Composition
The tune was composed for a radio broadcast in October 1930 and was originally titled “Dreamy Blues.” It was “the first tune I ever wrote specially for microphone transmission,” Ellington recalled. “The next day wads of mail came in raving about the new tune, so Irving Mills put a lyric to it.” Renamed “Mood Indigo,” it became a jazz standard.[3]
While Irving Mills—Jack Mills’s brother and publishing partner—took credit for the lyrics, in a 1987 interview, lyricistMitchell Parish claimed that he had written the lyrics.[4]
Sound
The main theme was provided by Bigard, who learned it inNew Orleans, Louisiana from his clarinet teacher Lorenzo Tio, who called it a “Mexican Blues”. Ellington’s distinctive arrangement was first recorded by his band forBrunswick Records (Cat No. 01068) on 17 October 1930. It was recorded twice more in 1930. These recordings featured Arthur Whetsol(trumpet), Joe Nanton(trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), Duke Ellington(piano), Fred Guy (banjo),Wellman Braud (bass), Sonny Greer (drums). An unusual thing about this piece was the way that the Duke blended the muted trumpet, muted trombone and clarinet, to give a unified sound.
euzicasa 