The Complete Porgy and Bess

Porgy and Bess

Studio album by various

Released

1956

Recorded

May 1956

Genre

Show tunes
Swing
Traditional pop
Vocal jazz

Label

Bethlehem Records

various chronology

Porgy and Bess (1951 album)
(1951)

The Complete George Gershwin Porgy and Bess
(1956)

This 1956 recording based on George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess was the second "complete" recording of the opera after the 1951 version, and the first recording of the work to feature jazz singers and musicians instead of operatic singers and a classical orchestra.

Russell Garcia arranged Gershwin's work for the Bethlehem Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Australian Jazz Quintet, the Pat Moran Quartet and the Stan Levey Group. Mel Tormé sang the role of Porgy and Frances Faye the role of Bess. The Ellington Orchestra plays "Summertime" as the overture, but does not appear elsewhere on the album.

Originally released by Bethlehem Records in 1956 (3BP-1); reissued in the 1970s (EXLP-1). Highlights from this recording released by Bethlehem as BCP 6040 and BCP 6009. On CD: Bethlehem Records #BET6028-2 (Released 1994), Rhino Records #75828 (Released 1999).

Cast

Mel Tormé (Porgy)
Frances Faye (Bess)
Johnny Hartman (Crown)
Betty Roche (Clara)
George Kirby (Sportin' Life)
Sallie Blair (Serena)
Frank Rosolino (Jake)
Loulie Jean Norman (Strawberry Woman)
Joe Derise (Honey Man)
Bob Dorough (Crab Man)
Pat Moran Quartet (Pat Moran McCoy, John Doling, Johnny Whited, Bev Kelly)

Orchestra

Duke Ellington Orchestra): Duke Ellington, piano; William "Cat" Anderson, Willie Cook, Clark Terry (trumpet); Ray Nance (trumpet, violin); Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (trombone); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (baritone saxophone); Jimmy Woode (bass); Sam Woodyard (drums)
Australian Jazz Quintet: Dick Healey (alto saxophone, flute); Erroll Buddle (tenor saxophone, bassoon); Jack Brokensha (vibraphone); Bryce Rohde (piano); Jimmy Gannon (bass); Frank Capp (drums)
Stan Levey Group: Conte Candoli, (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Richie Kamuca (tenor saxophone); Sonny Clark (piano); Leroy Vinnegar (bass); Stan Levey (drums)

External links

Dachslager, Earl L. (Winter 2000). "Various Artists: George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess". Songbirds. Archived from the original on 2000-09-29.
Production notes from the Jazz Discography Project

Porgy and Bess

Adaptations	Novel Play Opera Film adaptation Catfish Row Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture Porgy and Bess (Miles Davis album) Porgy and Bess (Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong album) Porgy and Bess (Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne album) Porgy and Bess (Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass album)

Creators	George Gershwin Ira Gershwin DuBose Heyward Dorothy Heyward

Songs	"Summertime" "My Man's Gone Now" "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" "It Ain't Necessarily So" "I Loves You, Porgy"

Media	Discography

Duke Ellington

Studio albums

Live albums

Collaborations

with Alice Babs	Serenade to Sweden

with Count Basie	First Time! The Count Meets the Duke

with Teresa Brewer	It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

with Rosemary Clooney	Blue Rose

with John Coltrane	Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

with Ella Fitzgerald	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook Ella at Duke's Place The Stockholm Concert, 1966 Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur

with Coleman Hawkins	Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins

with Frank Sinatra	Francis A. & Edward K.

Compositions

"All Too Soon"
"Azure"
"Black and Tan Fantasy"
"Black, Brown and Beige"
"C Jam Blues"
"Cotton Tail"
"Day Dream"
"Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"
"Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me"
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
"Drop Me Off in Harlem"
"Echoes of Harlem"
"Everything But You"
"I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues"
"I Didn't Know About You"
"I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)"
"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"
"I'm Beginning to See the Light"
"I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So"
"In a Mellow Tone"
"In a Sentimental Mood"
"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"
"Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'"
"Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)"
"Mood Indigo"
" Prelude to a Kiss"
"Rocks in My Bed"
"(In My) Solitude"
"Sophisticated Lady"

Billy Strayhorn compositions associated with Ellington	"Take the "A" Train" "Lush Life" "Chelsea Bridge" "Something to Live For" "Satin Doll" "Blood Count"

Juan Tizol compositions associated with Ellington	"Caravan" "Perdido"

Orchestra
members

Filmography

Discography

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