Ellington’s film work began in 1929 with Black and Tan Fantasie and continued with appearances in Check and Double Check, Murder at the Vanities and Symphony in Black—all within a 6-year stretch. He made a number of soundies (videos for jukeboxes) in the early 1940s including Cottontail, C Jam Blues, and Stormy Weather. Two feature films from the ‘40s: Cabin in the Sky and Reveille with Beverly. He then made a few TV appearances in the ‘50s and ‘60s some solo and some with the band.

In 1959 Otto Preminger hired him to score Anatomy of a Murder. Ellington followed that with Paris Blues and Assault on a Queen, both of which used some Ellington band members in addition to studio musicians and other jazz players. In 1961 he scored the theme and several episodes of Asphalt Jungle, a TV show based on the movie of the same name. He recorded the theme twice, adding Clark Terry on the second recording. Clark is heard playing lead in plunger over the saxes in a soli chorus, which Duke asked him to write the lead line for.

It may seem odd now that a leading jazz artist would score a movie or TV show, but in the 1960s this was quite common. Other jazz composers and arrangers active in film and TV at that time were Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin, JJ Johnson, Benny Golson, Benny Carter and Oliver Nelson.

When Anatomy of a Murder was shown on TV, the New York Times listing would praise the courtroom drama and then add: Ellington’s music doesn’t fit. The connection is that the main character is an amateur jazz pianist. What doesn’t fit is that the music is too good. It forces you to listen and not follow the story. The secret to scoring a film is to leave an element out of the music that the action will fill in. Ellington’s (and Strayhorn’s) music is complete and challenging.

This was not a concern for Asphalt Jungle Theme, since the only thing happening during this music was the credits. Its sole purpose is to set the mood, to establish the character of the show, which it does nicely.

Personnel

Recorded July 30, 1961 NYC Columbia Records CO 67172 

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Russell Procope (clarinet, alto sax), Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet), Paul Gonsalves (tenor sax), Harry Carney (bass clarinet, bari)

Trumpets: Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Eddie “Moon” Mullins, Clark Terry, Ray Nance

Trombones: Lawrence Brown, Lou Blackburn, Chuck Connors (bass)

Piano: Duke Ellington

Bass: Aaron Bell

Drums: Sam Woodyard