We’re still sitting chronologically in 1944 with Duke Ellington, but although our next record was first released that year, it was actually recorded in 1941. It's Billy Strayhorn’s exquisite ballad Passion Flower.
The First Bloom
Here it is as recorded for Bluebird in 1941 by a Johnny Hodges‑led Ellington unit:
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve used Johnny, alto, and gorgeous in the same sentence — yet here we are again!
Traanscription Takes
Duke began featuring the song in concert after the Hodges record was released, but he never cut a full‑band studio version for Victor in the 1940s. Instead, Passion Flower lived in the margins of the era — in the transcription studios.
First is this 1945 take for the World Broadcasting Service:
And here’s the 1946 version for the Capitol transcription service:
Billy Strayhorn sits in on piano for both of these non‑commercial recordings — always a treat to hear him inside his own harmony.
Just Jazz
We jump ahead to 1952 for a lovely version from Capitol's The Just Jazz All Stars Featuring Louis Bellson:
It’s practically an Ellington family photo: Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, Harry Carney, Willie Smith, Wendell Marshall and Billy Strayhorn himself, joined by Wardell Gray on tenor and John Graas on French horn. Louis Bellson, then Duke’s drummer, anchors the proceedings.
Duke’s Trio
Duke returned to the tune in 1953 for this trio reading, included on The Duke Plays Ellington:
A quiet, elegant take — Duke letting Strayhorn’s melody breathe.
Blue Bloom
Another full‑band version followed in 1956 for the Blue Rose album on Columbia:
This track didn’t include an overdubbed Rosemary Clooney vocal, since the tune didn’t yet have lyrics.
Nancy Sings
Lyrics eventually arrived courtesy of Milt Raskin, and Nancy Wilson was the first to record a vocal version for her 1960 Capitol album Like in Love:
Milt plays piano on this non‑Ellington track, conducted by Billy May, while Willie Smith channels Johnny Hodges.
Ella's Take
Now that Passion Flower had lyrics, Ella Fitzgerald recorded a vocal version with Duke for their 1966 collaboration Ella at Duke’s Place:
Very nice — and Johnny’s alto is as smooth as ever.
Private Passion
Let's go back to 1962 for this instrumental arrangement that the band recorded in 1962, with Billy back at the piano:
A private recording, financed by Duke, unreleased at the time.
Billy’s Own Final Word
As I like to do with a Strayhorn tune, let’s let Billy himself close the chapter — with this intimate cut from his 1963 United Artists album The Peaceful Side:
Always a gift to hear Billy in a quiet room, playing something that bloomed from his own hands.
Twenty-Five Years of Bloom
So we’ve traced more than two decades of Passion Flower — a melody that kept unfolding, kept deepening, kept finding new colors.
Billy planted it, and the world kept tending it.
