Caravan Transcription - When Ella and Duke Joined Forces

Caravan was written by Juan Tizol, a brilliant Puerto Rican trombonist in Duke Ellington’s band. Ellington first arranged the song for the band to record in 1936, and it became a regular standard thereafter. This recording comes from the famous collaboration with Ella Fitzgerald in 1957.

The performers are all at the height of their powers: Ella’s vocal delivery is wonderfully expressive and rhythmically supple; Ellington and his band swing imperiously throughout; the scoring is harmonically rich, and there is a cornucopia of timbre on display, from ferocious saxophones and trombones to quietly floating trumpets, bluesy clarinet and elegantly swung hi-hat; and sailing over it all, the golden voice of the Queen of Jazz. The ensemble playing is magnificent, and the solos are poised and elegant. The journey of the music, from the rasp of the opening chord to the final stroke of the cymbal is a perfect arc.

It is noteworthy that artistry of this quality was on display at the height of the Civil Rights struggle, and when all the performers on the recording were experiencing racial discrimination on a daily basis. Ella Fitzgerald was herself forced off a Pan-Am flight, with fellow African American musicians, en route to their tour of Australia in 1954. She subsequently sued the company successfully for damages.

The video ascribes the clarinet solo to Russell Procope. In fact it was probably played by Jimmy Hamilton.

MUSICAL EXCERPTS USED IN THIS VIDEO

Caravan by Juan Tizol, orchestrated by Duke Ellington

Performers: Ella Fitzgerald with the Duke Ellington Band

From Ella Fitzgerald sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
(recorded June - October 1957, Hollwood, California)

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Produced and directed by Ian Coulter & Matthew King

[lulo]

Great video! Your transcription selection and the assorted images nearly equal the creativity and power of the piece. Congrats and thank you

[jarosemann]

I really enjoyed this format of read along. Very fun.

[londonchops]

A fabulous video of a fabulous arrangement with a fabulous singer and band, thank you.

[robertfeldman]

I’ve always loved this recording. So many tasteful choices. Ella a goddess Thanks for the breakdown.

[bigkahunauk]

Your video is an art form in itself. Art begets art. ❤

[LaNature]

Fantastic production, I will share it with my students 🎉

[izzyk]

Another mini-masterpiece… I think this might be my new favourite. Fabulous. Thank you.

[Aquadolphin]

This video just made me fall in love with this performance

[AndiAngvil]

Yes, your sense of little humoresques is actually genius, with high quality taste and perfect analysis) bravo

[jeremystobingham]

The clarinet solo is by Jimmy Hamilton, not Russell Procope. Duke and Billy used Procope on clarinet for when they wanted that New Orleans sound.

[alexanderbestchastnyi]

Great job! Is it possible to get the score in pdf?

[katetranscribes]

An amazing contrast with the version Duke did with Charles Minus on Money Jungle

[ivokory]

Singers used to sing, nowadays they scream.

[itamarbar]

The closest jazz ever got to Stravinsky.