Bringing alive the music of Duke Ellington

Transcriptions by Michael Kilpatrick

Sherman Shuffle

We owe the Sherman Hotel in Chicago for the title of this work. It was presumably written in July or August of 1942 when Ellington played there for a month, or perhaps just before that, as it was originally entitled Fussy Puss. A medium-tempo number, Sherman Shuffle has a conventional swing theme scored for three unison saxophones, but its most outstanding feature is a powerful clarinet-lead reed soli section. Rather than opting for a 'shout' chorus as a finale, Ellington chooses to diminuendo with repetitions of the opening theme, the second without its trumpet trio accompaniment – a form we see also in Strayhorn's Johnny Come Lately a month earlier.

Two soli sections for the reeds and trombones are quite challenging, both resulting in fast figures in the upper registers on the instruments.

Orchestration

Reeds: A A T/Cl T B Solos:
Brass:3tpt 3tbn
Rhythm:p b dr g
Vocal:
1st trombone
clarinet
2nd/3rd trumpets

Listening Guide

The following recording dates for Sherman Shuffle have been issued on CD. Some editions may no longer be available - please ask your favourite retailer.

CD Title Label Number Recording date
D.E. & his Orchestra 1942-1944 Classics 867 1942-07-28

Price £35