These sides were recorded in 1939 while Duke was still under contract to Columbia, but they didn’t hit the shelves until 1940, after he moved to Victor. That little overlap period produced some of the most relaxed, beautifully lit small‑group moments in the whole Ellington universe.
Just Another Dream — Barney Bigard (Okeh, June 1939)
This one is exactly what the title promises: Just Another Dream, carried almost entirely on Barney Bigard’s clarinet. It’s practically a solo feature from start to finish — a soft, wandering little reverie with Barney’s tone floating like a lantern in a quiet room.
Dream Blues — Johnny Hodges & (Vocalion, September 1939)
Then Johnny steps back in for Dream Blues, and his alto does what it always does: it brings the dream, and it brings the blues. Hodges could make even a simple phrase feel like a velvet curtain being pulled open.
These small‑group sides always feel like a gift — a chance for the individual sidemen to stretch out, breathe, and let their personalities shine without the full orchestra swirling around them.
Musician Roll Call
Both tracks use nearly identical instrumentation, with the spotlight shifting depending on who’s leading the date:
- Barney Bigard group (June):Rex Stewart (cornet) and Juan Tizol (valve trombone) support Barney’s clarinet.
- Johnny Hodges group (September):Cootie Williams (trumpet) and Lawrence Brown (trombone) join Johnny’s alto.
And anchoring both sessions:
Harry Carney — baritone sax, the bedrock
Duke Ellington — piano
Freddy Guy — guitar
Billy Taylor — bass
Sonny Greer — drums
A dream team for dream tunes!
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