''The Blanton–Webster Band'' is a compilation album that combines the master takes of all the recordings by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

's Orchestra during the years of 1940 to 1942, involving

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...

Jimmy Blanton and

tenor saxophonist The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

Ben Webster. The recordings were originally made for

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

during what many critics regard as the Ellington orchestra's golden period. The three CDs contain many numbers which were to become classics, and the arrangements (by Ellington and

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take ...

) were frequently inventive and innovative. It was voted number 283 in the third edition of

Colin Larkin Colin Larkin (born 1949) is a British writer and entrepreneur. He founded, and was the editor-in-chief of, the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', described by ''The Times'' as "the standard against which all others must be judged". Along wit ...

's ''

All Time Top 1000 Albums ''All Time Top 1000 Albums'' is a book by Colin Larkin, creator and editor of the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. The book was first published by Guinness Publishing in 1994. The list presented is the result of over 200,000 votes cast by the ...

'' (2000). The collection does not include alternate takes or the duets Ellington performed with Jimmy Blanton, available elsewhere. With 66 tracks, the selection includes many of Ellington's hits and classic songs. ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' praises the collection as "a masterwork of composition and leadership" and "a series of individual triumphs from the greatest team of jazz players...ever assembled".

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

describes it as "essential for all jazz collections". Bassist Blanton was only with the Ellington orchestra for two years, retiring in 1941 due to tuberculosis, and dying the following year at the age of 23. Despite this compilation's title, Blanton does not appear on the final 17 tracks of the collection, having been replaced on bass by Alvin "Junior" Raglin. This reissue first surfaced as a four-LP set in 1986. The collection was re-organized, rereleased, and remastered with additional tracks in 2003 as '' Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band''.

Track list

Unless otherwise noted, all tracks by

Disc one

#"You, You Darlin'" (M.K. Jerome, Jack Scholl) – 3:19 #"Jack the Bear" – 3:15 #"Ko Ko" – 2:39 #"Morning Glory" (Ellington, Rex Stewart) – 3:15 #"So Far, So Good" (

Jack Lawrence Jack Lawrence may refer to: *Jack Lawrence (songwriter) (1912–2009), American songwriter *Jack Lawrence (artist) (born 1975), British comic book artist and animator * Jack Lawrence (bluegrass) (born 1953), American bluegrass guitarist * Jack Lawre ...

, Jimmy Mundy, E.G. White) – 2:50 #"Conga Brava" (Ellington,

Juan Tizol Juan Tizol Martínez (22 January 1900 – 23 April 1984) was a Puerto Rican jazz trombonist and composer. He is best known as a member of Duke Ellington's big band, and as the writer of the jazz standards " Caravan", "Pyramid", and " Perdid ...

) – 2:54 #" Concerto for Cootie" – 3:19 #"Me and You" – 2:54 #" Cotton Tail" – 3:08 #" Never No Lament (Don't Get Around Much Anymore)" (Ellington, Bob Russell) – 3:15 #"Dusk" – 3:19 #"Bojangles" – 2:50 #"A Portrait of Bert Williams" – 3:09 #"Blue Goose" – 3:21 #"Harlem Air Shaft" – 2:57 #"At a Dixie Roadside Diner" – ( Joe Burke, Edgar Leslie) – 2:45 #"

All Too Soon "All Too Soon" is a 1940 song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics written by Carl Sigman. It is recorded in the key of C major. It was subsequently recorded by several contemporary and modern artists. Notable recordings *Duke Ellington **rec ...

" (Ellington,

Carl Sigman Carl Sigman (September 24, 1909 – September 26, 2000) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish-American family, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his bar exams to practice in ...

) – 3:28 #"Rumpus in Richmond" – 2:46 #"My Greatest Mistake" ( Jack Fulton), Jack O'Brien) – 3:27 #"Sepia Panorama" – 3:20 #"There Shall Be No Night" ( Gladys Shelley,

Abner Silver Abner Silberman (28 December 1899, in New York City, New York, United States – 24 November 1966) as pen name Abner Silver, was an American songwriter who worked primarily during the Tin Pan Alley era of the craft. Career Usually composing the m ...

) – 3:05 #" In a Mellow Tone" (Ellington,

Milt Gabler Milton Gabler (May 20, 1911 – July 20, 2001) was an American record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording industry of the 20th century. These included being the first person to deal in record reissues, the first to sel ...

) – 3:19

Disc two

#"Five O'Clock Whistle" (Kim Gannon, Gene Irwin, Josef Myrow) – 3:18 #"Warm Valley" – 3:20 #"The Flaming Sword" – 3:06 #"Across the Track Blues" – 2:58 #"Chloe" ( Gus Kahn,

Neil Moret Neil is a masculine name of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an anglicisation of the Irish ''Niall'' which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion".. A ...

) – 3:24 #"I Never Felt This Way Before" (

Al Dubin Alexander Dubin (June 10, 1891 – February 11, 1945) was an American lyricist. He is best known for his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren. Life Al Dubin came from a Russian Jewish family that emigrated to the United States from Swi ...

, Ellington) – 3:23 #"The Sidewalks of New York" (

James W. Blake James William Blake (23 September 1862 – 24 May 1935) was a lyricist who is most famous for the words to the 1894 song, "The Sidewalks of New York". Early years and family Blake was one of seven children of Michael and Elizabeth Blake, immigr ...

Charles B. Lawlor Charles B. Lawlor (June 2, 1852 – May 31, 1925) was an American vaudeville performer and composer of popular songs. He was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1869. Lawlor is primarily remembered today as the composer of th ...

) – 3:14 #" Flamingo" (Edmund Anderson, Ted Grouya) – 3:22 #"The Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You" – 3:19 #"

Take the "A" Train "Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn that was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. History The use of the Strayhorn composition as the signature tune was made necessary by a ruling in 1940 by the American ...

" (

) – 2:54 #"Jumpin' Punkins" – 3:33 #"John Hardy's Wife" – 3:28 #"Blue Serge" – 3:20 #"After All" (Strayhorn) – 3:19 #"Bakiff" (Tizol) – 3:23 #"Are You Sticking?" – 3:02 #" Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" (Ellington, Gaines, Strayhorn) – 3:33 #"The Giddybug Gallop" – 3:29 #"Chocolate Shake" (Ellington,

Paul Francis Webster Paul Francis Webster (December 20, 1907 – March 18, 1984) was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and was nominated sixteen times for the award. Life and career Webster was born in New York City, United St ...

) – 2:50 #"

I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" is a pop and jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster published in 1941. It was introduced in the musical revue ''Jump for Joy'' by Ivie Anderson, who also provided the v ...

" (Ellington, Webster) – 3:17 #"Clementine" (Strayhorn) – 2:53 #"Brown-Skin Gal (In the Calico Gown)" (Ellington, Webster) – 3:06

Disc three

#"Jump for Joy" (Ellington, Sid Kuller, Webster) – 2:50 #"Moon Over Cuba" (Ellington, Tizol) – 3:09 #"Five O'Clock Drag" – 2:49 #" Rocks in My Bed" – 3:06 #" Bli Blip" (Ellington, Kuller) – 3:03 #" Chelsea Bridge" (Strayhorn) – 2:52 #"Rain Check" (Strayhorn) – 2:28 #"What Good Would It Do?" (

Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...

, Buddy Pepper) – 2:44 #"I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got" – 3:13 #" Perdido" (

Ervin Drake Ervin Drake (born Ervin Maurice Druckman; April 3, 1919 – January 15, 2015) was an American songwriter whose works include such American Songbook standards as "I Believe (1953 song), I Believe" and "It Was a Very Good Year". He wrote in a variet ...

, H.J. Lengsfelder, Tizol) – 3:08 #" C Jam Blues" (

Barney Bigard Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington. He also played tenor saxophone. Biography Bigard was born in New Orleans to Creole parents, Ale ...

, Ellington) – 2:37 #"Moon Mist" – 2:58 #"What Am I Here For?" (Ellington,

Frankie Laine Frankie Laine (born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio; March 30, 1913 – February 6, 2007) was an American Singing, singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned nearly 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to hi ...

) – 3:28 #"I Don't Mind" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 2:49 #"Someone" – 3:09 #"My Little Brown Book" (Strayhorn) – 3:13 #"Main Stem" – 2:47 #"Johnny Come Lately" (Strayhorn) – 2:39 #"Hayfoot, Strawfoot" (Drake, Lengsfelder, Paul McGrane) – 2:30 #"

Sentimental Lady "Sentimental Lady" is a song written by Bob Welch. It was originally recorded for Fleetwood Mac's 1972 album '' Bare Trees'', but was re-recorded by Welch on his debut solo album, ''French Kiss'', in 1977. It is a romantic song, originally w ...

" – 2:58 #"A Slip of the Lip (Can Sink a Ship)" (Ellington, Henderson) – 2:54 #"Sherman Shuffle" – 2:38

Personnel

Performance

— arrangements, conductor,

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

(alternating with) *

— arrangements, piano * Ivie Anderson — vocals *

Herb Jeffries Herb Jeffries (born Umberto Alexander Valentino; September 24, 1913 – May 25, 2014) was an American actor of film and television and popular music and jazz singer-songwriter, known for his baritone voice. He starred in several low-budget "ra ...

— vocals ;reed section *

—

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

* Johnny Hodges — alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet * Ben Webster — tenor saxophone * Otto Hardwick —

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...

*Chauncey Haughton — clarinet, tenor sax *

Harry Carney Harry Howell Carney (April 1, 1910 – October 8, 1974) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinettist who spent over four decades as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He played a variety of instruments but primarily used the baritone saxopho ...

—

baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use - the bass, contra ...

, clarinet, alto saxophone ;brass section * Rex Stewart —

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

Cootie Williams Charles Melvin "Cootie" Williams (July 10, 1911 – September 15, 1985) was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter. Biography Born in Mobile, Alabama, Williams began his professional career at the age of 14 with the Yo ...

— trumpet *

Ray Nance Ray Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 – January 28, 1976) was an American jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer. He is best remembered for his long association with Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Early years Nance was the leader of his ow ...

— trumpet,

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

Wallace Jones Wallace Clayton "Wah Wah" Jones (July 14, 1926 – July 27, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1949 to 1952 with the Indianapolis Olympians. Biography Jones was born ...

— trumpet *

—

valve trombone A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fittings ...

Joe Nanton Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (February 1, 1904 – July 20, 1946) was an American trombonist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Early life Joe Nanton was born Joseph Irish Nanton in New York City, United States. His parents were John Barzly Nanton an ...

—

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

* Lawrence Brown — trombone ;rhythm section *

Fred Guy Frederick L. Guy (May 23, 1897 – December 22, 1971) was an American jazz banjo player and guitarist. Born in Burkeville, Virginia, Guy was raised in New York City. He played guitar and banjo with Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra. In the early 192 ...

—

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

* Jimmy Blanton —

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Alvin "Junior" Raglin — bass *

Sonny Greer William Alexander "Sonny" Greer (December 13, c. 1895 – March 23, 1982) was an American jazz drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Duke Ellington. Biography Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, United States, and play ...

—

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

Production

* Bob Porter – reissue producer *Ed Begley – remastering *Steve Backer – executive producer *Mary Tucker – liner notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanton-Webster Band, The 1986 compilation albums Big band compilation albums Bluebird Records compilation albums Duke Ellington albums RCA Records compilation albums