The last issue of the DESS Bulletin for 2016 has just been published.
The cover story of this issue is Arthur Whetsel – Ellington’s “sweet” trumpeter. Bo Haufman – the editor of the Bulletin – gives a very comprehensive portrait of Whetsel in a 3 and a half page article. It is supplemented by a reprint of an article about Whetsel by the late Ellington specialist Eddie Lambert published in Jazz Monthly in 1964.
Another interesting reading in the new issue is an interview of Willie Cook about his time with Earl Hines 1943-1947. It is a treasury of information about the band, its members and on working conditions. The interview was done by former DESS Chair Göran Wallén in 1997. More interviews of Cook will be published in the Bulletin next year.
A third major topic in the new Bulletin is Duke Ellington and George Gershwin. In a 4 page article, DESS member Erling Torkelsson looks at differences and similarities in the personal developments of these two musical giants.
Finally, Fred Glueckstein and Bo Haufman discuss in separate articles the Amos ‘n’ Andy 1930 comedy film “Check and Double Check”.
The Bulletin also gives details about the members-only CD that was distributed last week. It contains material from 5 different broadcasts from Ellington’s legendary stay at Hotel Sherman in Chicago in September-October 1940.
For those who are not members of Duke Ellington Society of Sweden, the only way to get the DESS Bulletin and the DESS CDs is to become a member. This also gives access to the restricted parts of the DESS website.