Episode 12: Laughing at Life, track by track! "Creole Love Call"
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IN THIS EPISODE:
We discuss our interpretation of Duke Ellington's "Creole Love Call," with lyrics by Lorraine Feather and arranged for Duchess by our friend Wycliffe Gordon. Wycliffe not only arranged this chart, he played trombone and sang, too!
A very young (and handsome!) Duke Ellington, the composer of the first blues in Duchess' repertoire. Thank you, maestro.
FUN FACT:
We assumed that "Creole Love Call" was originally intended to be a strictly instrumental performance. But Adelaide Hall, who had a huge hit with this tune 90 years ago in 1927 (!!!), told a great story as to how she came to sing with Duke Ellington's orchestra:
“[Hall] first met Duke Ellington in Harlem and by 1927 they were touring in the same show. ‘I closed the first half of the bill and Duke was on in the second.’ Ellington had a new number, ‘Creole Love Call’. He had composed it in typical fashion by creating sophisticated elaborations on a clarinet solo which Jimmy Noone had recorded on King Oliver’s Camp Meeting Blues.
’I was standing in the wings behind the piano when Duke first played it. I started humming along with the band. Afterwards he came over to me and said, ‘That’s just what I was looking for. Can you do it again?’ I said, ‘I can’t, because I don’t know what I was doing.’ He begged me to try. Anyway, I did, and sang this counter melody, and he was delighted and said ‘Addie, you’re going to record this with the band.’ A couple of days later I did.’”
WHERE TO BUY LAUGHING AT LIFE:
- Anzic Store (Support our amazing indie label! You can buy a hard copy or download, AND you'll get free shipping!)
- iTunes
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DEEP CUTS FROM THIS EPISODE:
This 1927 version of Duke Ellington's "Creole Love Call," with a wordless vocal by Adelaide Hall, became a huge hit for both of them. Can you believe this was recorded 90 years ago?!
Duke's 1932 instrumental version.
MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES...
Not only did Amy get to trade with Wycliffe on our recording, she got to duet with bass legend Christian McBride when we performed at the Jazz Standard. Duchess Honey Bun Barry Graubart captured the moment (Amy's out of frame, but the looks on everybody's faces speak volumes about how much fun it was!)
Earlier tonight - @duchesstrio with special guest - tge uber-talented @mcbridesworld @JazzStandardNYC pic.twitter.com/8gmSHTKgx8
— Barry Graubart (@graubart) November 30, 2016