Duke Ellington

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Bundle Of Blues is one of the lesser-known early Duke Ellington shorts.

Filmed in 1933, the Ellington Orchestra plays brief versions of “Lightnin’” and “Rockin’ In Rhythm,” a feature for Ivie Anderson’s singing on “Stormy Weather” (nine years before Lena Horne) with a short spot for trumpeter Arthur Whetsel and a full-length solo from trombonist Lawrence Brown, and has the ensemble backing a couple of dancers on “Bugle Call Rag.”

Also seen in the band are such notables as trumpeters Cootie Williams and Freddie Jenkins, trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton (heard briefly on “Rockin’ In Rhythm”), valve trombonist Juan Tizol, altoists Johnny Hodges and Otto Hardwicke, clarinetist Barney Bigard, baritonist Harry Carney, guitarist Benny James (substituting for an absent Fred Guy), bassist Wellman Braud, drummer Sonny Greer and of course Ellington on piano.

-Scott Yanow

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