This Sunday Music Muse Day is a double serving of Ellingtonian music. Both were picked in part because my father, Sam Woodyard plays drums on both selections. First up, the maestro himself, Duke Ellington - Private Collection - Volume One Studio Sessions Chicago 1956. In the liner notes by Stanley Dance, noted that "big band business was by no means healthy in 1955", but this session was financed and recorded by Duke for what he called his "stockpile". As luck would have it: "After four years...the nonpareil johnny Hodges came back to him (Duke). And on the same day a great new drummer, Sam Woodyard, entered the band.'" He adds, "They were certainly an inspiration to Ellington himself, and with a year he had scored the greatest single triumph of his career". Of course, Dance is referring to the legendary 1957 Newport Jazz performance of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. That gives this excellent record in a deeper importance, as this may have been Sam first recording session with the band. Earlier this year, I finally found the last recording Sam played, on a month before his birth.
My second selection is the perfect follow-up to the first, Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra Not so Dukish. This 2 CD set features three separate albums recorded in 1958 by Hodges as a leader, with a roster of Ellington band members. Blues-a-plenty (which I have on CD), Side By Side, and Not so Dukish, plus "Bonus Tracks" from 1952 and 1954 sessions with Ben Webster and Roy Eldridge. An added personal side note for me is that the Not so Dukish session was recorded in NYC on September 10, 1958, my 8th birthday. Wow. This is truly the music to enjoy for the ages..
I'm not completist when it comes to collecting anything, even jazz recording of my father, but these will be treasures to pass on to my sons.
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