Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn
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.
