Sultry Serenade

In May-June 1951, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra could be heard at Birdland during two periods: May 3 to May 9 and June 21 to June 30. We have earlier presented music from two broadcasts, those of June 23 and June 30, but two more remain in existance, namely one originally thought to be from late June and one from early May. DESS members will now have the opportunity to listen to music from the undated June broadcast (NDESOR 5121) which has now been established to have taken place at Birdland on May 5. Just go to the Goodies Room and listen/download. The following tunes are played (mixed origin): (more…)

Aberdeen

A little more than a week after his stay at Meadowbrook, we find Ellington and the orchestra playing at Birdland, the famous jazz spot in Manhattan. Their stay there was from June 21 to 30 in 1951. They had played there for one week in early May,(May 3 to 9), following Count Basie and his orchestra . The band personell had not changed, except that Norma Oldham is no longer present.

In the Goodies Room, DESS members will find a nearly complete version of the a broadcast from June 23 as far as the melodic contents go. Some of the numbers have been issued commercially before on Session Disc 107 and Stardust 202, both in 1975. The contents are as follows:

*Take The A Train*Fancy Dan#*The Hawk Talks#*Swamp Drum#*Rockin’ In Rhythm#*Happy Bithday To You*Aberdeen*Caravan*All Day Long*Ol’ Man River*Harlem Air Shaft##*Things Ain’t What They Used To Be*Take The A Train

# Session Disc 107, ## Stardust 202

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