Kissing Bug

Composed by Billy Strayhorn and Rex Stewart, words by Joya Sherrill, arranged by Bill Holman

Kissing Bug, Bill Holman Big Band (1958)

Kissing Bug is Bill Holman's take on the Billy Strayhorn/Rex Stewart tune recorded by Duke Ellington in 1945. This new arrangement appeared on Bill Holman's classic In A Jazz Orbit in 1958.

Al Porcino, Conte Candoli (tpt); Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino, Ray Sims (tbn); Charlie Mariano, Herb Geller (as); Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Charlie Kennedy (ts); Bill Hood (bari); Victor Feldman (p); Buddy Clark (b); Mel Lewis (d). Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California from February 11-13, 1958. The soloists are Bill Holman, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Mariano.

Here's the Ellington 1945 original.

Kissing Bug, Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra (1945)

Shelton Hemphill, Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson (t); Ray Nance (t,vn,v); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Claude Jones (tb); Jimmy Hamilton (cl,ts); Otto Hardwicke (cl,as); Johnny Hodges (as); Al Sears (ts); Harry Carney (cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington (p); Fred Guy (g); Junior Raglin (sb); Sonny Greer (d,ch); Joya Sherrill (v). Recorded in New York City, 26 April 1945.

Take the "A" Train

Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn

Take the "A" Train on YouTube

David Berger's transcription of the Ellington signature theme song Take the "A" Train, composed by the great Billy Strayhorn, is from the famous February 15th 1941 take recorded in the Hollywood RCA-Victor recording studios.

This is another classic from the Blanton-Webster band. The personnel included Rex Stewart (cornet), Wallace Jones, Ray Nance (trumpet), Lawrence Brown and Joe Nanton (trombone), Juan Tizol (valve trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), Johnny Hodges (soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet), Otto Hardwick (alto sax, bass sax), Ben Webster (tenor sax), Harry Carney (clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Jimmy Blanton (bass), Sonny Greer (drums), and Billy Strayhorn (piano, replacing Ellington on “After All.”)

Ray Nance’s trumpet solo would become the best known of his career.

If your browser handles Flash, here's a nice dynamic analysis of the arrangement by Ralph Russell of Grinnell College.

Royal Garden Blues

Composed by Clarence Williams and Spencer Williams, arranged by Billy Strayhorn

http://youtu.be/CoT3HxoN79M

Transcribed by David Berger as part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington series, this Royal Garden Blues chart is from Duke's 1946 band (although the tune is almost as old as recorded jazz itself!)

Lineup on this recording: Shelton Hemphill, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson, Francis Williams, Harold Baker (t); Ray Nance (t,vl,v); Lawrence Brown, Wilbur De Paris, Claude Jones (tb); Jimmy Hamilton (cl,ts); Russell Procope (cl,as); Johnny Hodges (as); Al Sears (ts); Harry Carney (cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington (p); Fred Guy (g); Oscar Pettiford (sb); Sonny Greer (d,ch); Marion Cox(v).

Also, check out the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra rehearsing and recording the transcription we have.

Other famous versions of this tune:

• Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s version (1921)
• Bix Beiderbecke’s 1927 version

Blood Count

Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn

http://youtu.be/7Ckls62nZHw

Transcribed by David Berger as part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington series, Strayhorn’s Blood Count (one of my favorites) is from 1967, and has a heavy backstory. Strayhorn was hospitalized in 1967 due to cancer and finished the composition while in the hospital. He died on 31 May and Blood Count was his last finished composition. I want to cry whenever I hear this one. It's such a Hodges classic, and includes some of the most emotional playing ever! It's on Ellington's tribute album to Strayhorn, And His Mother Called Him Bill (this should be in every jazzer's collection, IMHO).

Lineup on this recording: Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington (t); Clark Terry (flh); Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper (tb); Chuck Connors (btb); Jimmy Hamilton (cl,ts); Russell Procope (cl,as); Johnny Hodges (as); Paul Gonsalves (ts); Harry Carney (cl,bcl,as,bar); Duke Ellington (p); Aaron Bell (sb); Steve Little (d).

Also, Stan Getz is famous for his version of this tune (it became one of his signature pieces); so is Phil Woods for his version.