While the Rifftides staff prepares the next installment of In Breve, we don’t want you to feel abandoned. We have been holding the following video for just such an occasion—Benny Green, piano; Ray Brown,bass; Jeff Hamilton, drums; and the WDR Big Band conducted by John Clayton, in 1994, playing Duke Ellington’s “Cotton Tail.” In the right hands, “I Got Rhythm’s” harmonic changes never grow old. Green has moments in which he might be the reincarnation of Bud Powell. The saxophone section brings back Ben Webster.
Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...
My favourite original based on the ‘rhythm’ changes. When I was growing up here in Toronto, Dick MacDougall used the original Duke Ellington recording as his theme on his Jazz Unlimited show on CBC radio.
Man, Benny sure had his vitamins that morning!
Thanks for posting this. I was there at the concert; it was an Ellington memorial to the 20th anniversary of his death. Joscha Oetz, who played the bass in my quartet then, and I visited one of the rehearsals.
Ray kindly permitted Joscha to play on his bass. Benny Green was doing some exercises, and I immediately thought of rather Oscar Peterson than of Bud Powell being his great idol.
(By the way, I blushed right up to my ears when I checked the key. You helped me correcting an error in one of my recent articles where I claimed the origin of “Dizzy Atmosphere” (A-flat) would be “Cotton Tail”. My name is linked to it. Thanks for that too.)
There’s nothing quite like it, is there? A big band roaring, a brilliant pianist soloing and Ray Brown smiling proudly. And the nice thing is, you can replay it as many times as you’d like.
So far it’s three for me.
Right Mr Tracy.
So far for me I lost count.