The Mooche: Difference between revisions
Highlighting the important contribution of Bigard, mentioning Procope without whom the piece had died in 1942. Tag: Reverted |
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Among the jazz musicians who recorded the original version of the song was [[James "Bubber" Miley]] whom Ellington described as "the epitome of soul and a master of the [[plunger mute]]."<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> However, Miley's [[alcoholism]] and his consequent unreliability would lead to his parting with Ellington's band.<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> Four years later, on May 20, 1932, Miley expired from [[tuberculosis]]. He was 29 years old. Despite his early death, "no one, apart from Duke himself, did more than Miley to shape the early Ellington sound."<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> |
Among the jazz musicians who recorded the original version of the song was [[James "Bubber" Miley]] whom Ellington described as "the epitome of soul and a master of the [[plunger mute]]."<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> However, Miley's [[alcoholism]] and his consequent unreliability would lead to his parting with Ellington's band.<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> Four years later, on May 20, 1932, Miley expired from [[tuberculosis]]. He was 29 years old. Despite his early death, "no one, apart from Duke himself, did more than Miley to shape the early Ellington sound."<ref name="Gioia 2007"/> |
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Ellington composed the song "for a high reed trio, playing one of the most eerie and haunting themes he had created up to that time. The theme, a [[sixteen-bar blues]] with interpolations by Miley, is followed by an eight-bar orchestral ''[[tutti]]'', and then segues to a low register solo by [[Barney Bigard|[Barney] Bigard] |
Ellington composed the song "for a high reed trio, playing one of the most eerie and haunting themes he had created up to that time. The theme, a [[sixteen-bar blues]] with interpolations by Miley, is followed by an eight-bar orchestral ''[[tutti]]'', and then segues to a low register solo by [[Barney Bigard|[Barney] Bigard]]. A [[Lonnie Johnson (musician)|[Lonnie] Johnson]] solo is followed by a Miley-inspired scat vocal by Baby Cox."<ref name="Lawrence 2001"/> |
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The song is in the so-called "jungle style" and includes the [[clarinet]] and [[Mute (music)|muted]] [[trumpet]] typical of Ellington's work.<ref name="Stanley 2005"/> The song is played in [[C minor]]. |
The song is in the so-called "jungle style" and includes the [[clarinet]] and [[Mute (music)|muted]] [[trumpet]] typical of Ellington's work.<ref name="Stanley 2005"/> The song is played in [[C minor]]. |
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Latest revision as of 11:59, 9 June 2021
| "The Mooche" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | English |
| A-side | "Hot and Bothered" |
| Published | October 1, 1928 |
| Studio | OKeh Recording Studio |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Length | 3:20 |
| Composer(s) | Duke Ellington and Irving Mills |
"The Mooche" is an American jazz song, composed in 1928 by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills,[1] with scat singing by vocalist Gertrude "Baby" Cox.[2] The song is considered to be one of Ellington's signature pieces and "he performed it frequently and recorded it many times over 45 years."[1]
Among the jazz musicians who recorded the original version of the song was James "Bubber" Miley whom Ellington described as "the epitome of soul and a master of the plunger mute."[3] However, Miley's alcoholism and his consequent unreliability would lead to his parting with Ellington's band.[3] Four years later, on May 20, 1932, Miley expired from tuberculosis. He was 29 years old. Despite his early death, "no one, apart from Duke himself, did more than Miley to shape the early Ellington sound."[3]
Ellington composed the song "for a high reed trio, playing one of the most eerie and haunting themes he had created up to that time. The theme, a sixteen-bar blues with interpolations by Miley, is followed by an eight-bar orchestral tutti, and then segues to a low register solo by [Barney] Bigard. A [Lonnie] Johnson solo is followed by a Miley-inspired scat vocal by Baby Cox."[2]
The song is in the so-called "jungle style" and includes the clarinet and muted trumpet typical of Ellington's work.[4] The song is played in C minor.
The title, sometimes spelled "mooch," refers to "someone who constantly borrows but does not pay back."[1] In 1933, Ellington explained that the title referred to "a certain lazy gait peculiar to some of the folk of Harlem."[5][6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Berger, David (2007). "The Mooche by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills" (PDF). Jazz at Lincoln Center Library. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Lawrence, A. H. (2001). Duke Ellington and His World. New York: Routledge. p. 136. ISBN 0-415-93012-X.
- ^ a b c Gioia, Ted (2007). "Duke Ellington (Featuring Bubber Miley): The Mooche". Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2010.
- ^ Crouch, Stanley (January 12, 2005). "The Late Show: Why Duke Ellington's late work deserves our attention". Slate. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ Ellington, Duke (August 1933). "My Hunt for Song Titles". Rhythm. pp. 22–3.
- ^ Tucker, Mark (1993). The Duke Ellington Reader. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0-19-505410-5.
External links[edit]
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