Ray Willis Nance (December 10, 1913 – January 28, 1976)[1] was an American jazztrumpeter, violinist and singer. He is best remembered for his long association with Duke Ellington and his orchestra.
Nance was the leader of his own band in Chicago from 1932 to 1937.[1] Then, he worked with Earl Hines from 1937 to 1939; and from 1939 to 1940 he worked with Horace Henderson.[1]
Ellington tenure
Ellington hired Nance to replace trumpeter Cootie Williams, who had joined Benny Goodman, in 1940.[1] Nance's first recorded performance with Ellington was at the Fargo, North Dakota ballroom dance.[2] Shortly after joining the band, Nance was given the trumpet solo on the earliest recorded version of "Take the "A" Train", which became the Ellington theme.[1] Nance's "A Train" solo is one of the most copied and admired trumpet solos in jazz history. Indeed, when Cootie Williams returned to the band more than twenty years later, he would play Nance's solo on "A Train" almost exactly as the original.
Nance in Duke Ellington's orchestra, 1943
Nance was often featured on violin, and was the only violin soloist ever featured in Ellington's orchestra (especially noteworthy is his violin contribution to the original 1942 version of "The 'C' Jam Blues"). He is also one of the better known male vocalists associated with Ellington's orchestra. On later recordings of "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", Nance took the previously instrumental horn riff into the lead vocal, which constitute the line "Doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, doo wha, yeah!" He was often featured as vocalist on "Jump for Joy," "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" and "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)". His multiple talents (trumpet, violin, vocals and also dancing) earned him the nickname "Floorshow".
Nance was absent from the Duke Ellington Orchestra for three or four months in 1946, including the date of that year's Carnegie Hall concert. In 1949, Nance participated, along with Ellington sidemen Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges and Sonny Greer on several Ivory Joe Hunter sessions, for King Records of Cincinnati.
Post-Ellington years
He left Ellington in 1963 during their Middle East tour after having played alongside his returned predecessor Cootie Williams for a year. He continued to make several guest appearances in the orchestra over the years and later toured and recorded in England in 1974.[2]
Duke Ellington and His Great Vocalists (Sony, c. 1940s)
Cabin in the Sky Soundtrack (Rhino, 1942 performance)
Indispensable Duke Ellington, Vol. 11–12 (1944–1946) (RCA, 1944–1946 performances) or The Best of the Complete Duke Ellington RCA Recordings, 1944–1946) (RCA, 1944–1946 performances)
^ abc"Ray Nance | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
References
Lambert, Eddie (1998), Duke Ellington: A Listener's Guide, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, ISBN978-0-8108-3161-2.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ray Nance.
allmusic.com biography
February 27, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ray Nance news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ray Willis Nance December 10 1913 January 28 1976 1 was an American jazz trumpeter violinist and singer He is best remembered for his long association with Duke Ellington and his orchestra Ray NanceBackground informationBirth nameRay Willis NanceBorn 1913 12 10 December 10 1913Chicago Illinois U S DiedJanuary 28 1976 1976 01 28 aged 62 GenresJazzOccupation s MusicianInstrument s Trumpet vocals violinFormerly ofDuke Ellington Contents 1 Early years 2 Ellington tenure 3 Post Ellington years 4 Discography 4 1 As leader 4 2 As sideman 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly years EditNance was the leader of his own band in Chicago from 1932 to 1937 1 Then he worked with Earl Hines from 1937 to 1939 and from 1939 to 1940 he worked with Horace Henderson 1 Ellington tenure EditEllington hired Nance to replace trumpeter Cootie Williams who had joined Benny Goodman in 1940 1 Nance s first recorded performance with Ellington was at the Fargo North Dakota ballroom dance 2 Shortly after joining the band Nance was given the trumpet solo on the earliest recorded version of Take the A Train which became the Ellington theme 1 Nance s A Train solo is one of the most copied and admired trumpet solos in jazz history Indeed when Cootie Williams returned to the band more than twenty years later he would play Nance s solo on A Train almost exactly as the original Nance in Duke Ellington s orchestra 1943 Nance was often featured on violin and was the only violin soloist ever featured in Ellington s orchestra especially noteworthy is his violin contribution to the original 1942 version of The C Jam Blues He is also one of the better known male vocalists associated with Ellington s orchestra On later recordings of It Don t Mean a Thing If It Ain t Got That Swing Nance took the previously instrumental horn riff into the lead vocal which constitute the line Doo wha doo wha doo wha doo wha yeah He was often featured as vocalist on Jump for Joy Just A Sittin and A Rockin and Just Squeeze Me But Please Don t Tease Me His multiple talents trumpet violin vocals and also dancing earned him the nickname Floorshow Nance was absent from the Duke Ellington Orchestra for three or four months in 1946 including the date of that year s Carnegie Hall concert In 1949 Nance participated along with Ellington sidemen Russell Procope Johnny Hodges and Sonny Greer on several Ivory Joe Hunter sessions for King Records of Cincinnati Post Ellington years EditHe left Ellington in 1963 during their Middle East tour after having played alongside his returned predecessor Cootie Williams for a year He continued to make several guest appearances in the orchestra over the years and later toured and recorded in England in 1974 2 Nance made a few recordings as a bandleader and also recorded or performed with Earl Hines Rosemary Clooney Jaki Byard Chico Hamilton and others 2 Discography EditAs leader Edit Ellingtonia Wynne 1959 A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing Parker Records 1959 Body and Soul Solid State 1970 Huffin n Puffin MPS 1974 As sideman Edit With Ahmed Abdul Malik Spellbound Status 1964 With Jaki Byard Jaki Byard with Strings Prestige 1968 With Duke Ellington The Duke at Fargo 1940 Special 60th Anniversary Edition Storyville 1940 performance Duke Ellington and His Great Vocalists Sony c 1940s Cabin in the Sky Soundtrack Rhino 1942 performance Indispensable Duke Ellington Vol 11 12 1944 1946 RCA 1944 1946 performances or The Best of the Complete Duke Ellington RCA Recordings 1944 1946 RCA 1944 1946 performances Ellington Uptown includes Harlem Suite Controversial Suite Liberian Suite Columbia 1947 1951 1952 performances Masterpieces by Ellington Columbia 1950 1951 performances Ellington 55 Capitol 1955 or Jazz Profile Blue Note 1950s 1960s performances A Drum Is a Woman Columbia 1956 Blue Rose With Rosemary Clooney 1956 Historically Speaking 1956 Ellington at Newport Columbia 1956 Such Sweet Thunder Columbia 1957 All Star Road Band Doctor Jazz 1957 1983 Black Brown and Beige Columbia 1958 Live at the Blue Note 1958 Newport 1958 Columbia 1958 Festival Session Coilumbia 1959 Blues in Orbit Columbia 1959 Anatomy of a Murder Columbia 1959 Jazz Party Columbia 1959 Piano in the Background Columbia 1960 Hot Summer Dance Red Baron 1960 1991 The Nutcracker Suite Columbia 1960 Swinging Suites by Edward E and Edward G 1960 Peer Gynt Suite Suite Thursday First Time The Count Meets the Duke Columbia 1961 All American in Jazz Columbia 1962 Midnight in Paris Columbia 1962 Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins Impulse 1962 The Great Paris Concert Atlantic 1963 Duke Ellington s Jazz Violin Session Atlantic 1963 My People 1963 Afro Bossa Reprise 1963 The Symphonic Ellington 1963 Ellington 66 1965 Concert in the Virgin Islands 1966 In the Uncommon Market 1966 With Horace Henderson Horace Henderson 1940 Fletcher Henderson 1941 Classics 1992 With Earl Hines Rosetta Jazz Archives 1937 1939 selections 1937 1939 Classics 1937 1939 performances Harlem Lament Sony 1937 1938 selections featuring Nance Piano Man ASV includes c 1937 1939 RCA selections Earl Hines and the Duke s Men Delmark 1944 1947 performances 1942 1945 Classics 1942 1945 With Johnny Hodges Ellingtonia 56 Norgran 1956 Duke s in Bed Verve 1956 The Big Sound Verve 1957 Not So Dukish Verve 1958 Triple Play RCA Victor 1967 With Budd Johnson Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants Riverside 1960 With Joya Sherrill Joya Sherrill Sings Duke 20th Century Fox 1965 Notes Edit a b c d e Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Jazz First ed Guinness Publishing p 300 ISBN 0 85112 580 8 a b c Ray Nance Biography Albums amp Streaming Radio AllMusic Retrieved May 5 2016 References EditLambert Eddie 1998 Duke Ellington A Listener s Guide Lanham MD Scarecrow Press ISBN 978 0 8108 3161 2 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ray Nance allmusic com biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ray Nance amp oldid 1118830678, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
