Duke Ellington & Teresa Brewer: It Don't Mean A Thing (1973)

While Teresa Brewer is not the best singer who ever benefited from Ellington's accompaniment, she is far from the worst. Recorded in September, 1973, this program of all-Ellington
compositions includes some predictable standards, as well as four less well-known songs, two of which had not been recorded before.

In 1972 Ms. Brewer married owner of Flying Dutchman Records, jazz producer Bob Thiele, and immediately expanded her musical horizons. “My daughters introduced me to the new music and my husband taught me to listen to jazz,” she said. Beginning in the 1970s Teresa began a new and prolific recording phase of her career sampling many musical styles -- jazz, rock, pop, country -- and performing with some of the best known and loved musicians in each of these fields.

During the 1970s and 1980s Teresa recorded albums with jazz greats such as Count Basie ("The Songs of Bessie Smith"), Earl "Fatha" Hines ("We Love You, Fats"), Bobby Hackett
("What a Wonderful World"), the World's Greatest Jazz Band ("Good News"), Stephane Grappelli ("On the Road Again"), Slam Stewart and Ruby Braff ("Midnight Café") and more.

When Duke Ellington heard Teresa singing "The Songs of Bessie Smith" he asked her pointblank: "When are we, you and I, going to do an album together?" The result was this one,"It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", the Duke's last recording. Brewer enjoyed singing Ellington's music so much that she recorded and released another set of his songs with Shelly Manne ("A Sophisticated Lady"). Later, with the Duke's son, Mercer, Teresa sang hits of the Cotton Club era on an album titled "The Cotton Connection".

Although Duke's band's decline has begun here, it is still a commanding presence even though much of the attention has shifted to the ageing maestro's piano. We're not treated to one of his masterworks, but this is a novel and entertaining curtain call for a long and distinguished musical career.

Many thanks to Keith Horner for this sharing.

Tracks:

01) It Don't Mean A Thing

02) I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

03) Satin Doll

04) Mood Indigo

05) Don't get Around Much Any More

06) I'm Beginning To See The Light

07) I've Got To Be A Rug Cutter

08) I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good

09) Tulip Or Turnip

10) It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight

11) Poco Mucho

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