The Duke – Where and When

"Duke to Chi Blue Note
Duke Ellington has been signed for the Blue Note club, Chicago, Aug. 24 for two weeks. He'll follow with a series of one-nighters and concert dates through the west and midwest.

Ellington, recently signed by Joe Glaser's Associated Booking Corp., has also been set for a tour of arenas and auditoriums with 'The Biggest Show of 1951' an all-Negro unit packaged for the Arena Managers Assn."

• Blues At Sundown
• Duet
• Controversial Suite 1. Before My Time
• Controversial Suite 2. Later
• Azalea
• Vagabonds
• Something To Live For
• Vagabonds

LES BUZZ Spring Valley
Brings You In Person
DUKE
ELLINGTON
and His Famous Orchesta
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16th
DANCING 9 TILL 1
Adv.2.00 - Door 2.25 tax. incl.
No other Illinois date except Chicago
America's Finest Artist
Featuring the World's 3rd
Greatest White Drummer
"LOUIE BELLSON""'

"Duke Ellington set for Dec. 14 date at University of Indiana, Bloomington, then jumps back for an RCA Victor dance there, Dec. 20"

I don't believe
1. the Ellington orchestra played Sauk City, Wisconsin the evening of January 4, 1952

   Sources:

   -Additions to Duke’s Itinerary by Arne Neegaard in DEMS 08/3-9

   -Several ads in the Capital Times and the Wisconsin State Journal up to and including January 4

   THEN

2. played two concerts the next day, January 5, in New York, at 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (One concert was recorded. Vail reports only one concert, doesn't say what time it was and says it was an NAACP benefit.)

   Sources:

   -Stratemann, p.331

   Vail II

   New Desor 5201 and New Desor correction sheet 1030

   Timner 4th edition p.125

   Jazz Records 1942-80, Nielsen, Vol. 6

   http://ellingtonia.com

   THEN

3. returned to the midwest to play at the Labor Temple in Minneapolis on January 6.

   Sources:

   Stratemann p.331

   Vail II

   New Desor 5202

   Timner 4th edition p.125

   Jazz Records 1942-80, Nielsen, Vol. 6

   http://ellingtonia.com

5Jan1952
Pilkington: Although tapes are apparently in existence this date is questionable. The New York Times 30Dec51, page8- X listing, titled "Concerts and Opera programs of the week," details the following:

Carnegie Hall - Saturday, 5Jan52

11:00 a.m.Philharmonic Symphony - Young Peoples Concert conducted by Igor Buketoff.

8:30 p.m. U.S.Military Academy Band and the West Point Glee Club.

Metropolitan Opera House - Saturday, 5Jan52

1:30 p.m. Gotterdammerung

8:30 p.m.LaBoheme

• Ellington played to a 650 people, filling the house.
• About 80% were white and the rest were Mexican-Americans.
• The club owner recalled Ellington roomed in San Antonio because Corpus Christi lacked accommodations for blacks"

• Ralph Galvan Jr. booked the band for $1,500 through Music Corporation of America
• Tickets were $3.00 each
• The house was sold out, with many turned away.
• The band arrived by bus
• Duke used a baby grand
• The Galvan brothers described the tune-up routine - one started, another joined on the same chord, then another. The bass would join in, then the drummer followed by the guitarist. When everyone was tuned, Ellington walked on, and the band segued into Take the A Train.
• The band did not use sheet music.
• Many fans stood and watched the band.
• The band was professional, no drinking on the stand, and precise 15 minute breaks
• Galvan Jr. and Sr. visited with Ellington during breaks, found him to be professional and friendly.
• Duke and some band members posed for photos after.
• The band left for San Antonio where they were to play the next night (unconfirmed, likely in error).

• May 15:
  •  -7:30 concert at Clyde Williams Field
     -9:00 dance at Memorial Union
  • May 16: 9:00 dance at Memorial Union
  • May 17:8:30 dance at Memorial Union
  
  
• The program pages for Ellington include a photo of him, and one of a dance in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.
  
  
• Concert:
  The Duke himself – the man with the warm smile and the warm music. This year’s concert Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Clyde Williams Field will feature Duke Ellington and his orchestra.
  
  The program will be composed of a group of yesterday and today’s classes [sic]. Ellington is well known for his compositions­“Mood Indigo,” “In my Solitude,” and “Caravan.” These and many others in the famed Duke’s repertoire will be on the program.
  
  Following the concert, the silvery flames and the bright smoke of the annual fireworks display will fill the sky...a fitting close to one of the best VEISHEA concerts in recent years.
  
  
• Dances
  "The combined ballrooms of the Memorial Union will again ring with the music of a good orchestra and reflect the images of dancing couples as Duke Ellington plays for the Veishea dances of 1952.
  
  A specializer in everything from the smoothest dancing rhythm to the hottest jump tune, Ellington is one of the best known of the modern orchestra leaders.
  
  The dramatic backdrop will portray a gold, three-dimensional Veishea torch against a black background.
  
  The dances will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of Veishea. The Veishea Queen of Queens will be presented during intermission. Saturday night, the trophies for Veishea open house and the parade winners will also be awarded.

• tappers Roll & Tap
• comedienne 'Moms' Mabley
• acrobatic dancers Estelle and Alphonse
• comedian Pigmeat Markham

• Film "Roaring City
• Howell and Bowser
• Roll and Tapp
• Chester Calhoun