Portrait of Arthur Whetsel (Podcast #23-008)

Ellington Reflections

https://ellingtonreflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/portrait-of-arthur-whetsel.mp3

“As a trumpet player, [Arthur Whetsel] had a tonal personality that has never really been duplicated. Sweet, but not syrupy, nor schmaltzy, nor surrealistic, it had a superiority of extrasensory dimensions. Both as a soloist and from the point of view of teamwork, he was a fine musician. Everything with him had to be of the best, and he was one of the really good readers.”

Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress

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Arthur Parker Whetsel [1905-1940]

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Duke Ellington and his orchestra, with Arthur Whetsel and Fredi Washington, are featured in the 1929 short feature Black and Tan.

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The recordings heard on this podcast episode:

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(CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2)

Black Beauty – Recorded 26 March 1928, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley, Louis Metcalf – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Otto Hardwick, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Misty Mornin’ – Recorded 3 May 1929, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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The Dicty Glide/Stevedore Stomp – Recorded 7 March 1929, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Cootie Williams, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Awful Sad – Recorded 2 October 1928, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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(CD: “Early Ellington: The Original Decca Recordings (The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931)” Decca GRD-3-640)

Awful Sad – Recorded 2 October 1928, New York City

Arthur Whetsel, Bubber Miley – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney – reeds; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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Mood Indigo – Recorded 17 October 1928, New York City

Arthur Whetsel – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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(CD: “The OKeh Ellington” Columbia C2K 46177)

Rocky Mountain Blues – Recorded 14 October 1930

Arthur Whetsel – trumpet; Joe Nanton – trombone; Barney Bigard – clarinet; Duke Ellington – piano; Fred Guy – banjo; Wellman Braud – bass; Sonny Greer – drums.

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— Our closing music—-

It’s Something You Ought To Know (Paul Gonsalves – “Ellingtonia Moods and Blues,” RCA Victor / RCA63562)

Recorded 29 February 1960, New York City

Paul Gonsalves- tenor sax; Johnny Hodges – alto sax; Ray Nance – cornet; Mitchell “Booty” Wood – trombone; Jimmy Jones – piano; Al Hall – bass; Oliver Jackson – drums.