The Duke's Men: Small Groups, Vol. 2

By 1938, Ellington had been holding small-band sessions for a few years, and the players had become quite comfortable with the circumstances. The recordings here, from ’38 and ’39, are split between “Johnny Hodges & His Orchestra” and “Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters.” Hodges’ ensemble featured Williams on trumpet and Lawrence Brown on trombone while Williams’ band had Hodges on alto and soprano and Barney Bigard on clarinet. Hodges’ March 1938 session produced the classic “Jeep’s Blues,” a languid line immortalized by the full orchestra at Newport almost 20 years later. “Rendezvous With Rhythm,” from the same date, offers a particularly frisky piano showcase from Ellington, backed by Hodges’ equally frolicsome alto. Uptempo, swinging favorites “Empty Ballroom Blues” and “The Jeep Is Jumpin’” came from Hodges later that summer. Two sessions from December of ’38 found both ensembles in peak form; not coincidentally, neither featured any vocals. The Hodges group recorded the slightly ominous “Wanderlust,” featuring his moaning soprano, along with the bright, craftily arranged “Hodge Podge” and Ellington’s overlooked ballad, “I'm In Another World.” Two days later, Williams led a session with memorable fare such as “Delta Mood,” a dark, skulking feature for Williams’ trumpet growls, and “The Boys from Harlem,” a lively romp that harkens back to jazz’s early days.