Duke Ellington: Happy-Go-Lucky Local

Duke Ellingtons Happy-Go-Lucky Local was originally the final movement of his Deep South Suite premiered at his 1946 Carnegie Hall concert. A completely different concept than Daybreak Express, Happy-Go-Lucky Local runs twice as long and has about a third of the writing as its predecessor. Yet this composition stayed in the Ellington book for years and there are several live recordings available. The present version was recorded shortly after the premiere and issued on a 2-part 78. Unlike Daybreak Express, which seemed in a hurry to get to its destination, Happy-Go-Lucky Local soulfully lopes along. The principal soloists are Russell Procope on alto sax, Ray Nance (I think) on trumpet and Oscar Pettiford on bass, with shorter spots for Harry Carney on baritone sax and Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet. Pettiford is the real solo star with several spots sounding similar to the Ellington/Jimmie Blanton duets from a few years earlier. The written parts fit together exceptionally well, and Ellington artfully combines the themes, mixing new material with music we heard 2½ minutes before. When the Night Train theme shows up in part 2, it seems the most natural development of what weve already heard. For the finale, Ellington brings out the newest addition to his band, high-note trumpet specialist Cat Anderson. While Andersons playing is part of the Ellington sound as we now know it, imagine how it must have been to hear it for the first time in 1946!