...And His Mother Called Him Bill

June 2025 ...And His Mother Called Him Bill studio Duke Ellington Duke Ellington - ...And His Mother Called Him Bill album cover.jpg 1968 August 28–November 15, 1967 Coast Recorders, San Francisco RCA Victor, New York City Jazz 46 12 (Original LP) 71 52 (CD Re-issue) Bluebird/RCA Steve Backer, Brad McCuen North of the Border in Canada 1967 Francis A. & Edward K. 1967 ...And His Mother Called Him Bill is a studio album by Duke Ellington recorded in the wake of the death of his long-time collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, in 1967. It won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 1968,11th Annual Grammy Award Winners 1968 https://www.grammy.com/awards/11th-annual-grammy-awards Grammy.com 31 August 2022 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200526192446/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/11th-annual-grammy-awards-1968 26 May 2020 Ellington's third consecutive victory in this category, following Ellington '66 and the Far East Suite. Background Ellington recorded the album as a tribute to Billy Strayhorn, who had died of esophageal cancer in May 1967. Strayhorn was a composer, arranger, and pianist and one of Ellington's closest friends. Ellington's biographer John Edward Hasse notes that Strayhorn's death "was more traumatic to the Ellington orchestra than that of anyone else in the history of the organization."Hasse, John Edward. Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington, Da Capo Press, 1995, p. 388. Recording and music The album was recorded in August and November 1967. The material consists of Strayhorn's compositions, including some that had not previously been recorded. Ellington chose the songs to demonstrate Strayhorn's versatility and range, as well as to pay homage to the qualities that he most admired in his late writing partner.Jurek Thom ...And His Mother Called Him Bill http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-his-mother-called-him-bill-mw0000193222 AllMusic November 23, 2018 August 12, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180812215830/https://www.allmusic.com/album/and-his-mother-called-him-bill-mw0000193222 live "Blood Count" was Strayhorn's last composition, written for the Ellington Orchestra's 1967 concert at Carnegie Hall. Another piece with a medical-related title is "U.M.M.G.", short for "Upper Manhattan Medical Group". The 1951 composition "Rock Skippin' at the Blue Note" showcases Cootie Williams, Jimmy Hamilton, and John Sanders. Reception AllMusic 5 5 The Penguin Guide to Jazz 4 4Cook Richard Richard Cook (journalist) Morton Brian Brian Morton (Scottish writer) The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings 2008 9th Penguin 978-0-141-03401-0 438 ...And His Mother Called Him Bill won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 1969.https://www.grammy.com/artists/duke-ellington/11972 Duke Ellington grammy.com November 23, 2018 March 24, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190324105052/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/duke-ellington live In his biography of Ellington, John Edward Hasse says, "Rarely did the entire band play with such heartfelt passion, and the album is widely considered one of Ellington's best." He also refers to "Blood Count" as one of Johnny Hodges' "supreme performances".Hasse, p. 388. The AllMusic review wrote that, "For a man who issued well over 300 albums, this set is among his most profoundly felt and very finest recorded moments." Michael J. West, writing for JazzTimes says, "The most moving moment on the album, and its most celebrated, is the one with which it ends—courtesy of Ellington himself. The leader gives a hushed solo piano rendition to 'Lotus Blossom,' as his band members are heard in the background chattering and packing up their instruments. 'Lotus Blossom' is already surpassingly lovely in its own right; in Ellington's lone hands, its emotional impact becomes nearly unbearable."West Michael J. JazzTimes 10: Very Late Duke Ellington Albums https://jazztimes.com/features/lists/jazztimes-10-very-late-ellington-albums/4/ JazzTimes June 4, 2025 Track listing All compositions by Billy Strayhorn, except where noted. Side one 22:55 Snibor 4:13 Boo-Dah 3:26 Blood Count 4:16 U.M.M.G. 3:13 Charpoy 3:06 After All 3:51 Side two 21:46 44:41 The Intimacy of the Blues 2:57 Raincheck 4:35 Day Dream 4:23 Billy Strayhorn–Duke Ellington Rock Skippin' at the Blue Note 3:01 All Day Long 2:56 Lotus Blossom Piano solo 3:54 Bonus tracks 25:40 Raincheck Take 4 5:22 Smada Take 3 3:20 Strayhorn–Ellington Smada Take 4 3:18 Strayhorn–Ellington Midriff 4:34 My Little Brown Book 4:11 Lotus Blossom Trio: Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Aaron Bell 4:55 Personnel Duke Ellington – piano Mercer Ellington – trumpet Cat Anderson – trumpet Herbie Jones – trumpet Cootie Williams – trumpet Clark Terry – flugelhorn Lawrence Brown – trombone Buster Cooper – trombone Chuck Connors – bass trombone John Sanders – valve trombone Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone Russell Procope – clarinet and alto saxophone Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet and tenor saxophone Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone Harry Carney – baritone saxophone Aaron Bell – double bass Jeff Castleman – double bass Steve Little – drums Sam Woodyard – drums...And His Mother Called Him Bill - Duke Ellington Credits AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-his-mother-called-him-bill-mw0000193222/credits AllMusic 28 September 2017 28 September 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170928060153/http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-his-mother-called-him-bill-mw0000193222/credits live References Category:Duke Ellington albums Category:1967 albums Category:Bluebird Records albums Category:RCA Records albums Category:1960s instrumental albums Category:Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album