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Duke Ellington's Small Groups

In the 1930s, Duke Ellington encouraged his star sidemen - stars like Johnny Hodges and Cootie Williams - to record on their own, and their small group sessions form a rich addition to the Ellington canon. Geoffrey Smith selects some gems.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 18 Feb 2018 00:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Louis Bellson's Just Jazz All Stars

    Johnny Come Lately

    Performer: Billy Strayhorn. Performer: Clark Terry. Performer: Harry Carney. Performer: Wardell Gray.
    • JUST JAZZ ALLSTARS.
    • CAPITOL RECORDS.
    • 8.

  • Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters

    Chasin' Chippies

    Performer: Barney Bigard. Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Otto Hardwick. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • Echoes of Harlem.
    • Topaz.
    • 11.

  • Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters

    Caravan

    Performer: Cootie Williams. Performer: Juan Tizol. Performer: Harry Carney. Performer: Billy Taylor. Performer: Sonny Greer.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume I.
    • Columbia.
    • 9.

  • Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters

    Stompy Jones

    Performer: Cootie Williams. Performer: Juan Tizol. Performer: Harry Carney. Performer: Billy Taylor. Performer: Sonny Greer.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume I.
    • Columbia.
    • 10.

  • Johnny Hodges

    Squatty Roo

    Performer: Jimmy Blanton.
    • The Jeep is Jumpin'.
    • Proper.
    • 19.

  • Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges

    St Louis Blues

    Performer: Harry “Sweets” Edison. Performer: Les Spann. Performer: Sam Jones. Performer: Jo Jones.
    • Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges Play The Blues Back To Back.
    • Verve.
    • 5.

  • Duke Ellington

    Self Portrait of the Bean

    Performer: Coleman Hawkins.
    • Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins.
    • Impulse.
    • 6.

  • Rex Stewart & His 52nd Street Stompers

    The Back Room Romp

    Performer: Duke Ellington. Performer: Freddy Jenkins. Performer: Lawrence Brown. Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume I.
    • Columbia.
    • 9.

  • Duke Ellington

    The Intimacy of The Blues

    Performer: Duke Ellington.
    • The Intimacy of the Blues.
    • Fantasy.
    • 1.

  • Duke Ellington

    Pyramid

    Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Cootie Williams. Performer: Lawrence Brown. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume 2.
    • Columbia Jazz.
    • 10.

  • Duke Ellington

    Wanderlust

    Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Cootie Williams. Performer: Lawrence Brown. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume 2.
    • Columbia Jazz.
    • 6.

  • The Duke Ellington Sextet

    Indigo Echoes

    Performer: Rex Stewart. Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Harry Carney. Performer: Billy Taylor. Performer: Wellman Braud.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume I.
    • Columbia.
    • 4.

  • Johnny Hodges

    Passion Flower

    Performer: Billy Strayhorn.
    • The Jeep is Jumpin'.
    • Proper.
    • 20.

  • Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

    Jeep's Blues

    Performer: Cootie Williams. Performer: Lawrence Brown. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume 2.
    • Columbia Jazz.
    • 1.

  • Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters

    I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

    Performer: Tricky Sam Nanton. Performer: Johnny Hodges. Performer: Harry Carney.
    • The Duke's Men: Small Groups Volume I.
    • Columbia.
    • 11.

  • Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters

    Sharpie

    Performer: Scat Powell. Performer: Johnny Hodges.
    • Echoes of Harlem.
    • Topaz.
    • 12.

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