Charlie Shoemake sent a reminder that today is the 101st anniversary of the birth of Billy Strayhorn (pictured with Duke Ellington). Strayhorn was a 16-year-old high school student in Pittsburgh when he wrote “Lush Life.” A few years later he brought his songwriting ability to Ellington’s attention. One of the songs he demonstrated that day was “Lush Life.” “Take The ‘A’ Train” followed soon after he joined Ellington. The encounter led to one of the most significant partnerships in twentieth century music. Little known to the public, Strayhorn nonetheless quickly became a jazz composer and arranger of supreme importance,. His collaboration with Ellington lasted under his death in 1967. One of his last projects for the Ellington band was arrangements for the Ellington ’66 album. The collection contained three of Henry Mancini’s songs, “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Charade” and “Moon River.” In his Strayhorn message, Charlie Shoemake wrote,
When the album came out, I sat in Jimmy Rowles’ living room listening to it with him. Jimmy said, “Can you imagine Henry Mancini’s face when he hears this?
The soloists were Paul Gonsalves, tenor saxophone on “Days of Wine and Roses,” Cootie Williams, trumpet on “Charade” and Jimmy Hamilton, clarinet on “Moon River.”
Here’s pianist Rowles in 1989 playing Strayhorn’s best-known composition. His daughter Stacy is on trumpet. The bassist is Eric von Essen, the drummer Donald Bailey. It’s from the Rowles’s album Looking Back.
These are really beautiful. Thanks for the gift.
I didn’t know Strayhorn, never had a chance to meet him. But I wish I had. We definitely shared the same sentiments about Paris. The arrangements of those three tunes are really great; forerunners of Gil Evans, aren’t they? And the soloists are wonderful.
The remark about Mancini is so amusing. What was his reaction?*
*If anyone knows, I’d like to hear about it.
Very nice! I enjoyed listening to these. Duke and Billy were quite the team! Another Duke Ellington recording I enjoy is …And His Mother Called Him Bill. His band recorded it shortly after Strayhorn’s death. Sweet Pea left us far too soon.
Significant partnership in twentieth century music
I just read, “DUKE” by Terry Teachout. I guess the partnership was not quite even, maybe a little tilted? :>)
That recording of “The Days Of Wine And Roses” is one of my all-time favorites!!
Outstanding arrangement and unbelievable playing by Paul Gonsalves.
Marvin: Teachout’s book is not the final word on the Ellington/Strayhorn partnership, which was incredibly complex. You should read David Hajdu’s Strayhorn biography “Lush Life” and, if you’re a musician, Walter van de Leur’s study of Strayhorn’s music, “Something To Live For.” They will give you some different perspectives on Ellington and Strayhorn. This is also good to give you a jazz musician’s perspective on Teachout.