The song of the day for Wednesday, August 27, 2014 is “In A Mellow Tone.”
About This Song
Today’s song was written by Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. “In a Mellow Tone” was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross.
About This Version
Tony Bennett included this wonderful Duke Ellington song on his tribute album to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999 on the 100th anniversary of Ellington’s birth. This song features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass and Clayton Cameron on drums. The orchestration for this song is quite effective, with a very nice interlude from the quartet and big finish from the big band. Great work all around on a very fine song from Ellington.
“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.
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