From the Band Box: Jimmy Grissom sings Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me
After his end-of-the-year engagement at the Blue Note in Chicago (see previous Goodie), Duke Ellington with his band had week-long engagements at Regal Theatre in Chicago and Storyville in Boston. On January 30, they started two week engagement at the Band Box in NYC, which ended February 15, 1953 to On this occasion Charlie Mingus replaced Wendell Marshall, who was on temporary leave to get married. After an argument between Juan Tizol and Mingus, the latter was fired, and replaced by Oscar Pettiford.
Band Box was a fairly new club club located on 1680 Broadway West between 52nd and West 53rd Streets, east side of street neighbouring Birdland at 1678 Broadway. In Ellington Day by Day and Film by Film, Band Box is described as “an oversized 1.100 seater”, which provided music for dancing and jazz entertaiment. Ellington shared the bill with the Art Tatum Trio and the Joe Loco mambo orchestra supplied the dance music. Ellington broadcasted on WMGM almost daily but apparently also appeared on television.
In the Goodies Room, there is a short part of a telecast taking place at February 1, and a WMGM broadcast performance from February 2, titled “Jazz Caravan” .
In the telecast sound track, you will hear Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope and Harry Carney together with their leader play the Theme, Monologue and Mood Indigo.
In the radio broadcast the full orchestra is heard playing the following: *Theme*Caravan*Smada*Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me*The Mooche*How High The Moon*Theme*Caravan*Love You Madly*VIP’s Boogie*Jam With Sam*St Louis Blues*Things Ain’t What They Used To Be*. The soloists are as follows:
Caravan – Juan Tizol, Smada – Jimmy Hamilton, Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me – Jimmy Grissom, The Mooche – Hamilton, Carney, Procope, Nance, Q Jackson, How High The Moon – Gonsalves, Nance, Terry, Cook, Hamilton, Jackson, Bellson, Carney, Love You Madly – Betty Roché, Gonsalves, Ellington, VIP’s Boogie & Jam With Sam – Most band members, St Louis Blues – Ray Nance, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – Woodman, Procope, Cook, Gonsalves.
Hilton Jefferson plays alto saxophone on these numbers, but in in a month or so he was replaced by Rick Henderson. Jefferson was not given much solo space, but was an able player with a nice tone in his instrumentand it wouldn’t have hurt to hear a lot more of his playing..
Ever heard the expression “tape circulated amongst collectors”? This music we bring you comes from such a tape with all its flaws and surprises that comes with such a thing but we hope that you still will enjoy what we offer you!
Author: Anders Asplund.