In a Mellow Tone

"In a Mellow Tone", also known as "In a Mellotone", is a 1940 jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written later by Milt Gabler. ^[1] The song's chord changes are based on the 1917 standard "Rose Room" by Art Hickman and Harry Williams, ^[2] which Ellington had recorded in 1932. ^[3]

Ellington and his orchestra made the original recording of "In a Mellotone" (with that styling) on September 5, 1940. It features solos by bassist Jimmy Blanton, trumpeter Cootie Williams, and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, ^[4] who plays in double-time. ^[2] The recording is collected on The Blanton–Webster Band compilation.

The version with lyrics and the better-known alternate title ("In a Mellow Tone") was first recorded by The Mills Brothers in 1955. ^[5] The song has gone on to be recorded more than 400 times. ^[6]

Howard Stern used a recording of this song from Ellington's 1960 Blues in Orbit album as the opening theme to The Howard Stern Show from 1987 to 1994.

Other notable recordings

• Red Norvo (1943)
• Erroll Garner – Contrasts (1954)
• Clark Terry – Duke with a Difference (1957)
• Chico Hamilton with Eric Dolphy – The Original Ellington Suite (1958)
• Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook (1958)
• Ben Webster (with Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge) – Ben Webster and Associates (1959)
• Count Basie – Breakfast Dance and Barbecue (1959)
• Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross – The Hottest New Group in Jazz (1960)
• Billy May – Cha Cha! Billy May (1960)
• Coleman Hawkins with Eddie Lockjaw Davis – Night Hawk (1960)
• Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington – The Great Summit (1961)
• Harry James – 1964 Live! In The Holiday Ballroom Chicago (Jazz Hour Compact Classics JH-1001, 1989) ^[7]
• Oscar Peterson – Mellow Mood (1968)
• Paul Gonsalves – Humming Bird (1970)
• Buddy Rich – "Very Alive at Ronnie Scotts" (1971)
• Nick Brignola – L.A. Bound (1979)
• Art Pepper and George Cables – Goin’ Home (1982)
• McCoy Tyner - Revelations (1989)
• Maynard Ferguson – Live from London (1994)
• Marcus Roberts – Plays Ellington (1995)
• Bob Wilber and Dick Hyman – A Perfect Match (1997)
• Tony Bennett – Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool (1999)
• Clare Teal – Don't Talk (2004)
• Royce Campbell – A Tribute to Charlie Byrd (2004)
• Bill Wurtz – (2011)

Notes

1. Douglas Martin, "Milton Gabler, Storekeeper of the Jazz World, Dies at 90", The New York Times , July 25, 2001.
2. "In a Mellotone" at JazzStandards.com; retrieved June 26, 2025.
3. Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 193–4. ISBN   978-0-19-993739-4.
4. The Indispensable Duke Ellington, Volumes 5/6, 1940, Jazz Tribune No. 33, BMG France ND 89750, 1992.
5. "In a Mellow Tone by Mills Brothers". SecondHandSongs.com, Accessed June 26, 2025.
6. "In a Mellotone". SecondHandSongs.com, Accessed June 26, 2025.
7. "Harry James And His Orchestra – Live 1964 In Holiday Ballroom Chicago". Discogs. Retrieved February 4, 2017.