In a Sentimental Mood

Last updated
"In a Sentimental Mood"
Composition by Duke Ellington
Published1935
Genre Jazz
Composer(s) Duke Ellington
Lyricist(s) Manny Kurtz
"In a Sentimental Mood" – first 9 bars on tenor saxophone

"In a Sentimental Mood" is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington. He composed the piece in 1935 and recorded it with his orchestra during the same year. Lyrics were written by Manny Kurtz; Ellington's manager Irving Mills gave himself a percentage of the publishing,[ citation needed ] so the song was credited to all three. Other popular versions in 1935/36 were by Benny Goodman and by Mills Blue Rhythm Band. [1] The opening notes of the song's melody resemble Gershwin's "Someone To Watch Over Me".

Contents

Background

According to Ellington, the song was born in Durham, North Carolina. "We had played a big dance in a tobacco warehouse, and afterwards a friend of mine, an executive in the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, threw a party for Amy. I was playing piano when another one of our friends had some trouble with two chicks. To pacify them, I composed this there and then, with one chick standing on each side of the piano." [2] The recording featured solos by Otto Hardwicke, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, and Rex Stewart.

Ellington recorded a version with John Coltrane which appears on Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (1963) and Coltrane for Lovers (2001). The original was recorded in F major, starting on D minor and with the bridge in D-flat major. [3] But the Ellington and Coltrane version was performed in B-flat minor or D-flat major, with an interlude in A major.

A section
Dm Dm(M7)Dm7 Dm6Gm Gm(M7)Gm7 Gm6
DmDm D7Gm7 C7F
B section
Db Bbm7Ebm7 Ab7Db Bb7Ebm7 Ab7
Db Bbm7Ebm7 Ab7Gm7C7

Other versions

Appearances in other media

In the Netherlands, the chords at the beginning are a well-known part of the song since the 1960s, due to its use as the theme of Simon Carmiggelt, one of the country's most famous writers, when he was reading his columns on national television. [9] [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Flanagan</span> American jazz pianist

Thomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist and composer. He grew up in Detroit, initially influenced by such pianists as Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and Nat King Cole, and then by bebop musicians. Within months of moving to New York in 1956, he had recorded with Miles Davis and on Sonny Rollins' album Saxophone Colossus. Recordings under various leaders, including Giant Steps of John Coltrane, continued well into 1962, when he became vocalist Ella Fitzgerald's full-time accompanist. He worked with Fitzgerald for three years until 1965, and then in 1968 returned to be her pianist and musical director, this time for a decade.

<i>Ella in Hamburg</i> 1965 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella in Hamburg is a 1965 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, recorded in Hamburg, Germany.

<i>Montreux 75</i> 1975 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Montreux '75 is a 1975 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a trio led by the pianist Tommy Flanagan.

<i>Montreux 77</i> (Ella Fitzgerald album) 1977 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Montreux '77 is a 1977 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a trio led by the pianist Tommy Flanagan. This is one of four albums that Ella recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival, being Ella's second Montreux appearance to be released on record.

<i>Take Love Easy</i> 1974 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass

Take Love Easy is an album by the jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald with guitarist Joe Pass, released in 1974.

<i>Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall</i> 1973 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald at the Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall is a 1973 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by a reconstructed Chick Webb Band, the pianist Ellis Larkins, and for the second half of the album, the Tommy Flanagan Quartet.

<i>Fine and Mellow</i> (Ella Fitzgerald album) 1979 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald

Fine and Mellow is an album by Ella Fitzgerald, recorded in early 1974 but not released until 1979. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 1980, Fitzgerald's second win in four years.

"Three Little Words" is a popular song with music by Harry Ruby and lyrics by Bert Kalmar, published in 1930.

<i>Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book</i> 1957 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book is a 1957 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, focusing on Ellington's songs.

<i>Jazz at Santa Monica Civic 72</i> 1972 live album by Ella Fitzgerald

Jazz at Santa Monica '72 is a 1972 live album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium accompanied by a jazz trio led by the pianist Tommy Flanagan, and the Count Basie Orchestra.

"My One and Only Love" is a 1953 popular song with music written by Guy Wood and lyrics by Robert Mellin. Notable renditions by Frank Sinatra (1953), and later by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963), have made the song part of the jazz standard musical repertoire.

"You Don't Know What Love Is" is a popular song of the Great American Songbook, written by Don Raye (lyrics) and Gene de Paul (music) for the Abbott and Costello film Keep 'Em Flying (1941), in which it was sung by Carol Bruce. The song was deleted from the film prior to release. The song was later included in Behind the Eight Ball (1942), starring the Ritz Brothers. "You Don't Know What Love Is" was again sung by Carol Bruce; it was her third and final film until the 1980s.

"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is a 1938 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics added by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo and John Redmond. The song became a number one hit for Ellington in 1938. Other hit versions the same year were by Benny Goodman, Connee Boswell, Hot Lips Page, and Mildred Bailey. It was performed as part of The Cotton Club Parade of 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perdido (song)</span> Song

"Perdido" is a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol, a longtime member of Duke Ellington's orchestra. It was first recorded for radio transcription on December 3, 1941, by Duke Ellington. The Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded it again, this time for Victor, on January 21, 1942. In 1944, Ervin Drake and Hans Lengsfelder were hired to write lyrics for the song.

"Just Squeeze Me " is a 1941 popular song composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Lee Gaines. The song has been recorded numerous times by a number of artists in the years since, having become a jazz standard. Hit recordings have been by Paul Weston & His Orchestra and by The Four Aces.

"I Didn't Know About You" is a song composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Bob Russell. Recorded in 1944 with vocal by Joya Sherrill, it was based on an instrumental first recorded by Ellington in 1942 under the title "Sentimental Lady".

"In a Mellow Tone", also known as "In a Mellotone", is a 1939 jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics written by Milt Gabler. The song was based on the 1917 standard "Rose Room" by Art Hickman and Harry Williams, which Ellington himself had recorded in 1932. Howard Stern used a recording of this song as the opening theme to The Howard Stern Show from 1987 to 1994.

<i>The Master Trio</i> 1983 studio album by Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter and Tony Williams

The Master Trio is an album by jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams.

The Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame is part of a US-based non-profit organization that began operations in 1978 and continues to the present (2022) in San Diego County, California. David Larkin is current president.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 527. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
  2. Dance, Stanley. The Ellington Era, 1927–1940, Vol. 2 (Media notes). Duke Ellington.
  3. "Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (In a Sentimental Mood)". Jazzstandards.com. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire. New York City: Oxford University Press. pp. 195–196. ISBN   978-0-19-993739-4.
  5. "Steps Ahead - Magnetic". Discogs.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  6. Dryden, Ken. "Reaching for the Moon". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  7. Ruhlmann, William. "Soul Purpose". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. Dryden, Ken. "Inner Urge". AllMusic . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. "Simon Carmiggelt - De roltrap 1985". YouTube.com (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-22.
  10. "André van Duin: Vergeet Carmiggelt niet!". YouTube.com (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-22.