Black and Tan (1929)
Black and Tan Fantasy
The Duke Steps Out
Black Beauty
Cotton Club Stomp
Flaming Youth
Same Train
Black and Tan Fantasy
Check and Double Check (1930)
Three Little Words
Old Man Blues
Symphony in Black (1934)
The Laborers
A Triangle
A Hymn of Sorrow
Oh Babe! Maybe Sometime
The Hit Parade of 1937
I’ve Got To Be a Rug Cutter
RKD Jamboree No.7 (1943)
Mood Indigo
Sophisticated Lady
It Don’t Mean a Thing
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Duke Ellington became a household
name in the USA because of his regular broadcasts
from the Cotton Club in Harlem. These early
films were probably brought about as a result
of these broadcasts and people's wish to see,
as well as hear, the band. They certainly
demonstrate that Ellington had a fine band
right back to the days of his residency at
the Cotton Club and maybe before. Nearly all
the tunes are the Duke’s own work and all
of the bands are packed with fine musicians
and great soloists.
Artie Whetsol is the first
soloist assisting the Duke’s meanderings through
the Black and Tan theme in segment
one. The Check and Double Check segment
comes from an Amos & Andy film. Unusually
for such a film, the band, an eleven piece,
is featured for two whole numbers. The band
is obviously choreographed for the movie,
but the music is good. The third section is
a short film about the life of Black Americans
in those years. Tricky Sam Nanton is heard
on this one, and there is a brief appearance
of a young Billie Holiday.
The fourth section is an
interesting account of the record industry
at that time. The final section features Ray
Nance playing and singing on It Don’t Mean
a Thing, together with Ben Webster and
Johnny Hodges.
This DVD is an interesting
piece of jazz history dedicated to one of
the genre's most influential sons.
Don Mather
CD Reviews
Storyville
Films DVD 26033
