The Styrous® Viewfinder: 20,000 vinyl LPs 181: Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP front cover detail

photographer unknown

detail photo of album cover by Styrous®

Today, April 29, is the birthday of jazz great, Duke Ellington, He was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C. and was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death on May 24, 1974, with a career spanning more than fifty years.

Duke Ellington - November 3, 1954

KFG Radio Studio

photographer unknown

My favorite work by Ellington is A Drum Is a Woman which is a musical allegory by him and his long-time musical collaborator Billy Strayhorn with Ellington narrating the adventure. It is the story of how jazz came from Africa to the Americas, from there out into the world to be transformed and then back again to the Americas with new influences.

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP front cover

photographer unknown

photo of album cover by Styrous®

It tells the story of Madam Zajj, brilliantly portrayed and sung by Joya Sherrill, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who has his roots firmly in the jungle with his drums. Joe comes to the Americas with his drum which is magically transformed into the beautiful and seductive Zajj who travels out into the world seeking fame and sophistication and melds with the influences of cultures she weaves through the story; it is a marvelous history of the rise and evolution of Jazz and Bebop.

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP back cover

photo by Styrous®

A Drum Is a Woman was originally recorded for the Columbia label in 1956 but, According to Jazz Views (link below), Ellington had originally discussed the project with Orson Welles in 1941. It was produced for television on the US Steel Hour on May 8, 1957. I saw this broadcast; it and every song (links below) of the production was forever burned into my memory on that evening.

The performers were Joya Sherrill (link below) as Madam Zajj, Margaret Tynes (link below) singing A Drum Is a Woman and Ozzie Bailey (link below) as the innocent Carribee Joe.

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP back cover details

detail photos by Styrous®

During the May 8, 1957, televised performance, Thomas Mcavoy photographed it for the weekly publication, Life Magazine.

Thomas Mcavoy A Drum Is a Woman Life images

There are some great songs from the production, my favorites is, What else can you do with a drum? As Joe's drum has been magically turned into the vibrant, sensual Madam Zajj, and a woman should not be beaten, it begs the question.

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®

A stage performance was produced by Marc Stager on June 24, 1988, at Symphony Space in Manhattan with pianist and arranger Chris Cherney leading the orchestra and Duke's son Mercer Ellington.

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP, side 1

photo by Styrous®

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP label, side 1

photo by Styrous®

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP, side 2

photo by Styrous®

Duke Ellington ~ A Drum Is a Woman

vinyl LP label, side 2

photo by Styrous®

Tracklist:

Side 1:

    Part 1
A1 - A Drum Is A Woman
A2 - Rhythm Pum Te Dum
A3 - What Else Can You Do With A Drum

    Part 2
A4 - New Orleans
A5 - Hey, Buddy Bolden
A6 - Carribee Joe
A7 - Congo Square

Side 2:

    Part 3
B1 - A Drum Is A Woman (Part 2)
B2 - You Better Know It
B3 - Madam Zajj
B4 - Ballet Of The Flying Saucers

    Part 4
B5 - Zajj's Dream
B6 - Rhumbop
B7 - Carribee Joe (Part 2)
B8 - Finale

Credits:

    Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges, Rick Henderson, Russell Procope
    Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
    Bass – Jimmy Woode
    Bongos – Candido Camero*
    Cello – Ray Nance
    Clarinet – Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope
    Drums – Sam Woodyard, Terry Snyder
    Harp – Betty Glamann
    Liner Notes – Irving Townsend
    Music By, Lyrics By, Arranged By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
    Orchestra – Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
    Piano, Leader – Duke Ellington
    Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves
    Trombone – Britt Woodman, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson
    Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Willie Cook
    Violin – Ray Nance
    Vocals – Joya Sherrill, Margaret Tynes, Ozzie Bailey

Notes:

Original release on 6-eye Columbia label.

The album was re-released on CD in 2014 with the song Pomegranate as a bonus track at the end of the CD.

All tracks recorded in New York on September 17, 24, 25 & 28, and October 22 & 23, 1956 except for tracks B2 and B8 (December 6, 1956) and CD bonus track 16 (March 7, 1957).

Duke Ellington And His Orchestra ‎– A Drum Is A Woman
Label: Columbia ‎– CL 951
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1957
Genre: Jazz
Style: Big Band

Viewfinder links:

Duke Ellington

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