Concerto for Cootie / Me and You

by Duke Ellington

Concerto for Cootie / Me and You cover art
  • Type: Single
  • Released: 10 May 1940
  • Label: Victor
  • Country: United States
  • Community rating: 4.01/5 from 3 ratings

Artists on this release: Jimmy Blanton, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard, Fred Guy, Sonny Greer, Johnny Hodges, Juan Tizol, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Wallace Jones, Otto Hardwick

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Written specifically to highlight the extraordinary tonal palette of trumpeter Cootie Williams, this composition operates as a miniature, perfectly structured jazz concerto. The arrangement seamlessly integrates growling, plunger-muted effects with open, soaring lyricism against a sophisticated orchestral backdrop. The melody proved so enduring that it was subsequently fitted with lyrics to become a massive vocal standard.

Genres

Descriptors: instrumental

Tracklist

  1. Concerto For Cootie
  2. Me And You

Credits

More from Duke Ellington: full discography