVER MILLS BROTHERS DEC 28309 02/04/52 L6629
BASIE-LIVINGSTON-DAVID
20-YOU'RE A SWEETHEART JACK OWENS 3 BEAUS AND A PEEP SY OLIVER DEC 24935
01/06/50 W75671T10A ADAMSON-MCHUGH
21-CROSS YOUR HEART JACK OWENS 3 BEAUS AND A PEEP DEC 24935 01/06/50
W75674T7A GENSLER-DE SYLVA
22-DEARIE ETHEL MERMAN RAY BOLGER SY OLIVER DEC 24873 01/04/50 75662
MANN-HILLIARD
23-I SAID MY PAJAMAHS ETHEL MERMAN & RAY BOLGER DEC 24873 01/04/50 75663
WYLE-POLLA
Ella With A Twist #13 Recorded 1939-1949 CD253M
Billy May-t-a-v was born in 1916 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started off
as a tuba player in his high school band. by 1933, he was playing with Gene
Olsen's Polish-American Orchestra, and other local bands, with Sy adding
trumpet to his skills. After hearing Charlie Barnet on the radio, he met
Barnet and said he would like to write arrangements for his band, and he
replaced Johnny Mendell in July of 1939.The lineup in Barnett's band at the
time was Charlie Barnet-ss-as-ts-v-dir/ Bob Burnet-Billy May-John Owen-t/
Ben Hall-Don Ruppersberg-Bill Robertson-tb/ Kurt Bloom-Gene Kinsey-as/ Don
McCook-James Lamare-ts/ Bill Miller-p/ Bus Etri-g/ Phil Stevens-sb/ Ray
Michaels-d/ The results of the collaboration were May's arrangement of
'Cherokee,' a satiric song, 'The Wrong Idea,' which lampooned the 'Mickey
Mouse' and sweet bands of the era. I hope you like my mix of the Cherokee
and Redkin Rhumba - they seem to go together. Cherokee was written by
British bandleader Ray Noble, and Redskin Rhumba was written by Charlie
Barnet, using the pseudonym of Dale Bennett. Billy May is best known for his
association with
the Looney Tunes series of cartoons, and he recorded a number of sides with
Mel Blanc, issued on 78 rpm.
By 1940, he left Barnet's band and started arranging for Glenn Miller, but
found it a hard go. I imagine that egos got in the way, and many of his
arrangements for Miller were never recorded.
May conducted and arranged for the Harold Arlen Songbook for Ella's Verve
double album, all recorded in 1960 and 1961. The Gershwin Song Book #1 was
directed by Norman Granz and for Gershwin #2 the orchestra and arrangements
were by Nelson Riddle. 'Here We Go Again' was composed by Jerry Gray, one of
the arrangers in the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Gray also backed Ella for a
number of sides. Two are on disc 9 of thei set, and two. The recording
reached # 25 on the Billboard pop singles chart in April, 1944 in a one-week
chart run. 'Here we Go Again' was also performed by Glenn Miller with the
Army Air Force Band. The recording ban in 1942 really threw a wrench into
the works for the big bands, and they couldn't record again until a year or
two later. The issue of the song was dlayed until 1944 because of the ban.
Mildred Bailey returns with the Ellis Larkins Trio. Ella had recorded with
Ellis Larkins in 1980 for 'Ella Sings Gershwin.' He was the composer as well
of 'I Don't Want To Miss Mississippi'
The last tracks on this volume return the focus again to Sy Oliver, with
vocals by Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.
Ella With A Twist #13 Recorded 1939-1949 CD253M
1-Cherokee-Redskin Rhumba 07/17/39 Noble arr:May BB 10373/BB 10 10944
10/14/40 1056486 BENNETT
Buffy Boy was written by Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman allumnus, Bud
'Buffy' Estes
2-THE WRONG IDEA CHARLIE BARNET BILLY MAY BB 10804 10/09/39 1042178
MAY-BARNET
3-WHO KILLED 'ER BILLY MAY HOAGY CARMICHAEL DEC 24307 10/20/47 4522
CARMICHAEL-TORRE-SPEILMAN NIGHT SONG
4-BUFFY BOY CHARLIE BARNET BB 11093 10/14/40 1056487 ESTES
5-HAUNTED TOWN CHARLIE BARNET LENA HORNE BB 11093 01/23/41 1060362
ALTMAN-FOGARTY
On trombones: Billy May-Steve Lipkins-Dale McMickle-Johnny Best-t/ Glenn
Miller-Jimmy Priddy-Paul Tanner-Frank D’Annolf-tr/ Lloyd “Skippy” Martin-as/
Ernie Caceres-as-bar-cl/ Wilbur Schwartz-cl-as/ Tex Beneke-Al Klink-ts/
Chummy MacGregor-p/ Bobby Hackett-g/Doc Goldberg-b/ Maurice Purtill-d
The instrumental was recorded at Victor Studios in Chicago on Tuesday, July
14, 1942.
6-LONG TIME NO SEE GLENN MILLER VIC 20-1563 11/22/40 1057663 LATHORPE-SKYLAR
"Here We Go Again" was the last Top 40 hit that Glenn Miller had during his
lifetime.
7-HERE WE GO AGAIN GLENN MILLER VIC 20-1563 08/01/42 1074739 GRAY
8-GOLDEN EARRINGS DAVE BARBOUR PEGGY LEE CAP 15009 09/24/47
2278 LIVINGSTON-EVANS-YOUNG
9-I'LL DANCE AT YOUR WEDDING DAVE BARBOUR PEGGY LEE CAP 15009 09/23/47 2270
OAKLAND-MAGIDSON
10-THAT AIN'T RIGHT ELLIS LARKINS TRIO MILDRED BAILEY VIC 20-2457 02/02/47
COLE
11-I DON'T TO MISS MISSISSIPPI ELLIS LARKINS TRIO MILDRED BAILEY VIC 20-2457
02/02/47 LARKINS
12-CASANOVA CRICKET BILLY MAY HOAGY CARMICHAEL DEC 23978 05/21/47 44301
CARMICHAEL-MARKES-CHARLES
13-MAN COULD BE A WONDERFUL THING BILLY MAY HOAGY CARMICHAEL DEC 23978
05/21/47 44311 CORDAY-CARR
14--HOLLYWOOD STAMPEDE COLEMAN HAWKINS' BAND CAP 10036 03/02/45 585 HAWKINS
15-I'M THROUGH WITH LOVE COLEMAN HAWKINS' BAND CAP 10036 03/02/45 586
KAHN-MALNECK-LIVINGSTON
16-I'M BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT ELLA FITZGERALD & THE INK SPOTS DEC
23399 02/26/45 72746 ELLINGTON-GEORGE-HODGES-JAMES
17-THAT'S THE WAY IT IS ELLA FITZGERALD & THE INK SPOTS DEC
2339902/26/45 72747 WHITNEY-KRAMER
18-TEA LEAVES ELLA FITZGERALD SONG SPINNERS DEC 24446 04/29/48 74537
BERK-CAMPANO-FREEDMAN
19-MY HAPPINESS ELLA FITZGERALD SONG SPINNERS DEC 24446 04/30/48 74538
BERGANTINE-PETERSON
Trombonist Nelson Riddle was with Charlie Spivak' outfit in 1941 until he
joined Tommy Dorsey's band in 1944. He was hired by Les Baxter to write
arrangements for Nat King Cole
20-IN THE DARK OF THE MOON CHARLIE SPIVAK INST COL 486 08/05/41 31001
HAMMOND-WAGNER
21-THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER CHARLIE SPIVAK GARRY STEVENS-STARDUSTERS
COL 506 10/14/41 4016 LOMAN-BLOCK-FRISCH
22-STORY OF A STARRY NIGHT CHARLIE SPIVAK GARRY STEVENS JUNE HUTTON
STARDUSTERS COL 634 02/06/42 32401 HOFFMAN-CURTIS-LIVINGSTON
23-YOU CAN'T LOSE A BROKEN HEART SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG-BILLIE HOLIDAY
DEC 24785 09/30/49 75342 JOHNSON-MILLER SUGAR HILL
24-MY SWEET HUNK O' TRASH SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG-BILLIE HOLIDAY DEC
24785 09/30/49 75343 JOHNSON-MILLER SUGAR HILL
Ella With A Twist #14 Recorded 1950-1956 CD253N
Sy Oliver General Personnel:Sy Oliver-t-ldr-arrTony Faso-t Joe Newman-t
Jimmy Nottingham-t Bernie Privin-t Taft Jordan-t-v William Scott-t Charlie
Shavers-t Dick Vance-t Paul Webster-t/ Mort Bullman-Bobby Byrne-Elmer
Crumbley-Cutty Cutshall-Henderson Chambers-Al Cobbs-Al Grey-Rod
Levitt-Clarence Ross-Frank Saracco-Jack Satterfield-Paul Seiden-Henry
Singer-tb/ Dick Perry-sax-t/ Phil Bodner-Omer Simeon-cl/ George Dorsey-Fred
Williams-sax/ Dick Jacobs-Frank Ludwig-ts/ Barney Bigard-cl-as-ts Hank
D'Amico-Johnny Mince-Budd Johnson-cl-sax/ Milt Yaner-Sid Cooper-Bill
Holcombe-Al Klink-Seldon Powell-ts-f Dave McRae-cl-as-bs/ Eddie
Barefield-cl-sax/ Sam Taylor-ts-bs/Freddy Williams-cl-as/ Haywood
Henry-cl-bs/ Danny Barker-bj-g/ George Barnes-Everett Barksdale-g/Horace
Henderson-p-org-arr/ Hank Jones-Billy Kyle-David Martin-p/ Sandy Block-Ray
Brown-Joe Benjamin-George Duvivier-Arvell Shaw-sb/ Johnny Blowers-Cozy
Cole-Jimmy Crawford-Barrett Deems-Lawrence Rivera-Bunny Shawker-Warren
Smith-d This volume is again mainly devoted to with his own orchestra
and features vocals by Louis Armstrong, Ella,Gary Crosby, Sammy Davis
Jr.,,Trudy Richards the Mills Brothers and Billy Kyle with Louis' All-Stars
in the fifties.This disc represents another 'prequel' if you will. Jerry
Lewis recorded with Buddy Bregman's Orchestra with whom Ella would later
record the Cole Porter Songbook.Mildred Bailey recorded a number of tracks
with Ellis Larkins Trio, you'll find them on volume 13. Ella would record
Ella Sings Gershwin album with Ellis Larkins in 1963. The 78 sides I have
included here from the Verve label were also on a long play from 1956 - Ella
Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.Ella would continue her association with
Verve Records. I In 1960 and 1961 she would record the Harold Arlen Songbook
with Billy May's Orchestra and the Gershwin Songbook with Norman Granz in
1959, and in 1976, she would record the Cole Porter Songbook with Buddy
Bregman's Orchestra. At the first Grammy Awards, in 1958, Ella won her
first two Grammys making history as the first African-American woman to win
the award for best individual jazz performance, and best female vocal
performance, for the two 'Songbook' projects 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke
Ellington Song Book' and 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song
Book', respectively.Unlike many singers, Ella's fluidity of tone and
subtlety only grew as time went on. To my mind, the recorded legacy of all
the artists in this set gives them immortality. Both Ella and Billy Kyle
were diabetic, and it just makes it more amazing that there is just so much
music that is left for us to enjoy.We've seen Chick Webb and O'Neill Spencer
striving to help their tuburculosis by drumming, and creating joy for all
around them. I hope that you enjoy this voyage through time with the artists
that Ella collaborated with. It's been a monumental task pulling it all
together from my record collection and the stories that came from all these
wonderful performers ~ Mickey Clark
Disc 14 Recorded 1950-1956 CD253N
1-C'EST SI BON SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG DEC 27113 06/26/50 76529
SEELEN-HORNEZ-BETTI
2-FAT MAN BOOGIE BILLY MAY CAP C819 08/22/51 7950 MAY
3-COME RAIN OR COME SHINE BUDDY BREGMAN JERRY LEWIS DEC 30124 10/08/56
100713 ARLEN-MERCER
4-CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN? ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG SY OLIVER DEC
27209 08/25/50 76751 BENJAMIN-WEISS
5-LA VIE EN ROSE SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG DEC 27113 06/26/50 76528
PIAF-LOUIGUY
6-MY SILENT LOVE BILLY MAY CAP C819 06/27/51 7816 SUESSE
7-LAZY BONES LOUIS ARMSTRONG ALL STARS-KYLE GARY CROSBY & LOUIS ARMSTRONG
DEC 29921 09/09/55 8669 MERCER-CARMICHAEL
8-AND THIS IS MY BELOVED SY OLIVER SAMMY DAVIS JR. DEC 29199 01/01/54 86371
KISMET WRIGHT-FORREST
9-LOVE LIES SY OLIVER MILLS BROTHERS BR 82604 11/14/51 81864
WEBSTER-LAVERE-LANEY
10-I LAUGHED AT LOVE SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG DEC 28394 08/25/52 83301
DAVIS-SILVER
11-SOMEBODY BAD STOLE DE WEDDING BELL SY OLIVER DEC 29008 12/23/53 85593
MANN-HILLIARD NEW COPACABANA SHOW OF 1954
12-ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY BUDDY BREGMAN JERRY LEWIS DEC 30124 10/08/56
100723 SCHWARTZ-YOUNG-LEWIS
13-ANY TIME TRUDY RICHARDS DEC 27972 01/21/52 82162 LAWSON
14-I STILL FEEL THE SAME ABOUT YOU ELLA FITZGERALD-INK SPOTS DEC 27419
12/20/50 80292 HENDERSON-STUART
15-JUST WHEN WE'RE FALLING IN LOVE SY OLIVER MILLS BROTHERS DEC 28309
02/04/52 L6628 THOMPSON-JACQUET-RUSSELL
16-LITTLE SMALL TOWN GIRL ELLA FITZGERALD-INK SPOTS DEC 27419 12/20/50
80291 RUBENS-LOMAN
17-EASY STREET LOUIS ARMSTRONG ALL STARS-KYLE GARY CROSBY & LOUIS ARMSTRONG
DEC 29921 09/09/55 8668 ALAN-RANKIN-JONES
18-BLACKSMITH BLUES SY OLIVER TRUDY RICHARDS DEC 27972 01/21/52 82167 HOLM
19-SKOKIAAN SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG DEC 29256 08/13/54 86653
MSARURGWA-GLAZER
20-BE MY LIFE'S COMPANION SY OLIVER MILLS BROTHERS BR 82604 11/14/51
81865 HILLIARD-DE LUGG
21-DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG SY OLIVER
DEC 27209 08/25/50 76750 SCHWANDT-ANDREA-KAHN
22-CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS ELLA FITZGERALD-LOUIS ARMSTRONG OSCAR
PETERSON-HERB ELLIS-RAY BROWN-BUDDY RICH VER V-2023 08/16/56 2922
SWIFT-JAMES
23-TAKES TWO TO TANGO SY OLIVER LOUIS ARMSTRONG DEC 28394
08/25/52 83302 HOFFMAN-MANNING
24-STARS FELL ON ALABAMA ELLA FITZGERALD-LOUIS ARMSTRONG OSCAR PETERSON-HERB
ELLIS-RAY BROWN-BUDDY RICH VER V-2023 08/16/56 2921 PARISH-PERKINS
ELLA WITH A TWIST #16? CD2530
Mickey Clark
710 Westminster Avenue West
Penticton BC
Canada
250-462-7881
V2A 1K8
http://mcproductions.ca
1-250-462-7881
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