Yesterday we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Cotton Club Stomp with Duke Ellington’s 1939 remake. But if you flip that 78-rpm shellac over, you find a fascinating "side sesh" story involving one of Duke’s biggest admirers: Charlie Barnet.
The B-side is a moody little number called In A Mizz, and the history behind it is a tangled web of Ellington influence.
The Duke Version (1939)
In A Mizz was actually co-written by bandleader Charlie Barnet. Charlie famously idolized Duke (once saying he’d rather have a mediocre Ellington record than a great one by anyone else), so it must have been a massive thrill for him when the Maestro decided to record his song.
Duke gave it to the incomparable Ivie Anderson, who turns "The Mizz" (slang for a miserable mood) into something hauntingly beautiful.
The Barnet Version... featuring "Ellington"
To bring the thread full circle, Charlie Barnet recorded his own version for Bluebird that same year. But here is the kicker: the vocalist on Charlie’s record was a singer named Judy Ellington!
Despite the name, she wasn't related to Duke, but having an "Ellington" sing a song by an Ellington-worshipper that Duke himself was also recording? That’s the kind of synchronicity we live for in the Warehouse.
Two different takes on "The Mizz"—one by the Master and one by the Student. Which version cures your Monday blues?
No comments:
Post a Comment