AUGUST 2019

The Programme Secretary, Vic Grayson, welcomed 19 members and 2 guests to the Inaugural August Meeting with a quote from the seminal Duke Ellington autobiography - ‘Music Is My Mistress’. Most pleasingly, one of the guests, Jackie Leevers (daughter of our Chairman), has become a member. The Chairman then welcomed and introduced Chris Walker, our guest presenter, to the meeting.

Answer to last month’s quiz question:

Q: Who described Duke Ellington’s music as “"tea dansant music" with no jazz content whatever”?

A: Rudi Blesh one of the original ‘Moldy Figs’ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldy_figs

John Fordham’s ranking is: 1 Kind Of Blue 1959; 2 In A Silent Way 1969; 3 Jack Johnson 1970; 4 Porgy and Bess 1959; 5 Birth Of The Cool 1957; 6 The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 1995; 7 Sketches Of Spain 1960; 8 Milestones 1958; 9 Bitches Brew; 10 You’re Under Arrest 1985

Tubby Hayes Quartet
Tubby Hayes

The Tubby Hayes Quartet: ‘Grits Beans and Greens: The Lost Fontana Studio Session’ is a recently discovered recording from 1969 and bursts with energy and experiment. I have downloaded the 2 CD set but have put the 5 main ‘Take 1’ tracks on one CD as the other tracks are out-takes an other takes. I have filled up the CD with other tracks.

1 Hoagy Carmichael - THE STARDUST ROAD

Hoagland Howard Carmichael (Nov 22, 1899 - Dec 27, 1981 – died age 82) From his early college days following and forming friendships with the visiting early jazz men in the 1920s. Chris, in this illustrated record talk, tells the story of Hoagy Carmichael who wrote such classic melodies as “Stardust”, “Georgia on My Mind” and “Skylark”. His move to Hollywood and his collaboration with some of the great song lyricists of the twentieth century makes this a fascinating trip down memorylane.

Tracks/tunes/songs played:

1 ‘Hong Kong Blues’ – Hoagy Carmichael – clip from 1944 film ‘To have And Have Not’ (from book by Ernest Hemingway)

2 ‘Riverboat Shuffle’ – Bix Beiderbeck & His Wolverines 1924

3 ‘Washboard Blues’ – Red Nichols & His Five Pennies Brunswick Records 1926

4 ‘Lazy River’ - Louis Prima and His New Orleans Gang 1936

5 ‘Old Rockin’ Chair’ - Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden

6 ‘Georgia On My Mind’ - Ray Charles

7 ‘Lazy Bones’ - Hoagy Carmichael

8 ‘Stardust’ – Nat King Cole

9 ‘My Resistance Is Low’ - Hoagy Carmichael with Jane Russell from 1952 movie ‘The Las Vegas Story’ directed by Howard Hughes

10 ‘Skylark – Gene Krupa with Anita O’Day

11 ‘The Old Music Master – Hoagy Carmichael – Decca 1944

Our thanks go to members for serving refreshments during the break

2 Duke Ellington - DROP ME OFF AT HARLEM

The life story of Edward Kennedy Ellington (29 Apr 1899 - 24 May 1974 - died age age 75) “Duke” Ellington including some rare archive film footage shot throughout this great bandleader’s career. Ellington is regarded by many as the most important composer of the 20th Century – particularly as he emerged from the world of jazz

Tracks/tunes/songs played:

1 ‘Choo Choo (Gotta Hurry Home)’ Duke Ellington & The Washingtonians in 1925 with Bubber Miley (tpt)

2 East St Louis Toodle-oo

3 Black and Tan Fantasy

4 I’ Got It Bad’ - Ivy Anderson with Duke Ellington

5 ‘All Of Me’ - Duke Ellington Orch with Johnny Hodges

6 ‘Sophisticated Lady’ - Duke Ellington Orch with harry Carney (baritone sax)

7 ‘Cottontail’ - Duke Ellington Orch with Ben Webster (tenor sax)

8 ’Satin Doll’ - Ella Fitzgerald with Jimmy Jones (pno)

9 ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing...’ - Duke Ellington Orch with Ella Fitzgerald

10 ‘Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue’ Duke Ellington Orch with Paul Gonsalves (tnr)

11 ‘Take The ‘A’ Train’ - Duke Ellington Orch

PLEASE REMEMBER – Our next meeting is on Weds 11 September

And finally …….. what do you think of this Ellington quote??

“I never had much interest in the piano until I realized that every time I played, a girl would appear on the piano bench to my left and another to my right”

Or this Hoagy quote:

“The trouble with doing nothing is that you can never take any time off”

or, a quiz question:

Q: Why should you NOT buy free range chickens?

A:

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.35 wishing everyone A Safe Journey Home.

Vic Grayson 01202 882867 email: vicgrayson@talktalktalk.net

Chris Walker has asked me to bring this gig to members’ attention

Chris Walker
Chris Walker