Unreleased Ellington Due in August

Storyville Records will release two albums of previously unreleased Duke Ellington Orchestra performances in August. The Jaywalker, recorded from 1966-67, features 23 unissued tracks that were initially composed for a British play of the same name. The Treasury Shows Vol. 10 is the tenth installment in Storyville’s series of live, World War II-era Ellington radio broadcasts-this volume includes performances recorded on May 4, Aug. 11 and 18, and Sept. 26, 1945.

The Jaywalker was recorded in studios in New York and Los Angeles at Ellington’s own expense with his orchestra, which at the time included Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington, Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors. Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, John Lamb, Sam Woodyard, Bobby Durham, Chris Colombo and Emmanuel Abdul-Rahim.

The Jaywalker‘s tunes vary from whole songs to short song fragments made to create a mood for scenes in the play they accompanied, resulting in some of Ellington’s most unusual music. The Jaywalker is the third Storyville release of previously unissued tracks from “The Stockpile,” a collection of studio recordings Ellington made on his own dime.

Highlights from The Jaywalker include Harry Carney’s baritone sax on “Chromatic Love” and Cat Anderson’s trumpet on “Salome.” Here’s a full track list:

The Shepherd Up Jump Rue Bleu Chromatic Love Affair Salomé Blood Count El Viti Kixx Eggo I’m Hip Too Amta Warr Little Purple Flower Traffic Cop Untitled Blues Policia The B.O. Of Traffic Mac Traffic Extension Star Cross Climax B.O. Man Tin Soldier

The Treasury Shows includes 51, mostly well-known Ellington favorites taken from four separate radio broadcasts. The broadcasts were intended to sell war bonds to the radio audience during the final year of World War II, making their release particularly important since commercial studio recordings were banned during the war. For instance, “I Miss Your Kiss,” which features the trombone work of Lawrence Brown, was never recorded commercially.

Other songs on The Treasury Shows, Vol. 10 include “Mood to be Wooed,” “Emancipation Celebration,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light” and “Blue is the Night.” Here’s the full track list:

CD 1:

Take The “A” Train What Am I Here For? Blue Is The Night Ellington Bond Promo The Wish I Wish Tonight Someone into station break Take The “A” Train Harlem Air Shaft Out Of This World Ellington Bond Promo Midriff Everything But You Ring Dem Bells Mood To Be Wooed Ellington Bond Promo Emancipation Celebration (Theme) Take The “A” Train Suddenly It Jumped Laura Kissing Bug Stompy Jones Solid Old Man Carnegie Blues In A Mellotone Fancy Dan (Theme) Take The “A” Train

CD 2:

(Theme) Take The “A” Train Work Song (Black, Brown And Beige) Ellington Bond Promo The Blues West Indian Dance Ellington Bond Promo Come Sunday and Light (Theme) Take The “A” Train into station break (Theme) Take The “A” Train and broadcast return Subtle Slough Ellington Bond Promo Blue Skies I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues Riff Staccato Bugle Breaks Kissing Bug Ellington Bond Promo Suddenly It Jumped Warm Valley (Theme) Take The “A” Train I Miss Your Kiss He’s Home For A Little While Riff Staccato I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues I’m Beginning To See The Light

For more information on the releases, visit www.storyville-records.com.

Originally Published May 27, 2004