Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Tue, 07/15/2014 - 11:15
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" first recorded by Duke Ellington in 1940
Walter Horton's version
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The Ellington version is the original instrumental, recorded under the name "Never No Lament." Only when lyrics were written did the title change. The rhythm section features Jimmy Blanton, who revolutionized jazz bass before dying of tuberculosis at the age of 23.
Note the peppy rhythms that the band, and then Ellington's piano, impart to the melody the first couple of times around. The vocal song mushed these up into something that by comparison is wishy-washy and tame. Walter's version is closer to the song rhythm than the original instrumental, but he and his band get a nice funky feeling.
True story that I heard from Joe Tarantino, the engineer who recorded this Walter Horton album (and also a lot of classic jazz albums): They recorded two versions at different tempos. After everyone had left, someone decided to cut them together. That foot you hear tapping off the second, faster tempo, is Joe going out in the studio and just tapping his foot four times.
Getting back to the song, note how something always answers each melodic phrase - another solo instrument, the horn section. Might be a good vehicle for two harmonica players to trade back and forth.