Born in Washington, D.C. in 1898, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington needs no introduction to most. Like Louis Armstrong, the Duke is internationally famous, and perhaps held in higher esteem
worldwide than in the United States. His band included some of the most distinguishable instrumentalists of any big band during the first half-century of jazz. The most important names to emerge from Ellington's band were Johnny Hodges, alto sax; Ben Webster,
tenor sax; Cootie Williams, trumpet; Jimmy Blanton, bass; Ivie Anderson, the best of Duke's vocalists; and later (and still performing in his 80s in 2002), Clark Terry, trumpet and flugelhorn. Ellington's musical co-conspirator,
alter ego and the composer of his theme song ("Take the "A" Train") was composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn. Ellington was virtually the only big band leader to keep the major elements of his band together throughout a long career, mostly
so he could compose for them. When asked why, Ellington said that the band was his "instrument" and, as you listen to how he created textures and effects for various members, you can understand why he felt this way. Of his greatest sidemen, the most recognizable for the longest period was
undoubtedly Johnny Hodges.
If Ellington is what we call the "orchestral" side of swing, William "Count" Basie was the founding member of swinging understatement - sparse leading piano notes, head arrangements (thought up "on-the-spot"), impassioned solos, and with an earthy,
bluesy, swing-till-you-drop philosophy. Ellington and his music are the epitome of sophistication and planning, with an elegant and urbane feel. Basie was cool, hip, tongue-in-cheek and rhythm-based. You can't listen to Count without tapping your foot.
Count Basie, born in Red Bank, New Jersey in 1903, was really born into the swing fraternity in the early 1930s in Kansas City, when he inherited a band originally led by Bennie Moten. When the Moten band and Walter Page's Blue Devils got together after Moten's death, they became the foundation of the Count Basie band that made its
first recordings for Decca records in 1937. Count had some good teachers, however, since Fats Waller (mentioned earlier as a pianist to hear) gave young Bill some pointers on the organ in the northeast in the 1920s. Sidemen you have to know from the Basie band include Lester Young, tenor sax,
Buddy Tate, tenor sax, Jo Jones, drums, Harry "Sweets" Edison, trumpet and Buck Clayton, trumpet. I specifically mention Tate, Edison and Clayton, because each was active as a musician, composer and/or arranger until at least the 1990s. Although his vocalists were not as famous as
Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, the Count had two fine singers in his first edition band - blues singer "Little" Jimmy Rushing (dubbed "Mr. Five by Five" for his short, rotund appearance) and Helen Humes,
a fine and underrated vocalist.
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 Duke Ellington
The Mooche
Mills' Ten Blackberries 4/3/1930
East St. Louis Toodle-oo
Mills' Ten Blackberries 4/3/1930
Rockin' in Rhythm
The Harlem Feetwarmers 11/8/1930
Concerto for Cootie (featuring Cootie Williams, Trumpet)
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
3/15/1940
Warm Valley (featuring Johnny Hodges, Alto)
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
10/17/1940
Take The "A" Train
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
2/15/1941
I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good (featuring Ivie Anderson, Vocal)
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
6/26/1941
I Don't Mind (featuring Ivie Anderson, Vocal)
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
2/26/1942
Count Basie
Cake Walkin' Babies From Home
(with Louis Armstrong) 1/8/1925
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