Jimmy Blanton

Jimmy Blanton

Source: Soose Blues & Jazz

Born on 5 October 1918 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, phenomenal double bassist, Jimmy Blanton, was on summer break from college when he joined the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra in the summer of 1937. His first recordings soon arrived with that outfit on 25 and 26 of August, replacing bassist, Vernon King, toward issues by Vocalion: 'Make Believe', 'I’ll Always Be in Love with You', 'I Like Pie, I Like Cake (But I Like You Best of All)' and 'Lazy Rhythm'. A while later he began to work with Duke Ellington, with whom he first recorded during an NBC radio broadcast from the Coronado Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 1, 1939. Those titles were 'Pyramid', 'Pussy Willow' and 'I'm Checkin' Out, Goom Bye'. Blanton also played bass on titles recorded that month (November) by Barney Bigard: 'Minuet in Blues', 'Lost in Two Flats' and 'Honey Hush'.

'I Like Pie, I Like Cake (But I Like You Best of All)'   Jimmy Blanton w the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra

Recorded 26 Aug 1937 in Chicago   Matrix C-1992-1   Vocalion 3715

Trumpet: George Hudson / Ralph Porter / Walter Stanley

Trombone: Ike Covington / John "Bones" Orange

Alto sax: James Jeter / Charles Pillars   Tenor sax: Hayes Pillars

Piano: Chester Lang   Guitar: Floyd Smith

Bass: Blanton   Drums: Henry Ross   Arrangement: LaVelle “Buggs” Roberts

Composition: George A. Little / Larry Shay / Arthur Sizemore

'Lazy Rhythm'   Jimmy Blanton w the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra

Recorded 26 Aug 1937 in Chicago   Matrix C-1993-1   Vocalion 3715

Trumpet: George Hudson / Ralph Porter / Walter Stanley

Trombone: Ike Covington / John "Bones" Orange

Alto sax: James Jeter / Charles Pillars   Tenor sax: Hayes Pillars

Piano: Chester Lang   Guitar: Floyd Smith

BBass: Blanton   Drums: Henry Ross

Composition: James Jeter / Hayes Pillars / Phil Tillar

Blanton was highly favored by Ellington and employed him throughout his entire brief career. They recorded 'Blues' and 'Plucked Again' on November 22 of 1939, then more radio broadcasts while on tour. They recorded 'Body and Soul' and 'Mr. J.B. Blues' in Chicago on October 1, 1940, among other titles on that occasion./span>

'Minuet in Blues'   Jimmy Blanton w Barney Bigard and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Nov 1939 in Chicago   Matrix WM-1117-A   Vocalion 5378

Cornet: Rex Stewart   Valve trombone: Juan Tizol

Clarinet: Bigard   Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn (arrangement)

Bass: Blanton   Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Strayhorn / Bigard

'Lost in Two Flats'   Jimmy Blanton w Barney Bigard and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Nov 1939 in Chicago   Matrix WM-1118-A   Vocalion 5422

Cornet: Rex Stewart   Valve trombone: Juan Tizol

Clarinet: Bigard   Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn (arrangement)

Bass: Blanton   Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Strayhorn

'Honey Hush'   Jimmy Blanton w Barney Bigard and His Orchestra

Recorded 22 Nov 1939 in Chicago   Matrix WM-1119-A   Okeh 5663

Cornet: Rex Stewart   Valve trombone: Juan Tizol

Clarinet: Bigard   Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn (arrangement)

Bass: Blanton   Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Rex Stewart / Billy Taylor / Bigard

'Blues'   Jimmy Blanton duet w Duke Ellington

Recorded 22 Nov 1939 in Chicago   Matrix WM-1120-A   Columbia 35322

Composition: Ellington

'Plucked Again'   Jimmy Blanton duet w Duke Ellington

Recorded 22 Nov 1939 in Chicago   Matrix WM-1121-A   Columbia 35322

Composition: Ellington

'Jack the Bear'   Jimmy Blanton w the Duke Ellington Orchestra

Recorded 6 March 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 044888-1   Victor 26536

Trumpet: Cootie Williams   Trombone: Joseph "Tricky Sam" Nanton

Clarinet / sax: Harry Carney / Barney Bigard

Composition: Ellington

'Pitter Panther Patter'   Jimmy Blanton duet w Duke Ellington

Recorded 1 Oct 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 053504-1

See TRCA FXM1-7072 / Smithsonian R-013 / Bluebird 2178-2-RB

Composition: Ellington

'Body and Soul'   Jimmy Blanton duet w Duke Ellington

Recorded 1 Oct 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 053505-1

See Up To Date UTD2008 / Bluebird 2178-2-RB / Giants of Jazz 53048

Music: Johnny Green   Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton

'Mr. J.B. Blues'   Jimmy Blanton duet w Duke Ellington

Recorded 1 Oct 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 053507-1 or 053507-2

Issued on either Victor 27406 or RCA FXM1-7072 / Smithsonian R-013 / Bluebird 2178-2-RB

Composition: Ellington / Blanton

Unfortunately Blanton's last recording sessions were in September and October of 1941. On September 29 he laid tracks in Hollywood with Bigard again: 'Brown Suede', 'Noir Bleu', 'C Blues' and 'June'. His last titles with Ellington were during a Kraft Music Hall radio broadcast in Hollywood on October 9: 'Take the 'A' Train' and 'Flamingo'.

'C Blues'   Jimmy Blanton w Barney Bigard and His Orchestra

Recorded 29 Sep 1941 in Hollywood   Matrix 061690-1   Bluebird B-11581

Including:

Trumpet: Ray Nance   Clarinet / sax: Harry Carney   Piano: Duke Ellington

Composition: Ellington

'Take the 'A' Train'   Jimmy Blanton w the John Scott Trotter Orchestra

Recorded 9 Oct 1941 in Hollywood   'Kraft Music Hall' on NBC Radio

See Queen-Disc 007 / Moon Records MCD074-2 / Maison du Duke MDD012

Piano: Duke Ellington

Composition: Billy Strayhorn

'Flamingo'   Jimmy Blanton w the John Scott Trotter Orchestra

Blanton's final-known recording

Recorded 9 Oct 1941 in Hollywood   'Kraft Music Hall' on NBC Radio

Piano: Duke Ellington

Composition: Edmund Anderson / Theodor Grouya

Soon after the above recordings Blanton entered a sanatorium for tuberculosis, of which he died in California on 30 July 1942, only 23 years of age.