vol. 56 no. 1 september 2014 - toronto duke ellington...

Vol. 56 No. 1 September 2014

The Newsletter of the Duke Ellington Society, Chapter 40, Toronto, Canada is mailed prepaid to members in good standing.

Further information pertaining to the Society’s activities may be obtained from the Editor.

1791 Pattinson Crescent, Mississauga, ON., Canada, L5J 1H6; Phone 905-823-1086; e-mail:[email protected]

Web site: www.torontodukeellingtonsociety.com

Minutes of September 9th. 2014 General

Meeting.

The first meeting of the year got underway with an

evening of live jazz from vocalist Lydia Persaud’s

trio.

John Hornsby made a very welcome return to the

meetings and was warmly welcomed by everyone.

Bill Wilson announced that his next Jazz at RY was

scheduled for November 2 with the Toronto Duke

Ellington Society sponsoring an afternoon of

mostly Ellington /Strayhorn music with the

Richard Whiteman quartet including Reg

Schwager, Neil Swainson and Ted Warren. This

will be Bill’s 20th season of arranging his Jazz at

RY series of concerts raising funds for local

charities. See below under Upcoming Events for

details.

After the announcements, Lydia Persaud’s Trio

was introduced by Martin Loomer. Lydia told us

how thrilled she was to perform for the Toronto

Duke Ellington Society since she had been invited

by John McLeod to sing with his Rex Hotel

Orchestra at our 2013 Spring Fundraising Concert,

at which she had made such a great impression on

everyone. Lydia’s group consisted of Chris

Pruden on piano and making a welcome return to

us for the third time at one of our season opening

concerts, Julian Anderson Bowes on bass. All three

were recent graduates of Humber College’s Jazz

performance program. Lydia started with a nice

upbeat version of Don’t get Around Much

Anymore followed by a relaxed Do Nothing ’til

You Hear from Me and then sang a loping version

of In a Mellotone. Lydia took on the challenge of

Heaven from Ellington’s Second Sacred Concert

which she handled with ease. This was the

arrangement by Humber student Nick Anderson

Frye who had prepared it for John McLeod’s

orchestra and Lydia had sung with the orchestra at

the 2013 Spring Concert. Fade Away was an

original by Lydia Persaud which can be found on

her web site http://lydiapersaud.bandcamp.com/

To conclude the first half of the concert we heard

Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life, again a challenging

number which Lydia was more than equal to.

Interesting that Rob Fogle who made a

presentation to us at our 2014 meeting pointed out

that Frank Sinatra couldn’t handle the phrasing of

Lush Life which he demonstrated by playing a

bootleg recording from his private collection of

Sinatra singing the piece unsuccessfully. Sinatra

never released a recording of Lush Life as he

intended in the Only The Lonely album. Lydia told

us that she sang this song as an audition piece for

her Humber College entrance and it was

considered too old for her. Billy Strayhorn

completed it in 1936 when he was 21 years old

though its origins go back to 1933.

After the break, with refreshments provided by

Irene Barton, the band played I’m Beginning to

see the Light followed by I’ve Got it Bad and

that Ain’t Good. Gretchen Carlyle arranged the

beautiful Azure demonstrating how even an old

Ellington piece can be arranged in a thoroughly

modern way and still maintain its charm. Strong

piano and bass solos from Chris Pruden and Julian

Anderson Bowes accompanied Lydia’s singing of

Just You Just Me. Lydia then presented another

original number, Afterglow. Again very nice

piano and bass solos accompanied the singing of

Things Ain’t what they Used to Be. To conclude

http://lydiapersaud.bandcamp.com/

2

the concert Lydia and her band played yet another

challenging piece, Is God a Three Letter Word

for Love? from Ellington’s Third Sacred Concert.

It certainly appears as though Lydia Persaud does

not shy away from the difficult pieces which she

proved she can tackle with no problem. Well done

Lydia! The band was treated to a standing ovation

from us and a formal vote of thanks from Patricia

Poole Crawley.

Upcoming TDES 40 Meetings:

October 14 – AGM and Martin Loomer’s

presentation – Unexpected Ellington.

November 11 meeting will be replaced by the

November 2 Jazz at Royal York Church – see

below.

December 2 – Annual Holiday Party - Arts &

Letters Club. Nancy Walker Quartet. A few

tickets only remain so please speak to Judy Shiels

soon if you are planning on going.

January 13 2015 - TBA

February 10 - Ben Webster Plays Ellington for 37

Years presented by Jack Chambers.

March 10 – TBA.

April 25 Spring Fundraising Concert.

Brian Barlow Big Band with a Special Tribute to

Billy Strayhorn - his centennial. Alan Shiels has

tickets available for sale now.

Upcoming Events:

During the 2014-15 concert season, The Royal

Conservatory salutes the big bands with Rob

McConnell’s Boss Brass, The Count Basie

Orchestra, among others.

The series kicks off on Saturday October 18 with a

rare reunion of Canada’s greatest big band, Rob

McConnell’s Boss Brass. McConnell passed

away in 2010 and his family has agreed to let The

Conservatory assemble 21 of his long-time band

members, a who’s who of Canadian jazz, including

Guido Basso, Brian Barlow, and Terry Clarke,

to name just a few.

For more details please go to:

http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/boss_brass

Nov 2 –Richard Whiteman’s trio will play a tribute

to Duke Ellington at Bill Wilson’s Jazz at RY

series. Always a great concert and this time with a

special Ducal interest. Sunday November 2, 2014

at 2:00 p.m. at Royal York Road United Church,

851 Royal York Road (3 blocks south of Bloor

Street/Royal York subway).

Tickets cost $20 or $17 for Seniors (65+) and

Students. The net proceeds of the concert support

Royal York’s local outreach charities. This is

expected to be a popular event so please arrive

early to avoid disappointment.

Incidentally, Richard will be /has been inducted

into the Etobicoke Collegiate Institute Gallery of

Distinction. Congratulations Richard.

****

Martin Loomer attended the Humber College

Scholarship Awards event and is pictured with the

2014 TDES Scholarship winner Paul Barton.

http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/boss_brass

3

New & Interesting:

During the summer I read Kansas City Lightning –

The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker by Stanley

Crouch. Highly recommended. A very detailed

account of Charlie Parker’s early life written in a

fluid and unique style. It looks as though it is

Volume 1.

****

Through the always interesting Jazz Wax blog I

was introduced to the National Jazz Archive, The

Story of British Jazz, available on line at:

http://www.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk/

****

Those of you not on the DukeLYM list may be

interested in the website: http://tdwaw.ca called

The Duke Where and When, a chronicle of Duke

Ellington‘s working life and travels. It is a very

large web site and useful for research.

****

Recently, the Duke Ellington Society of Southern

California honoured past President Charles Stewart

by electing him President Emeritus in recognition

of his many years of service to the society. Charles

is also a member of TDES 40.

****

From In A Mellotone, the Southern California

Chapter’s newsletter:

Important New Ellington Book on the Way

The Cambridge Companion to Duke Ellington,

edited by Edward Green, is scheduled to be

published at the end of November in the UK and at

the end of January 2015 in the U.S. Here is the

publisher’s description of what is likely to be the

most important Ellington book of 2015:

This comprehensive and accessible Companion is

the first collection of essays to survey, in depth,

Ellington's career, music, and place in popular

culture. An international cast of authors includes

renowned scholars, critics, composers, and jazz

musicians. Organized in three parts, the

Companion first sets Ellington's life and work in

context, providing new information about his

formative years, method of composing,

interactions with other musicians, and activities

abroad; its second part gives a complete artistic

biography of Ellington; and the final section is a

series of specific musical studies, including

chapters on Ellington and song-writing, the jazz

piano, descriptive music, and the blues. Featuring

a chronology of the composer's life and major

recordings, this book is essential reading for

anyone with an interest in Ellington's enduring

artistic legacy.

More information about the book can be found at

the publisher’s Web-site:

http://www.cambridge.org/us/ and search for

Ellington.

--Lee Farley

****

Welcome New Members

At the September meeting Baird Knectel joined –

Welcome Baird!

Meetings of the Toronto Chapter of the Duke

Ellington Society are held on the 2nd Tuesday of

each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W

Visitors always welcome

Plenty of Free Parking

http://www.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk/

http://tdwaw.ca/

http://www.cambridge.org/us/

4

Annual Dues

The TDES 40 financial year runs from

September 1st through August 31st of the

following year. In order to meet the Society’s

obligations for Montgomery’s Inn, rentals,

postage, printing and expenses in a timely

fashion, it is imperative that annual dues be paid

as early in the year as possible. Those who

joined the Society subsequent to the annual

concert in April 2014 are exempt from dues

payment for the current year.

Dues are $35 for a single membership and $50

for a family membership for payments made on

or before October 12th 2014. Payments made

after that date are subject to a $5.00 surcharge

to offset bank penalties for late deposits. If you

have not already made your payment, please

mail your cheques:

Chris McEvilly, Treasurer,

The Toronto Duke Ellington Society,

10 Edgemore Drive,

Toronto, ON.,

M8Y 2M8

Be sure to include your name, address, home

phone number and email address

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

In accordance with its By –laws, the Annual

General Meeting of the Duke Ellington Society,

Toronto Chapter 40 will be held at 7:30 PM,

Tuesday October 14th, 2014, in the meeting

room at Montgomery’s Inn 4709 Dundas Street

West, Ontario, Canada.

The purposes of the meeting are:

(1) To elect a slate of new officers of

the Society for the upcoming year,

(2) To receive reports of the President

and Treasurer in respect of the

Chapter’s 2013 – 2014 fiscal year

and

(3) To deal with any business carried

over from prior meetings, or

properly introduced at this time.

Any paid up member may bring before the

meeting any matter of business properly

pertaining to the manner on which the

affairs of the Society are conducted or

suggest ways of improving the Society for

the benefit of all.

Vol. 56 No. 2 October 2014





Minutes of October 14th. 2014 AGM

Martin Loomer opened the meeting to 28 members

and guests. As previously announced, the first

order of business was to conduct the Annual

General Meeting, this year to elect a slate of

officers for the Executive Committee. Secretary

Jim Northover had previously requested volunteers

to stand for election from the membership at large.

Not one person had been willing to stand. Jim

Northover stated that as a result at the Executive

meeting held on October 2 the following was

proposed to the AGM as the slate of officers to

serve for the next two years:

President – Alan Shiels

Vice President – Bruce Barton

Secretary – Jim Northover

Treasurer – Chris McEvilly

Program Director – Irene Barton

These are the positions that require election. The

following Executive Committee Members, though

vital to the operation of the society, are appointed:

Phone Committee Chair – Matt Wood

Refreshments – Jean Griffiths

Outreach coordinator – Judy Shiels

Members without portfolio – Mel Manley, David

Stimpson, John Hornsby.

Jim Northover, Chris McEvilly and Irene Barton,

though willing to stand, have all served at least the

maximum of four years as mandated by our

constitution. It required that our constitution be

suspended to allow these members to stand for

election since there were no further volunteers

from the floor. It was proposed by Bruce Barton

and seconded by Jack Chambers that the

constitution be suspended for this election of

officers. The motion was passed unanimously.

Jim Northover proposed that the slate of candidates

be adopted and was seconded by Jean Griffiths.

The motion was passed unanimously. Jim

Northover made the point that we really did need

new people to serve on the Executive Committee

to ensure the health and viability of the society.

Treasurer Chris McEvilly distributed the financial

statement for the 2013 – 2014 period and explained

the highlights of his report. The major issue being

that we now had, once again, a significant cash

balance of approximately $28,000. We need to

consider the use of these funds in line with

fulfilling our mandate as The Toronto Duke

Ellington Society. Bruce Barton proposed that we

accept the financial statement as read. It was

seconded by Stephen Cohen and was passed

unanimously. A copy of Chris’s financial

statement is included in this newsletter.

Bruce Barton offered Martin Loomer the thanks of

the society for his two terms as President which

was thoroughly endorsed by the membership at

large by an enthusiastic round of applause.

Our new President, Alan Shiels then assumed the

meeting. He had a couple of points to make before

the general meeting was to begin. He asked for

ideas to be sent to him, in written form as to

suggestions for the disposal of members’ jazz

record and book collections and accumulations.

Many members were downsizing their homes and

moving to smaller quarters and needed to downsize

their collections too. What is the best way of doing

this? Alan also asked for ideas for outreach

programs that would help us make the name of the

2

Toronto Duke Ellington Society better known so

that we could attract new members and remain a

healthy organization capable of fulfilling our

mandate successfully.

Minutes of October 14th. 2014 General Meeting.

Martin Loomer started his presentation of

Ellington’s At the Bal Masque by remarking that

both Ellington and Billy Strayhorn were

acknowledged as great composers but also at

arranging compositions of others, sometimes

banal, music. Martin said that in a previous

presentation he had covered the Recollections of

the Big Band Era album and tonight he was going

to discuss At the Bal Masque. Ellington was at this

time recording with Columbia/CBS. His contract

with Columbia allowed him to record material of

his choice but in return he was to required make

albums of more commercial fare. In return for the

Black Brown and Beige Album of 1958 he made

the more commercial album, At the Bal Masque.

This album comprised only one Ellington number

and the rest danceable or popular material. Martin

felt that this material has a charm of its own. A

studio recording with the unfortunate applause

added later. To start us off we heard Johnny

Hodges featured in a swinging version of Alice

Blue Gown. It appears as though Billy Strayhorn

made most if not all of the arrangements in the

album with Ellington not that involved though I am

suspicious he did have some incidental input since

the arrangements are so amusing and parodic. We

then heard Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf

featuring Clark Terry and Paul Gonzalves and then

I’ve Got a Date with an Angel. This number was

associated with the Hal Kemp band which was well

known for its fussy arrangements. The

Ellington/Strayhorn arrangement gives parodies

this style. Jimmy Hamilton playing the part of the

butterfly in Poor Butterfly with Ray Nance adding

pathos on violin. To conclude the first half of the

meeting we heard Satan takes a Holiday with

Harry Carney on baritone sax naturally enough

playing the part of Satan. We then took a break for

social activities with refreshments kindly provided

by Irene Mottadelli

Martin Loomer started the second set with Peanut

Vendor, with a parody of the ponderous

arrangement that Stan Kenton used. We then heard

the only track on this album that Ellington Wrote –

Satin Doll, with Jimmie Woode on bass backing a

very relaxed performance by the entire band.

Martin then played a Billy Strayhorn arrangement

of The Lady in Red featuring Jimmie Hamilton and

Clark Terry on flugelhorn, the same arrangement

that Martin Loomer’s Orange Devils play. This

was followed by a mood piece, Indian Love Call,

with Shorty Baker on trumpet with the mood set by

two muted trombones and bass clarinet. Donkey

Serenade was a feature for the plunger muted

trombone which added to the humorous

arrangement and was followed by Gypsy Serenade

featuring Johnny Hodges demonstrating the

epitome of romance. The last track that Martin

played was a swinging version of Laugh Clown,

Laugh. The whole album swung and demonstrated

a level of humour throughout which is not

generally appreciated in Ellington’s music. Alan s

Shiels offered the formal vote of thanks to Martin

for a trip though this underappreciated album all

the while, giving us the benefits of his musical

insights.


November 11 meeting will be replaced by the

November 2 Jazz at Royal York Church – see

below.

3

December 2 – Annual Holiday Party - Arts &

Letters Club. Nancy Walker Quartet with Nancy

on piano, Pat LaBarbera reeds, Kieran Overs bass

and Morgan Childs drums. The event is now sold

out!!




March 10 – TBA.




tickets available for sale now.

Upcoming Events:

Nov 2 –Richard Whiteman’s quartet with Reg

Schwager, Neil Swainson and Ted Warren will

play a tribute to Duke Ellington at Bill Wilson’s

Jazz at RY series. Always a great concert and this

time with a special Ducal interest. 2:00 p.m. at

Royal York Road United Church, 851 Royal York

Road (3 blocks south of Bloor Street/Royal York

subway).

Tickets cost $20 or $17 for Seniors (65+) and

Students. The net proceeds of the concert support

Royal York’s local outreach charities. This is

expected to be a popular event so please arrive

early to avoid disappointment.

Incidentally, Richard will be /has been inducted

into the Etobicoke Collegiate Institute Gallery of

Distinction. Congratulations Richard.

New & Interesting:

Ted O’Reilly has pointed out that the fine Toronto

bassist Steve Wallace has proven himself to be a

fine writer, too. He blogs about “Jazz, Baseball,

Life and Other Ephemera” at

http://wallacebass.com/ and there are lots of

Ellington-type references. In the latest newsletter

of the Swedish Duke Ellington Society an edited

piece written by Steve in his blog appears. For

those members whose email addresses I have will

receive the newsletter electronically. Of course

you can also go to Steve’s blog to get the piece too.

Thanks Ted.

A Billy Strayhorn 6 CD and a DVD set called “Out

of the Shadows” celebrating the work of Billy

Strayhorn is now available from Storyville

Records.

The box set celebrates the work of William

Thomas Strayhorn and echoes the basic paradox of

this extraordinary jazz musician’s life and career.

The richness and diversity of the music it contains

will delight the most obsessive Strayhorn

aficionado; at the same time it offers a thrilling

introduction to the man many know only as

someone who once played in Duke Ellington’s

band and wrote “Take The “A” Train.

The 7 discs contain material presenting 62 of

Strayhorn’s compositions, not only focusing on his

work outside of the Ellington orchestra, but also

presenting him in Duke’s company.

Billy Strayhorn, the man whose musical abilities

could have made him a star in his own right,

labored in the shadow of a world-famous

benefactor. This collection of his recordings puts

him firmly in the spotlight for once, revealing

beyond doubt the true scale of the debt owed to him

by Duke Ellington in particular and jazz in general.

http://wallacebass.com/

4

Downbeat magazine has a piece outlining the

activities planned for Billy Strayhorn’s Centennial

celebrations. There is a long list of events which

can be accessed on the Billy Strayhorn

website www.billystrayhorn.com.

Your editor wrote to the organisers of the Billy

Strayhorn celebrations and advised them that we

were holding our annual concert in April 25 2015

and it would feature a tribute to Billy Strayhorn.

Their response was: I am very happy to announce

that the Toronto Chapter of the Duke Ellington

Society has planned a concert for April 25, 2015

in honor of the Strayhorn Centennial. TDES40 is

pleased that they will be listed as a member of the

Strayhorn Centennial Honorary Committee.

Ever Up and Onward!

Adrianne Claerbaut

Chair of Billy Strayhorn’s Songs Inc.



each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W



Annual Dues

















mail your cheques:



10 Edgemore Drive,

Toronto, ON.,

M8Y 2M8



http://www.billystrayhorn.com/

Vol. 56 No3. November & December 2014





Minutes of November 2nd. 2014

The regularly scheduled November 11th meeting

was preempted by Bill Wilson’s Jazz at Royal

York Church. Richard Whiteman’s quartet with

Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson and Ted Warren

played a tribute to Duke Ellington and Billy

Strayhorn with an acknowledgement to the Fall

season. Bill introduced the band and announced

that this, his 20th season of arranging Jazz at RY

was likely to be his last. Say it ain’t so, Bill.

The band played a great selection of music. The

first half consisted of Satin Doll, Lullaby of the

Leaves, Prelude to a Kiss, In a Mellotone, Falling

Leaves and concluding with Take the Coltrane. As

is customary we took a break with tea, coffee and

goodies supplied by the ladies of the church.

Richard led off the second set with Sweet

Pumpkin, ‘Tis Autumn, UMMG, September in the

Rain, Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars and concluding

with Cotton Tail.

A great concert played by a great quartet with a

surprisingly big sound. You couldn’t find better

anywhere. The image is courtesy of Bruce Barton

and shows Bill Wilson with Richard Whiteman.

TDES 40 sponsored this concert to continue our

support of local musicians and to do our best to

spread the Ellington music. It also allowed the

total proceeds of the concert support Royal York’s

local outreach charities, LAMP, Youth Without

Shelter, Etobicoke Girl’s Residence, Women’s

Habitat, Amnesty International, Out of the Cold,

KAIROS, Chipembi Primary School Literary

Project ( Zambia).

December 2

nd Holiday Party.

Once again and by popular demand we returned to

the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto for our annual

Holiday Party. After a short social period, Alan

Shiels opened the proceedings at 7:00 p.m. A

delicious dinner started with a bocconcini salad

followed by roasted herbed chicken and concluded

with tiramisu desert.

The Nancy Walker Quartet, consisting of Nancy on

Piano, Pat LaBarbera, reeds, Kieran Overs, bass

and Morgan Childs, drums started off the

evening’s entertainment with Strayhorn’s UMMG

followed by other Strayhorn pieces My Little

Brown Book, and Raincheck featuring Morgan

Childs’ drums. Mercer Ellington‘s Blue Serge

featuring the bass was followed by the perky blues

written by Ellington, Take the Coltrane. The set

concluded with Strayhorn’s Day Dream.

2

The second half kicked off with a selection of

pieces written by the maestro starting with

Angelica (Purple Gazelle from his 1963 Afro

Bossa album) — a spirited version that opened

with an impressive drum solo by Morgan Childs.

This was followed by Don’t Get Around Much

Anymore — that rolled along in an upbeat fashion.

We then heard a latin version of In a Sentimental

Mood with a beautifully romantic solo from Pat

LaBarbera. The band then played Rockin’ in

Rhythm — a straight-ahead rendering, true to the

title. Then from the 1962 Money Jungle album we

had Fleurette Africaine gorgeously exotic with

Kieran Overs on bass. The second set was brought

to a close with another Strayhorn piece

Johnny Come Lately — a lively number.

After a standing ovation and pleading for “one

more”, the encore was a slow one, another

Strayhorn tribute — Blood Count.

Many thanks to Chris McEvilly for his help with

these notes of the party.

Yet another first rate Holiday Party at the Arts &

Letters Club, great location, great food and a great

band. Judy Shiels deserves our thanks for

organizing this event once again

Dec 7th Jazz Vespers

Several TDES members ventured north to Christ

Church Deer Park to listen to Brian Barlow’s Big

Band play the Ellington/Strayhorn version of

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The usual band

members were joined by the principal clarinetist of

the National Ballet of Canada’s orchestra, Max

Christie who recreated Jimmy Hamilton’s parts. A

thoroughly enjoyable concert.





March 10 – TBA.




tickets available for sale now. Alan tells me that

half of the tickets for this event are already sold!

May - TBA

June – Member’s Choice.

Upcoming Events:

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts has made a

proposal to hold ELLINGTON 2016:

23rd International Study Group Conference lasting

five days in April 2016 in New York City. No

further details are available but I will endeavor to

keep you up to date as many of us will be keen to

go to this conference.

New & Interesting:

In October, Alan and Judy Shiels and Sheila and I

went to New York with Mike and Jill Daley on

their Autumn in New York Jazz Tour. Very

enjoyable. We went to The Iguana Club where we

heard Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks

orchestra which plays original arrangements of

1920’s and 1930’s music. Three fabulous sets of

music with the band playing three familiar

Ellington pieces Birmingham Breakdown, Cotton

Club Stomp and Black Beauty. If you ever find

your way to NYC it’s well worth your while to go

out of your way to catch on evening’s performance

by this great band.

On November 30 Jack Chambers hosted an hour’s

radio show on JAZZ-FM’s Host Your Own Radio

Show. On behalf of TDES 40 Jack presented an

hour of Ellington/Strayhorn music to celebrate

TDES 40’s 55th year. An excellent program not

only because of the music but Jack’s illuminating

comments too.

Alice Babs in memoriam 1924-2014 - Vax Records

has issued a 6-CD box containing 129 previously

unreleased rarities by Alice Babs from her first 25

years as an artist. Included are jazz tunes,

3

folksongs, classical songs and novelties. One of the

CDs covers unreleased recordings by The Swe-

Danes (Alice, Svend Asmussen and Ulrik

Neumann). From an Ellington point of view there

is a short version of “Things Ain’t What They Used

To Be” recorded in Paris 1963 with Duke. Included

is also “Dinah” recorded in 1939 with Benny

Aaslund at the piano. A rarity indeed. Included in

the box is a 96-page inset in Swedish.

During the early 1940s Alice Babs caused a

sensation in Sweden, more than Elvis Presley and

The Beatles caused a generation later. Already at

the age of 18 she had played the principal role in

four films dealing much with her own life. She

sang the first Swedish contribution in the

Eurovision Song Contest. She was the first

Swedish artist to appear on the Billboard list in

USA. Frank Sinatra admired her. She was happy to

get the opportunity to appear with her idols Mills

Brothers, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

Ellington wrote in his memoires: “She is probably

the most unique artist I know”.

The box can be ordered from www.vaxrecords.nu.

A Billy Strayhorn 6 CD and a DVD set called “Out

of the Shadows” celebrating the work of Billy

Strayhorn is now available from Storyville

Records. The box set celebrates the work of

William Thomas Strayhorn and echoes the basic

paradox of this extraordinary jazz musician’s life

and career.

The richness and diversity of the music it contains

will delight the most obsessive Strayhorn

aficionado; at the same time it offers a thrilling

introduction to the man many know only as

someone who once played in Duke Ellington’s

band and wrote “Take The “A” Train.

The 7 discs contain material presenting 62 of

Strayhorn’s compositions, not only focusing on his

work outside of the Ellington orchestra, but also

presenting him in Duke’s company.

Billy Strayhorn, the man whose musical abilities

could have made him a star in his own right,

labored in the shadow of a world-famous

benefactor. This collection of his recordings puts

him firmly in the spotlight for once, revealing

beyond doubt the true scale of the debt owed to him

by Duke Ellington in particular and jazz in general.

Downbeat magazine has a piece outlining the

activities planned for Billy Strayhorn’s Centennial

celebrations. There is a long list of events which

can be accessed on the Billy Strayhorn

website www.billystrayhorn.com.

Your editor wrote to the organisers of the Billy

Strayhorn celebrations and advised them that we

were holding our annual concert in April 25 2015

and it would feature a tribute to Billy Strayhorn.

Their response was: “I am very happy to announce

that the Toronto Chapter of the Duke Ellington

Society has planned a concert for April 25, 2015 in

honor of the Strayhorn Centennial. TDES40 is

pleased that they will be listed as a member of the

Strayhorn Centennial Honorary Committee.

Ever Up and Onward!”

Adrianne Claerbaut

Chair of Billy Strayhorn’s Songs Inc.

http://www.vaxrecords.nu/


4

2015 Fundraising Concert

As I am sure you know, we have an extensive

concert mailing list of people who have made it

known that they wish to be notified of our concerts.

As time goes on, people fall of the list due to age

or infirmity. If you know of people who you think

would like to be on the Concert Mailing list, please

let Alan Shiels or me know.

Very Best Wishes for Christmas and the

Holiday Season



each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W



LAST NOTICE

Annual Dues

















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10 Edgemore Drive,

Toronto, ON.,

M8Y 2M8



Alan Shiels requested at our last

general meeting that we make formal

suggestions of how we should dispose

of our record and book collections.

This is an issue that has come up

several times in the past couple of

years as people downsize and need to

pass their collections on. Please let

Alan know of your suggestions and

opinions on this important matter.

Newsletter Update

Final Notice This will be the last newsletter sent to

those people who have not renewed

their membership for the 2013 – 2014

season. If you have not already done so,

please renew now. See the box below

on Annual Dues and how to renew your

membership

Vol. 56 No4. January 2015





Minutes of January 13th. 2015.

Alan Shiels opened the meeting at 7:35 p.m. In

spite of the inclement weather 25 members

attended. Alan pointed out that we had not had a

formal meeting since October due to various

reasons, Jazz at RY in November and the Holiday

Party in December. Alan made several

announcements – he updated us on Jeff Healey

Park. We continue to work with the City of

Toronto to construct a memorial garden in

Etobicoke in recognition of Jeff Healey. The

spring concert is moving ahead well; we have only

about 150 tickets left to sell. At the October

meeting Alan asked us for ideas as to how we

would dispose of our collections and

accumulations of jazz recordings and books. Alan

said he had a couple of suggestions sent to him but

would like more so please send ideas to him. Also,

please suggest ideas for outreach activities that

would help us fulfil our mandate, viz: To

encourage the performance of Ellington music and

jazz music in general by Canadian and other

musicians by: organizing concerts and

international conferences, awarding scholarships

and funding jazz programming.

As mentioned in this newsletter, below, Bill and

Mary Wilson were recognized with a community

service award. Alan added our congratulations to

those Bill & Mary already have received. Bill

announced that he hopes to stage another Jazz at

RY in November.

Alan also referred to the sad news that Jim

Galloway died late in 2014. We hope to decide on

a fitting tribute to Jim shortly. Please see the

obituary below.

Alan then introduced our presenter for the

evening’s programme, Bruce Barton, who was to

conclude the video presentation he had started last

year of Ellington in the Ken Burns Jazz series

presented on PBS originally.

Bruce indicates that in addition to the Ellington

excerpts, the evening will be filled out with some

non or incidental Ellington sections that will cover:

the introduction of the series, some early artists,

more war scenes, music of Django Reinhart, war

days of Dave Brubeck, and the last days of Louis

Armstrong. These excerpts are going to be more

bitter sweet than last year’s presentation as it

involves scenes of World War II, last days of

Armstrong and Ellington and race issues. We will

start before the Ellington excerpts and end with the

last portion of the film.

Volume 1 “Introduction” What jazz is and its

context including Take the A Train as background.

Volume 7 “We Need to be free/ These Things

Can’t Happen” going into Django Rheinhardt.

Later with Dave Brubeck’s experiences in the War

and continued racial discrimination back in U.S.

Volume 9 “The Titan” The DE interview with Ed

Murrow and concluding with the Newport Jazz

Festival resurrection.

Volume 10 “Not To Be Understood” DE quote to

Nixon “one for each cheek”.

Volume 10 “Good Evening Everybody “ Louis

Armstrong in later years including “Dinah” concert

piece, Armstrong singing “When It’s Sleepy Time

Down South” and Duke’s last days concluding

with a shot of his grave marker.

Thanks for the evening’s presentation by Bruce

was formally acknowledged by Matt Wood.

2

Refreshments for this evening were generously

provided by Margaret Glenny and Sheila

Northover.

Many thanks to Bruce Barton for supplying his

notes for this newsletter.


February 10 - Ben Webster Plays Ellington for

37 Years presented by Jack Chambers.

March 10 – TBA.




tickets available for sale now. Alan tells me that

half of the tickets for this event are already sold!

May 12 - TBA

June 9 – Member’s Choice.

December 1 2015 – Holiday Party at the Arts &

Letters Club. We expect The John Sherwood

Quartet to provide the music. Members will be

given the first opportunity to purchase tickets until

September 9th, after our first meeting of the year.

Then ticket sales will be offered to non-members.

Please be prompt in contacting Judy Shiels as these

tickets sell quickly and a sold out event is again

expected.

Jim Galloway Remembered (By Ted O'Reilly)

Jim Galloway (born James Braidie Galloway July

28, 1936 in Kilwinning, Scotland) died peacefully

at home on December 30, 2014 surrounded by

loved ones.

An internationally renowned jazz musician, one of

the few specializing on the soprano sax (along with

alto, tenor, baritone and occasional clarinet), Jim

lived a full life doing what he loved most.

Listening to post-war American Armed Forces

Radio, the young man discovered jazz music, and

soon was playing clarinet and alto saxophone

locally. As a student at the famous Glasgow

School of the Arts (1954-1958) Jim added to his

reputation as a leading Scottish jazzman.

Jim came to Canada in 1964, first teaching high

school art and working as a designer, soon

becoming a full time musician. He quickly became

part of the Toronto jazz scene, one of the few

players dedicating himself to jazz only, not part of

the busy studio-musician scene. He joined the

traditionally-oriented Metro Stompers, soon taking

over its leadership. Jim's interest was wide (an

early group played all Thelonious Monk music)

and it's true he was centred in the mainstream.

Mark Miller, Toronto author of Boogie, Pete and

the Senator, a book of Canadian jazz profiles,

described Jim's playing style: "His lines are all

melody - melody, which in turn sings, purrs,

smiles, lingers and arches into arabesques without

obscuring the simplicity of Jim's fundamental

design. There is a pure, timeless quality to the

playing, something that exists outside any specific

point of reference stylistically; as a result, it is

remarkably adaptable - as indeed it must be given

the breadth of Galloway's associations."

Those associations were valuable as the founding

Artistic Director of the Toronto Jazz Festival, a

post he held from 1986 through 2009. It allowed

him to bring to Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips

Square and concert halls and clubs, the best artists

and biggest names in jazz for a concentrated ten

days of live music.

But mostly, Galloway loved to play music, and he

performed in all the Toronto jazz rooms. While

3

definitely not much of a businessman – it was all

about the music to Jim - he helped start up many

venues, including Café des Copains and the

Montreal Bistro, often working with his long-time

friend and associate John Norris. Norris founded

CODA, Canada's Jazz Magazine and was an early

contact when Jim came to Toronto. Norris was

also the producer of Sackville Records for which

Jim made many albums.

In its first year Galloway booked (and named)

Bourbon Street, Doug Cole's Queen St. W. club,

bringing in many international jazz stars.

Galloway shared the stage with many of them,

including Jay McShann, Wild Bill Davison, Buck

Clayton, Vic Dickenson and Buddy Tate. Tate

asked Jim to tour Europe with him, thus laying the

foundations of his international career.

Over the next decades his sunny melodic style was

heard in concerts and clubs across Canada, the U.S.

and Europe. Jim appeared at jazz events and

festivals in Ascona, Bern, Baden, Geneva,

Budapest, Edinburgh, London, Norwich,

Montreux, Nice, Los Angeles, New Orleans and

Sacramento.

He always looked forward to his annual visit to

Vienna's venerable Jazzland club, operated by his

friends Axel and Tilly Melhardt. (In fact, the city

and the club were the location for Jim's 2013

marriage to Anne Page…)

By the mid-1990s his travel schedule included

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 1985

at Edinburgh with the Scottish National Orchestra

he premiered Hot and Suite, a fantasy for

symphony orchestra and jazz ensemble co-written

with his then-wife, the bassist Rosemary

Galloway.

CJRT-FM jazz broadcaster Ted O'Reilly prodded

Jim to finally put together something he had talked

about for years, a repertory big band. With a 1978

concert date firmly set, Jim and arranger Martin

Loomer formed the 17 piece Wee Big Band, which

authentically played the great music of the big band

era, with a special focus on Duke Ellington's

orchestra. The Wee Big Band made its debut with

a live radio broadcast from the Ontario Science

Centre.

Radio was always important to Galloway, right

from his youthful AFRS listening. He was the

musical director and host of CKFM's Toronto

Alive!, Saturday afternoon broadcasts from the

Sheraton Hotel. From 1981-1987, the show had as

guests top artists like Ralph Sutton, Al Cohn, Doc

Cheatham and Zoot Sims, who were appearing at

the city's clubs. One of Jim's imaginative pairings

on that show put the earthy blues-rooted pianist

Sammy Price alongside the highly-individual

altoist Lee Konitz.

The subject of a half-hour CBC Television profile

about his life and music, Jim also wrote and hosted

a CBC Radio network series, "Travelin' Light", a

journey through the story of jazz; and presented his

wide tastes as the host of two 13-part series

"Journeys in Jazz" on JAZZ-FM.

Jim Galloway ventured into theatre as musical

director for the 1980 stage adaptation of Michael

Ondaatje's novel "Coming Through Slaughter", a

poetic treatment of the life of the legendary jazz

cornetist Buddy Bolden.

In 2002 France honoured Jim, conferring on him

the prestigious Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des

Lettres, an award presented to an elite list which

also includes artists such as Ornette Coleman and

Meryl Streep. Coleman, Marilyn Horn, Robert

Jim loved the classics and the time-tested, whether

it was in music, films, books or cars – at one time

his two cars totalled over 45 years of age, and were

running just fine. His favourite soprano sax was

made in the 1920s. He could recall each frame of

Buster Keaton's films, and quote Groucho Marx

and Robbie Burns equally.

4

A blithe spirit, Jim had a dry pun-filled wit, but for

a gentle man (few could avoid confrontation

better!) he could deliver deep cuts with a smile. He

was a fine writer, as his long running monthly

columns for The WholeNote magazine show. His

presence was often announced with a wisp of a

clove cigarette, and he knew and enjoyed single

malt whiskies as did few others.

Jim leaves behind his beloved wife Anne, his

brother Fred (Margaret), his many friends and the

countless musicians he has performed and

collaborated with over his 60 year musical career.

Jim's rich legacy will continue to live on through

his many recordings.

A private memorial has taken place, and a

celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Donations can be made to the jazz-supporting Ken

Page Memorial Trust, Toronto Western Hospital or

the Canadian Liver Foundation.

Ted O'Reilly is a retired Toronto jazz broadcaster

and producer, and friend and neighbour of Jim

Galloway for nearly five decades.

Gail Buckley, wife of the late Jack Buckley a long

time member of TDES, died on December 24, 2014

at the age of 82. Over the 1980s and 1990s, Gail

and Jack hosted a number of jazz parties at their

home in Mississauga involving some of the piano

greats. (Bruce Barton.)

New & Interesting:

Many TDES members were present at MPP Yvan

Baker’s, New Year’s Levee and Community

Service awards ceremony on January 11 for

Etobicoke Centre. Bill and Mary Wilson were

presented with an award to recognize their

outstanding community service to the community

in organizing over 60 jazz concerts in their ongoing

Jazz at RY series, raising money for the eight

charities that Royal York United Church supports.

Well deserved, Bill and Mary.

There is a new 2 CD issue of Ellington’s 1940 –

1942 music – Duke Ellington: Highlights of the

Great 1940 – 1942 Band. Though no new music

is presented the sound quality, according to the

producers, is greatly enhanced through

remastering. Available from AVID Ltd.

www.avidgroup.co.uk

JAZZ-FM

On November 30 Jack Chambers hosted an hour’s

radio show on JAZZ-FM’s Host Your Own Radio

Show. On behalf of TDES 40 Jack presented an hour

of Ellington/Strayhorn music to celebrate TDES 40’s

55th year. An excellent program not only because of

the music but Jack’s illuminating commentary too.

2015 Fundraising Concert

As I am sure you know, we have an extensive

concert mailing list of people who have made it

known that they wish to be notified of our concerts.

As time goes on, people fall off the list due to age

or infirmity. If you know people who you think

would like to be on the Concert Mailing list, please

let Alan Shiels or me know.



each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W


Plenty of Free Parkin

http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/

Ellingtonia

A Publication Of The Duke Ellington Society, Inc.

Volume XXIV, Number 2

February 2016

William McFadden, Editor

Copyright © 2016 by The Duke Ellington Society, Inc., P.O. Box 29470, Washington, D.C. 20017, U.S.A. Web Site: depanorama.net/desociety E-mail: [email protected]

This Saturday Night . . . An Evening With ‘Good Old Bob’

Who else but our Society’s resident discographer and raconteur, good old Bob Reny? His annual presenta-tions are always a source of excellent, sometimes ob-scure Ellington/Strayhorn selections combined with his unique perspectives and commentary. At our Feb-ruary meeting, Bob will feature Ducal interpretations by Washington’s Charlie Byrd Trio, Kurt Elling’s ren-dition of “Lush Life,” two selections of Ellington pi-ano solos from the great Piano Reflections LP, some tunes from the Duke Ellington Legacy band’s CD, Single Petal of a Rose, a rare opportunity to hear The Soft Winds (Johnny Fr igo, violin; Lou Car ter , piano; Herb Ellis, guitar; Keter Betts, bass), and three choices from Duke Ellington’s My People, plus more! Bob’s listening party will get going in our regular digs at Grace Lutheran Church, 4300—16th Street (at Varnum St.), NW, Washington, DC 20011 on:

Saturday, 6 February 2016—7:00 PM.

Whether sweet or substantive, pot luck is how we share the edibles, so don’t forget to bring something good. Even if you do forget, come anyway because we do love to see you—madly, that is. Management brings beverages and ice.

Next Meeting: Saturday, 5 March 2016—7:00 PM

__________________________________________________

Davey and Esther in Concert at 2016 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

The 2016 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival (click for full schedule) in Rockville takes place February 12-14. On Sunday, the 14th—Valentine’s Day—at 1:00 PM our own, the First Couple of DC Jazz, Esther Williams and the Davey Yarborough Quartet will appear in con-cert on the Ronnie Wells Main Stage. As usual, the Festival line-up will present “real jazz” from artists such as Terence Blanchard, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart, Dave Stryker, Don Braden, Eric Byrd, Pon-cho Sanchez, Joey Calderazzo, and Terrell Stafford.

In loving memory of . . .

Theodor e A. Shel l October 26, 1916 - December 27, 2015

The visitation and prayer ser-vice for “The Celebration of the Life of Dr. Theodore A. Shell” were held at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Tuesday, 6 January. His full, distinctive life in-cluded the titles of Army First Lieutenant in World War II,

Doctor of Dental Surgery, Clinical Professor of Den-tistry, active member of the Omega Psi Phi National Fraternity, and (the last surviving) Founding Member of The Duke Ellington Society, Inc. Ted Shell’s passion for life was highly reflected in his range of interests: photography, world travel, ap-preciation of the arts, and his Duke Ellington avoca-tion—permanently represented by the Dr. Theodore Shell Collection of Duke Ellington Ephemera, 1933-1990 (hyperlink) at the Smithsonian Institution Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Dr. Shell’s involvement and leadership for our Soci-ety is remembered by Ted Hudson: “The founders of the Duke Ellington Society were a small group of young men who gathered in one of their homes to lis-ten to and enjoy Ellington’s music. As with Ted Shell, each of them went on to esteem in other fields. For example, Grant Wright became Chief of the US Park Police, John Fauntroy became a judge, and of course Ted became a renowned oral surgeon and valued pro-fessor at the Howard University School of Dentistry. One of their first members, Juanita Jackson, soon be-came president. She was married to Otto Hardwick the star Ellington Orchestra soloist. “His Society presidency was served with distinction from 1991 through 1999—just in time for him to head the ‘Ellington ‘99’ Centennial Anniversary Confer-ence. Ted was a walking authority on the history of our Duke Ellington Society, and the many similarly purposed organizations all over the world. He wrote

(Continued on Page 3.)

http://www.depanorama.net/desociety

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org/schedule-by-location/

http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org/artists/esther-williams-and-davey-yarborough/

http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org/artists/esther-williams-and-davey-yarborough/

http://sova.si.edu/details/NMAH.AC.0502



Ellingtonia

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

February 2016 Page 2

The Duke El l ington Society , Inc . Remembers Dr. Theodore A. Shel l

“Dr. Theodore Shell is remembered affectionately and with great respect by members of the Duke Ellington Society, Inc. of Washington, DC for his long participation and contributions, his enthusiasm for, and impressive knowledge of ‘Ellingtonia’ and the unique artists who created and sustained the music. Here in Washington we have had the great privilege of enjoying Ted's vast collection of rare recordings, impressive photography and the incomparable hospitality of him and his gracious wife, Dr. Marion Shell, who hosted our group both at their DC home and at their lakeside vacation home on many memorable occasions.”

Patricia Willard

“Ted Shell was the personification of a true Ellington devotee. His Ellington music, film, video, book, and photo collection demonstrated the passion he held for the importance of preserving the contribution of Duke Ellington as an historic icon. Ted Shell was a sharing person who let others enjoy what he had gathered over the years. This founding member will always be remembered for generations to come and his collection will assist researchers in continuing to define the genius of Duke Ellington.”

Bill Hasson

“I first saw Dr. Shell every Saturday afternoon in the mid-1990s in April at a month-long celebration of Ellington's music held at the New Carrollton Library in Prince Georges County, Maryland. I attended most of the four weekend concerts, and noticed a distinguished gentle-man at each event, thoroughly enjoying the performances. I found out later that this distin-guished gentleman was Dr. Theodore 'Ted' Shell. I also found out that he was the one putting out Ellingtonia newsletters for people like me to pick up during the concerts inviting us to monthly Duke Ellington Society meetings. In October of that year, at my first meeting of the Ellington Society held at the Omega House on Harvard Road, NW, the first person who warmly greeted me was Marion Shell, the lovely wife of the distinguished gentleman. I later had the pleasure of attending several Society meetings and/or Ellington '99 Conference planning sessions at Dr. Shell's home. I loved visiting his basement den that held floor-to-ceiling bookcases full to the brim with al-bums, books, photographs, tapes, and videos, most of which were probably related to Ellington. He would pull out some of the hard-to-find items for a listen, or show photos from Ellington's visits to Washington. He was very dedicated to the Society, and very interested in expanding the Society's membership. I will miss his robust voice and presence at our monthly meetings. He was a true treasure and I am so glad to have known him.”

Patricia Braxton

“Ted was a very gentle and kind person to me when our paths first crossed around 1995, when I first met him during a local Ellington meeting. I think Ted Hudson was the one who introduced him to me, and he mentioned

to Dr. Shell my work as a photographer, as well as the Archives Center’s interest in preserving the photographic legacy of Ellington and the many other great jazz musicians that are now part of the Center’s American music collections. Ted Shell was a wonderful photographer who had a wonderful collection of images documenting his photographic work and love of music. I re-member how wonderful these images were and I was absolutely delighted to be able to add Ted’s collection of photographs to the Center’s music collections in 1996. The first time Ted showed me his collection at his house, I fondly remember the many stories he told me about each image. When I gushed about the quality of his work, he smiled and said the subjects of his photographs were what made the images beautiful, and not his photographic tech-nique. This quiet humility that he expressed was a hallmark of Ted whenever he had something especially important to say about his experiences with jazz and especially the music of Elling-ton. This is what I will remember most about Ted Shell. He will be missed, but we can be as-

sured that a part of his legacy is preserved right along with the music of Ellington. I can’t think of a nicer way to pay tribute to Dr. Ted Shell.”

Scott W. Schwartz (Director and Archivist for Music and Fine Arts for the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music at the University

of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Former archivist for the American music collections at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Ameri-can History.)


http://peoplesjazzsociety.org/

February 2016 Page 3 Ellingtonia

________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

Ted Shell (Continued from front page.)

an article titled, ‘Whence We Came . . .’ in which he chronicled three ‘eras’ of various Ellington organizations and societies, the so-called Chapters, the International Study Group, and so on. “He remained a devoted, faithful member of our Society. Over all those years, he always arrived a little ahead of time and very rarely missed a meeting. Same with the International Conferences. “When you talk about Ted the Ellington authority, you must take into account his collections. His personal one was among the few most complete in the world—7,000 records, tapes, CD’s, movies, video—the documents and ephemera. And all the things that didn’t get formally curated.” Dick Spottswood, the now-retired WAMU-FM host of what he termed, “obsolete music” recalls Dr. Shell the Ellington evangelist: “I met Ted at a record shop on H St. We got into a conversation and he stirred my interest in Duke’s music, and invited me to join the Duke Ellington Society. Later did I join, and my interest grew such that Ellington’s music became such an important part of my very life.” In the words of Ted Hudson, “Ted Shell did have encyclopedic knowledge of Ellington and his art. But more importantly, he admired Ellington’s music not only in technical ways, but he understood Ellington’s music in a non-verbal, intuitive sense.” A life well-lived, long and interesting as Ted Shell’s cannot help but leave its mark. Indeed, he will be dearly missed. Yet through his unmatched devotion to the world of Duke Ellington and all Dr. Shell accomplished on its behalf, his legacy— indelibly linked with Ellington’s— is forever!

May 19 -23, 2016 New York City

Sponsored by The Duke Ell ington Center for the Arts (DECFA) Click the hyperlink in the logo at top to go to the Conference home page. The above listing in blue contains a hyperlink to a Conference update received by email on February 2.

————————————————————————

his extended compositions and the sacred concerts of his last years. The music of his long time collabora-tor, Billy Strayhorn, will also be examined. The course will include film clips of the band’s perfor-mances over the decades. A special treat will be taped interviews with Ellington that were used in a special radio tribute broadcast by Rusty Hassan short-ly after Duke passed in 1974. Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity for a comprehensive Ellington educational experience! Click on the Hill Center logo for further details.

Sophist icated Ladies At a late-2015 arts event in New York City, Olu Yemisi en-countered Mercedes Ellington, and a pho-to ensued. Presumably, the top-ic of discussion was “The Dance.” Just guessing . . .

New Website for Peoples Jazz Society

The Peoples Jazz Society (PJS) at Peoples Congrega-tional Church, 4704—13th St., NW is pleased to an-nounce that its new website has been launched. It’s a dazzler, and a comprehensive digital source for Peoples, covering every aspect of the organization: calendar of events, ticket sales, Society mission and history, mem-bership, and structure. (There are even two embedded videos starring some gentlemen well-known to our own Society; click the above hyperlink to find out who.) The hyperlink now can also be found at the top of Page 2., in the Peoples Jazz Society logo.

Rusty Hassan’s Ellington Course Begins

A new, four-week course “The Music and Life of Duke Elling-ton With Rusty Hassan” begins Tuesday, 16 February from 6:30 to 8:00 PM each week through 8 March at the Hill Center at the Old Na-val Hospital—921 Pennsylvania Ave., SE. The class will examine Ellington’s music from his ear-liest recordings through his masterpieces of the 1940s,

http://www.dcjazz.com/

http://www.eastriverjazz.net/

http://us12.campaign-archive2.com/?u=69880ea95a81271b6b23a171f&id=0a9799cf22&e=9a00f66fcf

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http://decfa.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=69880ea95a81271b6b23a171f&id=75c276d4ef&e=9a00f66fcf

peoplesjazzsociety.org

http://hillcenterdc.org/home/programs/2550

Ellingtonia February 2016

___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

THE DUKE ELLINGTON SOCIETY, INC.

In Memoriam Theodore A. Shell (1915-2015)

President William McFadden Vice President Barbara Anderson Secretary Arthur Luby Treasurer Patricia Braxton

Board of Directors Luvenia George Robert Reny William Hasson Leora Robinson Edward Morris Walter Robinson Lawrence Smith

Holiday Homecoming Party

We ‘Take It Easy’ To Begin 2016 by Art Luby, Secretary and Mr. Saturday Dance

In keeping with the title of Duke’s 1928 composition, it was preferable to ‘take it easy’ at our Holiday Party, which abruptly arrived on January 2. The Society’s meeting room was pre-set with a long banquet table, which made conditions ideal for those present to relax, chat and eat—family style—with a background of El-lington music emanating from the presidential digital files which were pumped through our venerable, ana-log A-V tower. Any semblance of Yuletide hectic anx-iety from 2015 was gratefully left at the door. Laid-back though our festivities were, we had a ter-rific, fun time with plenty of warmth. There were pre-sent ample separate voices—in order that no one had to sing more than one ‘day’ for the traditional choral rendition of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’ led once again by the intrepid Geneva Hudson. Thanks mainly to the largess of Geneva’s husband, Ted, nobody left without a door pr ize, although this year’s testing requirements were a bit more stringent than the usual Ellington quiz (which by now has be-come more of an ‘open book’ challenge); Ted sprung a ‘Holiday Quotient (HQ) Test for the first time. The results were curious, and had many of us digging deep in our memory banks. As a reward, however, each of us received a Duke Ellington Washington, DC quar-ters, a supply of which was generously donated by Ben and Lilian Pubols. Onward, 2016!

Renew Your Dues Now for 2016 To Join or to Continue Membership

Please Send Your Payment to:

The Duke Ellington Society, Inc. PO Box 29470, Washington, DC 20017, USA

Our dues remain a bargain: Member, $30; Couple, $50; Students FREE (limited time)

First-Time-Ever Member, Just $20

We meet on the first Saturday, October—June at 7:00 PM. Guests are always welcomed!

“Dramatis Felidae” (To Use Our Man’s Term in MIMM)

About Our Members . . .

Some very kind words and good wishes for 2016 were received from Claire Gordon, John Edward Hasse, Luvenia George, and Barbara Young. So lovely to hear from them, and as The Maestro would say, “Don’t stop now, baby!”

In addition, we heard from Josie Childs—all the way from Chicago—who writes, “Hi to those who remem-ber me!” Enclosed was a clipping of a commentary published last June in The Chicago Tribune by its jazz expert (and fine writer) Howard Reich entitled, “Will Obama ever convene a White House jazz summit?” The piece is as provocative as its title, and reminisces about celebratory jazz gatherings hosted by Presidents Carter and Clinton, respectively. Reich also reminds us of the music’s and musicians’ enduring contributions to American culture both here and around the world.

Among the gathered at the Holiday Party were a de-lightful first-time visitor, Eniola Olowofoyeku (much easier to pronounce than spell) who happens to be Olu Yemisi’s sister, our resident author Patsy Fletcher, and the Dean of DC Jazz, Rusty Hassan.

New Duke Ellington Book This Spring

Mercedes Ellington, along with Stephen Brower , has written a book about her grandfather to be pub-lished in late March, Duke Ellington: An American Composer and Icon (Rizzoli USA). The hardcover book features more than 200 images, plus contributions from peers and acolytes such as Quincy Jones, Dave Brubeck, Dr. Cornel West, and an introduction by Tony Bennett.

According to a press re-lease, the book draws on ar-chives from the Smithsonian collections, the New York Public Library, photographer William Gottlieb and the El-lington family. Says the re-lease, “Every stage of Elling-ton's career is brought to life with unseen images and arti-facts, from his early days in Washington, D.C., to his be-ginnings on the New York jazz circuit and the Harlem

Renaissance in the 1920s, his triumph through the De-pression and tours of Europe in the 1930s, and his pio-neering explosion of form and genre in the 1940s and beyond.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-jazz-barack-obama-20150609-column.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/reich/ct-jazz-barack-obama-20150609-column.html

http://www.rizzoliusa.com/book.php?isbn=9780847848133



Vol. 56 No 6. April 2015





Minutes of April 14th. 2015.

ur meeting opened at 7:35 to 23 members

and we were delighted to welcome back

Allan Jones who had previously been

absent from several meetings due to ill health. He

is happily, well on the way to full recovery. Alan

Shiels announced that the April 25 concert is

completely sold out. Matt Wood asked for a

volunteer to assist in the phone committee

activities and John Morris stepped up. Harold

Swartz announced that Colin Brown is seriously ill

and is unlikely to attend any further meetings.

Alan Shiels then introduced our speaker for the

evening, Rob Fogle, President of Fogle

Entertainment and also host and producer of the

Experiences in Jazz radio program on CHRY 105.5

FM. His topics were: Ellington Played by

Canadians and Ellington as Interpreted by

Woody Herman and Errol Garner. Rob started

his presentation by playing an Ellington piece

originally recorded in 1928, Swampy River but

played, in this case by John Arpin (1936 – 2007),

dubbed by Eubie Blake as “the Chopin of

Ragtime”. This was taken from Arpin’s Solo

Piano LP of 1976. Rob followed this with a track

from a Metro Stompers album (SACK 4002 LP),

The Mooche, led by the late Jim Galloway. Rob

said that he had attended a concert in Queen’s Park

July 4 1985 to listen to a young pianist, Tony

Collacut a true prodigy. From a private recording

Rob played Caravan with trumpet played by

Herbie Spanier. A new pianist to us, though a

frequent award winner, was John Roney and from

his latest album, Preludes, Rob selected Prelude

to a Kiss, a very modern arrangement. From a

Victoria Jazz All Stars album we heard In A

Mellotone. Hamilton’s All Stars semi amateur

band of 16 – 25 year old musicians with occasional

added guests provided the next number from a

1996 recording, Day Dream with vocals by Diana

Panton and Guido Basso on flugelhorn. This was

taken from their Swinging with the Stars CD.

Oscar Peterson provided Just a Sittin’ and a

Rockin’ from his 1956 album Toni with Ray

Brown, Barney Kessell and Alvin Stoller and Toni

Harper, vocals. Südwestrundfunk (SWR,

"Southwest Broadcasting") is a regional public

broadcasting corporation serving the southwest of

Germany which sponsors a jazz big band. Rob

McConnell led this band in recording an album So

Very Rob, The Boss Brass Revisited in 2003. Rob

Fogle selected Things Ain’t What they Used to

Be which sounded very Boss Brass like indeed.

Panache, a Montreal based jazz trio gave us Don’t

Get Around Much Anymore and we finished the

first set with Band Call played by Phil Nimmons

from his 1963 LP Take Ten.

We then took a short break with refreshments

proved by Jean Griffiths.

Rob Fogle started the second part of his evening’s

talk by discussing Woody Herman’s relationship

with Duke Ellington. Rob explained that Herman

was intrigued by Ellington’s Jungle Music sound

with its loud voices and harmonies. Herman

wanted to be as good as Ellington but not sound the

same. We then heard several Woody Herman

recordings with a Dukish connection. The first was

from a V Disc recording inof 1947 The Jeep is

Jumpin’. We then listened to a take from a Ralph

Gleason TV show of June 1 1963 the inevitable

Satin Doll. Then from a live 1981 recording made

in Chicago Take the A Train. I Got it Bad …

followed, recorded in Monterey in 1979. The other

O

2

connection Rob Folge wanted to explore was Erroll

Garner’s relationship with Ellington’s music.

There was a strong connection between Garner and

Woody Herman. Herman in his early days had

been the vocalist in several bands. He met Garner

in New York at a gig on 52nd Street in 1954. Out

of this came a recording date resulting in the album

Music for Tired Lovers in which Herman sings.

Rob played for us I’m Beginning to See the Light

from this album. He then moved onto several trio

recordings – from 1949 – I Let A Song Go Out of

My Heart, from 1952 It Don’t Mean A Thing…

and Caravan from 1952. These were followed by

In A Mellotone, I Got it Bad… and finally

Sophisticated Lady. Harold Swartz was kind

enough to thank Rob Fogle for his wide ranging

and valuable presentation – Thank you Rob.

Recording and Book Collection Dispersal and

Disposal.

This has been a topic of some discussion for

several months. It has become an increasingly

important one as members of TDES choose to

downsize.

One element of the mandate of TDES is to

encourage the performance and appreciation of

Duke Ellington’s music and jazz in general. With

outreach and education of future generations in

mind, we are then keen to have collections and

accumulations donated to schools, Universities and

libraries. Alan Shiels has managed to place one

collection with Etobicoke Collegiate Music

Department that would like to obtain more

material. Members wishing to dispose of their

collections are encouraged to approach their alma

maters, local high schools, their children’s high

schools or schools in their area with strong music

programs and big bands.to see if the donation of

such collections would be welcome. We all agree

of course but it looks as though increasingly

institutions have little space or resources to handle

such collections. Also, people these days are

turning to streamed music purchased on the

internet as a source for their music, not CD’s or

records. Of course, we must realize too that our

music is not currently widely popular and does

appeal to an older generation.

As an alternative, members could sell their

collections and accumulations piece meal to people

who have an interest in the music, and would

appreciate the music. Initially, collection items

could be offered directly to TDES and Toronto

Jazz Society members, then via the Duke LYM list

and on such sites as eBay. Items can also be sold to

the few used recordings dealers remaining.

Wolfgang’s Vault, a web based music distribution

and music source site, is offering a service of

selling its members’ book and LP collections.

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/sell-your-

items.html

Outreach Activities 2015 – 2016.

Since we currently sponsor three music

scholarships which are now fully funded for the

future it has been decided to focus our efforts on

“outreach” activities in order to increase awareness

of our society so that we can increase our

membership and to more actively fulfil our

mandate of encourage the performance and

appreciation of Duke Ellington’s music and jazz in

general.

Several outreach opportunities appear to be in the

offing over the next year:

Our first meeting of the 2015-2016 season will

again be a live performance with an Etobicoke

based group lead by Richard Whiteman with Neil

Swainson and Pat Labarbera as part of The City of

Toronto’s Cultural Hot Spot initiative. Etobicoke

has been selected as a cultural hot spot for 2015.

Confirmation to follow.

If members have suggestions for additional

outreach activities please let Judy Shiels know.

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/sell-your-items.html

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/sell-your-items.html

3

We are anticipating or course a Holiday Party at the

Arts & Letters Club in December 2015 and the

Annual Fundraising Concert in the spring of 2016,

both featuring high quality live music.


Members should know that all of our events are

posted on the JAZZ-FM Jazz Calendar on the

JAZZ-FM website.



Billy Strayhorn - his centennial. Alan Shiels

reports few tickets remain.

May 12 - Stephen Cohen will talk to us about Billy

Strayhorn and his music, fittingly, in celebration of

Strayhorn’s Centennial.

June 9 – Member’s Choice. Please be prepared to

come and introduce a piece of Ellington or related

music for our enjoyment. This is the last meeting

of the year.


Letters Club. John Sherwood Quartet with Mike

Murley, Steve Wallace and Terry Clarke will

provide the music. Members will be given the first

opportunity to purchase tickets until September 9th,

our first meeting of the year. Tickets will then be

offered to non-members. Please be prompt in

contacting Judy Shiels as these tickets sell quickly

and a sold out event is again anticipated.

Duke Ellington Birthday Radio Broadcasts –

There are many events scheduled to celebrate Duke

Ellington’s birthday on Wednesday April 29th.

Many radio stations schedule special programming

on or around this date to mark the occasion. Here

are a few suggestions for finding jazz on the

“radio”. If there are any changes to this schedule,

I will advise you by email.

KUCR in Riverside California broadcasts excellent

jazz programming from Noon – 6 p.m. EST every

Tuesday which you can get on line at

www.kucr.org The program – Jazz Explorations,

from Noon to 2:00 p.m. is hosted by a Southern

California DES member Lee Farley and is well

worth listening to. He does an excellent

Ellington program which I expect to be broadcast

on April 28 this year.

WKCR in New York City broadcasts jazz

extensively. You will need to refer to their

program schedule and try the programs to find the

ones and the hosts that are right for you. They

devote extensive time to one particular jazz artist

on appropriate anniversaries. On April 29 they

devote the full day to Duke Ellington music. You

can get their streamed signal at www.wkcr.org.

On Saturday April 25 at 8:00 a.m. to noon WCDB

in Albany will broadcast its Ellington celebration

hosted by Bill McCann with guest Bill Saxonis, a

New York City DES member. This year will be

the fifteenth anniversary of this program and will

feature a review of past broadcasts. I understand

that a Billy Strayhorn celebration will be broadcast

in November too. Their stream is available at

www.wcdbfm.com.

Carl Woideck who broadcasts Wednesdays from

7:30 – 10:00 p.m. his Soul of Jazz program on

KLCC in Oregon, and I expect he will broadcast

his Ellington celebration on his May 2nd

program. You can catch him at klcc.org 10:30 p.m.

to 1:00 a.m.

The New England Public radio service broadcasts

a daily jazz program, Jazz a la Mode, hosted by

Tom Reney and heard from 8:00 ‘til 11:00 p.m.

This year Tom will host a celebration program on

Ellington on April 29th which, this year, can be

heard as a podcast for one week. The stream may

be heard at www.nepr.net

http://www.kucr.org/

http://www.wkcr.org/

http://www.wcdbfm.com/

http://klcc.org/

http://www.nepr.net/

4

On the BBC Geoffrey Smith’s weekly jazz

program regularly plays an Ellington Celebration

around April 29. There are several other jazz

programs of interest on the BBC which you can

explore here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/programmes/genres/

music/jazzandblues/player

There is also Colin Bray’s excellent classic jazz

program, Sugar Foot Stomp, on CIUT which

broadcasts Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. We

are able to listen on the original steam radio at 89.5

on the FM band Of course, the stream is available

at www.ciut.fm. Colin does not do anything

special for Duke Ellington’s birthday but he does

play his music frequently and occasionally a

special Ellington program during the regular

schedule. One can listen to Colin’s program for a

week after its original broadcast date as a podcast

accessible through the CIUT web site

JAZZ-FM at 91.1 FM will be broadcasting an

Ellington Anniversary program on Glen

Woodcock’s Big Band Show on Sunday April 26

from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. For those of you who

cannot listen to this station directly their stream

may be accessed at http://www.jazz.fm/

Rob Fogle’s “Experiences in Jazz” on CHRY,

105.5 FM. again does not feature an Ellington

celebration program but Rob does play a lot of

Ellington & Strahorn music on his show which is

well worth listening to. Their stream can be

reached at http://www.chry.fm

Some of the broadcast times may be inconvenient

for "live listening” and there may be some

overlapping so you may want to record some of

these programs for listening at your convenience

later, unless of course, a podcast is available. All

times quoted above are local Toronto times.

If you would like to listen to any of these radio

broadcasts but find the timing inconvenient or just

miss the opportunity, please let me know.

I hope this information is useful to you. Please let

me know if you listen to any of these programs. I’d

value your feedback.

If anyone receiving this newsletter knows of other

Ellington Anniversary programming, please let me

know.

There are some local live Ellington and Strayhorn

birthday celebration concerts in Toronto.

Gene Dinovi and Mike Downes will be presenting

their tribute to the music of Duke Ellington on

Wednesday April 29th at the Jazz Bistro. This is an

increasingly rare live performance by Gene Dinovi

and so should be well worth attending.

Chris McEvilly has pointed out a notice in

WholeNote – The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is

putting on a celebration of Billy Strayhorn on

Wednesday May 27 at Koerner Hall.

Jack Chambers is researching and writing on The

River, Duke Ellington’s 1972 ballet suite. Ron

Collier orchestrated the suite for Duke, and

conducted it at “Duke Ellington’s 75th Birthday

Concert” at the Ontario Science Centre on 29 April

1974, with the CJRT Orchestra and host Ted

O’Reilly. Jack is very interested in talking to

anyone who attended the concert or has any

information about it or knows anything about Ron

Collier’s experiences on the project. Drop him a

line at [email protected]

or 416 978 1764.



each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W



http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/programmes/genres/music/jazzandblues/player

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/programmes/genres/music/jazzandblues/player

http://www.ciut.fm/

http://www.jazz.fm/

mailto:[email protected]

Vol. 56 No 7. May & June 2015





Annual Toronto Duke Ellington Fundraising

Concert.

his year our concert was held on April 25th and

featured a tribute to Billy Strayhorn on the

centenary of his birth in 1915. The Brian

Barlow Big Band once again played to a sold out

house of five hundred Duke Ellington fans. The

organizer of the concert, Alan Shiels, made some

brief announcements before we got started. He noted

that some people had attended all seventeen of the

concerts. He also made a strong appeal to the

audience that our society always needed fresh blood

and we were keen to attract new members. Alan then

introduced Brian Barlow and his Big Band.

Fittingly, Brian set us off with Billy Strayhorn’s

Take the “A” Train which featured Jason Logue

and Perry White. The vocalist for the evening, a new

face to us, Alex Samaras, sang an expressive medley

of Lush Life backed by Bernie Senensky for the

verse, and Satin Doll with a beautiful trombone solo

from Russ Little that referred to Strayhorn’s Chelsea

Bridge. At this point Brian Barlow introduced the

band members:

John Johnson, Alex Dean, Perry White, Colleen

Allen, Bob Leonard (reeds)

Jason Logue, Steve McDade, Alex Brown, Guido

Basso (trumpets)

Michele Gagnon (French Horn)

Russ Little, Kelsley Grant, Alexander Duncan,

(trombones)

Bernie Senensky (piano)

Roberto Occhipinti (bass)

Brian Barlow (drums)

uido Basso was featured with a solo that

could not to be bettered on Do Nothing ‘til

you Hear from Me. Brian noted that several

Strayhorn numbers included flowers in their titles

and we heard two, A Flower is a Lovesome Thing

with a rare Bob Leonard solo on baritone sax and

Passion Flower with a Steve McDade solo. Russ

Little and John Johnson were showcased on Mood

Indigo. The set concluded with Cottontail in which

each member of the reed section soloed for a few bars

and highlighting newcomer Alex Brown on trumpet.

After the break Brian Barlow thanked The Toronto

Duke Ellington Society for its support of musicians

in Toronto with scholarships for music students and

musicians by hiring them for gigs such as tonight’s

concert and other events throughout the year. The

band led off the second half with In A Mellotone

giving centre stage to Perry White and Guido Basso

on flugel horn. Strayhorn’s U.M.M.G. featuring

Alex Dean and Bernie Senensky was followed by

vocals by Alex Samaras in Drop Me off in Harlem

and I’ve Got Something to Live For in which Alex

Brown was once again highlighted this time on flugel

horn with a magnificent solo. Steve McDade and

T

G

2

John Johnson displayed their talents in Love You

Madly with a strong solo from Roberto Occhipinti on

bass. In a Sentimental Mood displayed Alex Dean

and the concert concluded with Ellington and Tizol’s

Caravan showcasing Colleen Allen and Russ Little

once again. We insisted upon an encore so Brian

Barlow sent us home mellowed out with a great

version of Isfahan with John Johnson stepping

forward. A great concert. Thanks to Bruce Barton

for supplying the images from the concert.

Minutes of May 12th. 2015.

lan Shiels opened the meeting with the

announcement that the April 25th

Fundraising Concert was once again a

resounding success both musically and financially

since it was another sold out house. He has booked

the Walter Hall venue for next year’s concert for

April 30 2016 though we have not yet selected the

band. Mel Manley thanked Judy and Alan Shiels for

once again organizing such a fine concert. We had

one guest at the meeting, Richard Diver who of was

invited by Karen Morris. Alan then introduced

Stephen Cohen, the evening’s speaker who was

going to speak on Billy Strayhorn and his Music in

honour of Strayhorn’s Centennial. (The Editor has

omitted some of the biographical detail that Stephen

provided from this report due to lack of space.)

Stephen started us off with an early version of Lush

Life, called Life is Lonely played by the Dutch Jazz

Orchestra. This Orchestra has issued four albums of

Strayhorn material which are well worth

investigating. The 2007 PBS documentary on Billy

Strayhorn resulted in a CD to which many jazz

luminaries contributed. The first number we heard

from this album was from the high school musical

show Fantastic Rhythm which Strayhorn wrote and

we heard the title number played by Bill Charlap.

Diane Reeves sang So This is Love which was

originally intended for the same show though

ultimately omitted. The only number from Fantastic

Rhythm which became well known was My Little

Brown Book. From the Clark Terry Album – Duke

with a Difference Stephen played Take The A Train.

Strayhorn’s contribution to the Ellington book

increased dramatically due to the conflict between

broadcasters and ASCAP. From this period we heard

Chelsea Bridge played by Ben Webster from his

album with strings, Raincheck and Johnny Come

Lately recorded by the Ellington band in 1941. I’m

Checkin’ Out, Goom bye from the Rosemary

Clooney collaboration Blue Rose album with the

Ellington band followed. And again from one of the

Dutch Jazz Orchestra albums, Stephen selected a

number, Lozit, which Strayhorn wrote in honour of

Juan Tizol. To conclude the first half of the evening

we heard Charpoy from His Mother Called him Bill.

Refreshments were generously provided by Ursel

Nyga and Mel Manley.

The second half started with Satin Doll, an ode to

Strayhorn’s mother played by Johnny Hodges from

his Blues A Plenty album and from another Hodges

album, Creamy we heard Pretty Little Girl.

Another contribution from the Dutch Jazz Orchestra

was Anatomy of a Murder from their So This is

Love album and from their Out of the Shadows

recording, Billy’s 1962 number Everything is

Copasetic. From another Hodges album, Not So

Dukish Stephen played Strayhorn’s Three and Six.

From Ellington’s Afro Bossa album we heard

Absinthe, composed by Strayhorn and from the Far

East Suite, Isfahan originally composed by

Strayhorn and known as Elf. The Intimacy of the

Blues followed, played by the Harry Allen Quintet

from the Out of the Shadows Strayhorn 7 CD and

DVD compendium. Art Farmer played Blood Count

from the Something to Live For recording and to

conclude Stephen played Lush Life, played by

Strayhorn in his Peaceful Side set. A wonderful

A

3

evening’s selection of Strayhorn music for which

Helen Paul thanked Stephen Cohen on behalf of us

all.

Minutes of June 9th. 2015.

Alan Shiels opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. He

thanked Jean Griffiths in absentia who has resigned

her position of Refreshment Coordinator after 13

years and Sonia Taylor and Helen Paul for this

evening’s refreshments. Of course, we’d love a

volunteer to step forward to take this role on. He also

mentioned the passing of member Colin Brown who

has recently died. Nine TDES members attended the

Celebration of his life.

The theme of the evening’s meeting was Members’

Choice. Barry Tisdall selected from the Mosaic

Collection: The Complete 1936 – 1940 Variety,

Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions Rexatious, Alabamy Home and Where are You? Alan

Shiels gave us Daybreak Express from 1933 and

Stompy Jones from 1934. John Morris at his first

Members’ Choice played Star Crossed Lovers and

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore from the Ian

McDougal Quintet album, In A Sentimental Mood.

Irene Mottadelli stepped up with two Chet Baker

numbers, That Old Feeling and Look for the Silver

Lining. From Sarah Vaughan’s Duke Ellington Song

Book album, Harold Swartz chose Lush Life, Chelsea

Bridge and Mood Indigo. Jim Northover played two

pieces, Rockin’ in Rhythm and Sugarfoot Stomp but

without identifying the bands. He asked members to

try to name the bands with an inducement of a prize

to the person with the correct answer. No guess was

correct – the bands being Count Basie from a 1940

recording and Martin Loomer’s Orange Devils

recorded at the Monarch Tavern. Jim also played

Rockin’ in Rhythm played by The Happy Wanderers

Buskers Band and recorded in 1957. (A copy of one

of their EP recordings, Busking the Duke, is

currently advertised for sale on eBay with a “Buy it

Now” price of £52.95)

We closed the meeting at 9:30 p.m. with a reminder

that the first meeting of the 2015 – 2016 season is

only two months, away on September 8th – please see

below.


September 8 2015. Our first meeting of the 2015-

2016 season will again be a live performance with an

Etobicoke based group lead by Richard Whiteman

with Neil Swainson and Pat Labarbera as part of The

City of Toronto’s Cultural Hot Spot initiative.

Etobicoke has been selected as a cultural hot spot for

2015. Since the City of Toronto will be promoting

and advertising the event we are likely to have a good

attendance. As The Community Room in

Montgomery’s Inn can hold only 70 people seated in

theatre style we will need to know how many people

will be coming. If you are planning to attend this

concert please let Judy Shiels know to reserve your

spot.


Letters Club. The John Sherwood Quartet will

provide the music. Members will be given the first

opportunity to purchase tickets until September 9th.

Then ticket sales will be offered to non-members.

Please be prompt in contacting Judy Shiels as these

tickets sell quickly and a sold out event is again

expected.

New & Interesting:

The Queer Songbook Orchestra, a 12 piece chamber

orchestra is in the process of organizing a concert to

celebrate Billy Strayhorn's 100th birthday. They’ll be

commissioning new Canadian arrangements of

Ellington/Strayhorn songs to be played by their

group. Their first concert is on June 21st at Buddies

in Bad Times Theatre, and they are also planning a

show for Billy's actual birthday, Nov 29th. Details to

follow.

Ellington with Conny Plank

An item forwarded by Jack Chambers of great

general interest:

“This news seems to me to be worth spreading. A

new discovery by Duke Ellington and the Orchestra

will be released by a German label Grönland in June.

4

It was recorded privately in Cologne in 1970 by

Conny Plank, who was, according to my colleague

Chandan Narayan, who told me about it, "pretty

much the biggest producer of German

experimental/avant garde in the 60s-80s.” The link

is—

http://factory92.eu/wsf92/unreleased-conny-plank-

session-with-duke-ellington/?hc_location=ufi

Listening to the track on the website, it sounds like

Plank stimulated Ellington’s African fixation, which

was already well primed in 1970. The tune “Afrique”

is from Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, the suite inspired by

McLuhan. The version Conny Plank recorded is the

same arrangement EXCEPT that you can hear Alice

Babs, the wonderful Swedish coloratura soprano,

vocalizing behind the sections. She appeared with the

band in these years in the Sacred Concerts, but not in

secular settings like this one. The tenor saxophone

solo by Paul Gonsalves is appropriately bombastic,

and maybe freer than on the version that was released

on Fantasy.

It was a good time for Ellington, 1970, and the band

was excellent, with Norris Turney and Harold Ashby

replacing two of the older saxophones (Johnny

Hodges, who had died, and Jimmy Hamilton, who

retired). Turney’s flute replaced Hamilton’s clarinet.

We will have to wait and see, but there is a good

chance that this music will make a real impression

when it is released in June.”

Jack Chambers.

Note:

While the Editor was looking into the background of

this recording he stumbled across this web site which

has a great deal of Ducal information under the Kinda

Dukish tab.

http://ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/unrel

eased-german.html#more

Jazz Festivals:

At the time of writing there have been limited

announcements as to the line ups. I suggest you refer

to the individual web sites for detailed information as

to who is playing.

Ottawa - June 19 – July 1

Toronto – June 18 – 27. The Wee Big Band led by

Martin Loomer will perform a free noon hour concert

at Nathan Phillips Square on June 22.

Brian Barlow’s Big Band with Heather Bambrick

will be presenting a Jazz Vespers at Christ Church

Deer Park on Sunday June 28 at 4:30p.m. “The

Sacred Music of Duke Ellington.”

Toronto Beaches July 10 – July 26

Montreal – June 26 – July 5

Oakville – Aug 7 - 8

Prince Edward County – Aug 11 – 16. Go to

www.pecjazz.org for information.

Markham – Aug 13 - 16

Don’t forget Marin Loomer’s Orange Devils at the

Monarch Tavern 12 Clinton Street, on the second

Monday of each month.

Welcome New Members:

Jack Livesly has rejoined, Charles Coupal and Jim

and Marjorie Paradine have joined – Welcome.

Newsletter:

Many thanks to my wife Sheila for proofreading the

newsletters and catching many misteaks. Any that

remain are, of course, mine.

This will be the final newsletter of the season. I hope

you all have a safe and enjoyable summer.



each month.

7:30 pm – 10:00pm

Montgomery’s Inn

4709 Dundas St. W



http://factory92.eu/wsf92/unreleased-conny-plank-session-with-duke-ellington/?hc_location=ufi

http://factory92.eu/wsf92/unreleased-conny-plank-session-with-duke-ellington/?hc_location=ufi

http://ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/unreleased-german.html#more

http://ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/unreleased-german.html#more

vol. 56 no. 1 september 2014 - toronto duke ellington...

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