Ray Nance

Ray Nance

Source: Wikipedia

Born on 10 December 1913 in Chicago, trumpeter, violinist and vocalist, Ray Nance, formed his own band at age 21 in 1932. In 1937 he began blowing trumpet with pianist, Earl Hines, in Chicago with whom he set his first tracks on August 10, such as 'Hines Rhythm' and 'Rhythm Rhapsody'. His first recorded vocal was with Hines on March 7, 1938: 'Tippin' at the Terrace'. Sessions with Hines ensued into 1938 (another in 1944) before joining pianist, Horace Henderson (Fletcher's younger brother), in 1939. His first session with Henderson on February 27, 1940, found him on violin for the first time per 'Kitty on Toast'. A session for Okeh followed in May before Nance signed on with whom would be his major vehicle for the next quarter century, replacing Cootie Williams in the orchestra of Duke Ellington with whom he first recorded a long string of titles on November 7, 1940, at the Crystal Ballroom in Fargo, North Dakota, such as 'The Mooche' and 'Ko-Ko'. Another huge figure in Nance's career was saxophonist, Johnny Hodges, who was present at Nance's first session. Hodges stayed with Ellington into 1955.

'Rhythm Rhapsody'   Ray Nance w Earl Hines & His Orchestra

From Nance's first-known session

10 Aug 1937 in Chicago    Matrix: C-1981-1 or C-1981-2

Issued on either Columbia KG30788 or Epic 22021

Trumpet: Leon Scott / Ray Nance / George Dixon (alto sax)

Trombone: Louis Taylor / Edward Fant / Ken Stewart

Clarinet / alto sax: Leroy Harris / Willie Randall (arrangement)

Clarinet / tenor sax: Leon Washington / Ernest Williams?

Piano: Hines   Bass: Quinn Wilson   Drums: Oliver Coleman

Composition: Willie Randall

'Tippin' at the Terrace'   Ray Nance w Earl Hines & His Orchestra

From Nance's second-known session

7 March 1938 in NYC    Matrix: 22520-1   Vocalion 4143 / Jazum 47

Trumpet: Freddie Webster / Pee Wee Jackson

Trumpet: George Dixon (alto sax) / Ray Nance (vocal)

Trombone: Louis Taylor / / Kenneth Stuart / Joe McLewis

Alto sax: Leroy Harris / George Dixon

Tenor sax: Willie Randall (clarinet) / Budd Johnson / Leon Washington

Piano: Hines   Bass: Quinn Wilson   Drums: Oliver Coleman

Composition: Curtis Ousley / Charles Fox / Louis Dunlap / Charles Carpenter

'Kitty On Toast'   Ray Nance w Horace Henderson

7 March 1938 in NYC    Matrix: 22520-1   Vocalion 4143 / Jazum 47

Trumpet: Emmett Berry / Harry "Pee Wee" Jackson / Ray Nance (violin)

Trombone: Edward Fant / Nat Atkins

Alto sax: Leroy Harris / George Dixon

Tenor sax: Dalbert Bright (clarinet) / Elmer Williams / Dave Young

Piano: Horace Henderson   Guitar: Hurley Ramey

Bass: Jesse "Po" Simpkins   Drums: Oliver Coleman

 Arrangement: Fletcher Henderson (brother to Horace)

Live at the Crystal Ballroom   Ray Nance w Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

7 Nov 1940 in Fargo ND    See Palm Club P30:09 / Temple 551

Cornet: Rex Stewart

Trumpet: Ray Nance (violin / vocals) / Wallace Jones

Trombone: Joe Nanton / Juan Tizol / Lawrence Brown

Clarinet: Barney Bigard (tenor sax) / Otto Hardwick (alto sax)

Clarinet: Harry Carney (baritone clarinet / baritone sax)

Alto sax: Johnny Hodges   Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Piano: Ellington   Guitar: Fred Guy

Bass: Jimmy Blanton   Drums: Sonny Greer

Vocals: Ivie Anderson / Herb Jeffries

 Arrangement: Fletcher Henderson

Nance first appeared in visual media with Ellington as part of the band in the 1941 film, 'Hot Chocolate'. Several years later Nance held his first of five name sessions as a leader with the Ellingtonians on July 1, 1948, in London, resulting in such as 'Moon Mist' and 'Sometimes I'm Happy' for Esquire.

'Cotton Tail'   Ray Nance w Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Soundie film

From the film 'Hot Chocolate' recorded Nov-Dec 1941    Released 2 Feb 1942

See Extreme Rarities LP1002 / Kaydee KD7 / Bandstand BS7129

Smithsonian R027 / Storyville SLP6000 / Columbia CK48654 (CD)

Cornet: Rex Stewart   Trumpet: Wallace Jones / Ray Nance

Trombone: Joe Nanton / Lawrence Brown / Juan Tizol (valve)

Clarinet: Barney Bigard (tenor sax) / Otto Hardwick (alto sax)

Clarinet: Harry Carney (baritone clarinet / baritone sax)

Alto sax: Johnny Hodges   Tenor sax: Ben Webster

Piano: Ellington   Guitar: Fred Guy

Bass: Junior Raglin   Drums: Sonny Greer

Dancing: Arthur White's Lindy Hoppers and Jitterbugs

 Arrangement: Billy Strayhorn   Composition: Ellington

'A Slip of the Lip (Can Sink a Ship)'

Ray Nance (vocal) w Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra

28 July 1942 in Chicago   Matrix 074783-1   RCA Vic 20-1528

 Composition: Luther Henderson / Mercer Ellington

'Take the 'A' Train'   Ray Nance w Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

From the film 'Reveille with Beverly' recorded 8 Oct 1942    Released 4 Feb 1943

Trumpet: Ray Nance / Harold Baker / Rex Stewart / Wallace Jones

Trombone: Joe Nanton / Juan Tizol / Lawrence Brown

Reeds: Chauncey Haughton / Johnny Hodges / Otto Hardwick / Ben Webster / Harry Carney

Piano: Ellington   Guitar: Fred Guy

Bass: Junior Raglin   Drums: Sonny Greer   Vocal: Betty Roché

 Composition: Billy Strayhorn   1939

IMDb   Inspiration Struck   Wikipedia

'My Honey's Lovin' Arms'   Ray Nance w Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

3 Sep 1946 in Hollywood   RCA Victor 20-3135

See Chronological Classics #1015

Trumpet: Cat Anderson / Francis Williams / Harold Baker / Shelton Hemphill / Taft Jordan

Trumpet: Ray Nance (vocal)

Trombone: Claude Jones / Lawrence Brown / Wilbur De Paris

Clarinet: Russell Procope (alto sax) / Jimmy Hamilton (tenor sax)

Clarinet: Harry Carney (baritone sax)   Tenor sax: Al Sears

Piano: Ellington   Guitar: Fred Guy

Bass: Oscar Pettiford   Drums: Sonny Greer

Composition: Herman Ruby / Joseph Meyer

'Women (They'll Get You)'   Ray Nance w Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

14 Aug 1947 in Hollywood   Matrix HC02533 or HC02533-1

Issued on Up-To-Date UTD2002 or Columbia 38576

Trumpet: Shelton Hemphill / Francis Williams / Harold "Shorty" Baker / Wilbur "Dud" Bascomb

Trumpet: Ray Nance (vocal)

Trombone: Tyree Glenn / Lawrence Brown / Claude Jones

Clarinet: Russell Procope (alto sax) / Jimmy Hamilton (tenor sax)

Clarinet: Harry Carney (baritone sax)   Tenor sax: Al Sears

Piano: Ellington   Guitar: Fred Guy

Bass: Oscar Pettiford   Drums: Sonny Greer

Music: Herman Ruby   Lyrics: John La Touche

'Sometimes I'm Happy'   Ray Nance w the Ellingtonians

1 July 1948 in London   Matrix m-7-59-2   Esquire 10-042 (Europe)

Issued on Up-To-Date UTD2002 or Columbia 38576

Trumpet: Ray Nance

Piano: Dick Katz as Bill Richard   Guitar: Lauderic Caton as Lawrence Rix

Bass: Coleridge Goode as George Goodwin   Drums:  Ray Ellington as Reggie Pitts

Music: Vincent Youmans   Lyrics: Irving Caesar   1925

IMDb has Nance on television with Ellington in April 1949 as an uncredited member of the band per 'Adventures in Jazz'. He appeared on the same program as himself the next month. Constant touring and numberless sessions with Ellington followed to as late as July 29, 1966, at the Antibes Jazz Festival in Juan-les-Pins, France, another long stream of titles including 'Take the 'A' Train and 'Soul Call'. Nance reunited with Ellington several months before the latter's death (May 24, 1974) in September of 1973, for what were Ellington's last studio tracks per the album, 'It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing'.

Nance began backing Hodges' orchestra on January 11, 1956, blowing trumpet on such as 'Hi' Ya' and 'Sinbor'. Hodges was another reason that Nance's sessions during his career exceeded a highly prolific 640. One session wrought the next to as late January 9, 1967 for Hodges' 'Triple Play'.

'Night Walk'   Ray Nance w Johnny Hodges & His Orchestra

12 Jan 1956 in NYC   Matrix 2643-3   Norgran 149 / Verve 10104

Trumpet: Clark Terry / Cat Anderson / Willie Cook / Ray Nance

Trombone: Quentin Jackson /  Britt Woodman / John Sanders

Clarinet: Jimmy Hamilton (tenor sax)

Alto sax: Johnny Hodges / Russell Procope

Tenor sax: Paul Gonsalves   Baritone sax: Harry Carney

Piano: Billy Strayhorn   Bass: Jimmy Woode   Drums: Sam Woodyard

Composition: Anderson

Nance issued his first album, 'Body and Soul' in 1969 followed by 'Huffin' 'n' Puffin'' in 1971.

'Huffin' 'n' Puffin''   Ray Nance   Album

Nov 1971 in Villingen, Germany

Trumpet: Ray Nance (violin / vocals)

Piano: Kenny Drew   Bass: Ron Mathewson   Drums: Daniel Humair

Nance toured England and recorded with trombonist, Chris Barber, in Germany in 1974, before his final titles at Carnegie Hall on November 8 with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, such as 'Funeral March', 'St. Louis Blues' and 'You've Been a Good Old Wagon'.

Nance died on January 28, 1976, in New York City.