Aaron Bell – Bass

Another from what is probably my favourite Ellington album, ‘And His Mother Called Him Bill’. The 1968 album is a recording made in tribute to the recently deceased Billy Strayhorn who has worked with Ellington for years. Strayhorn died of esophageal cancer in May, 1967, and Ellington was said to be devasted at the loss. The album is all Strayhorn compositions and includes a solo rendering by Ellington of the tune ‘Lotus Blossom’ which was recorded clandestinely whilst the band were packing up (you can hear them talking and moving about in the background). No bass part so no transcription but this tune, ‘Snibor’ opens the album and features a delightful swing part ftom the bass player Aaron Bell who features on the whole record. The song title is a reference to Fred Robbins, a disc jockey and host of the then famous radio program Robbins Nest.