The Repertoire
The current repertoire spans the 1930s to the late 1940s with a light smattering of material from later decades. The style of the 1930s music is challenging and quite different from most other music that typical big bands or dance bands perform. This era is a special focus of the Harmony In Harlem orchestra as this is a period of Ellingtonia least explored by any other such orchestras.
Material from before 1940 features a line-up of only four reeds, three trumpets and three trombones whereas post-war material has the standard line-up of five reeds, four trumpets and three trombones.
1930s
- Accent On Youth
- Buffet Flat
- Cotton Club Stomp
- Dusk On The Desert
- Harmony In Harlem
- Hip Chic
- Isn't Love The Strangest Thing (vocal)
- It's Swell Of You (vocal)
- Moon Glow
- Old King Dooji
- Please Forgive Me
- Pussy Willow
- Ridin' On A Blue Note
- Scattin' At The Cotton Club
- Shoe Shine Boy (vocal)
- Sweetie
- There's A Lull In My Life (vocal)
- Uptown Downbeat
- Way Low
- Yearning For Love
- You Can Count On Me (vocal)
- You Gave Me The Gate (vocal)
1940s
- April In Paris
- Are You Sticking?
- Blue Goose
- C Jam Blues
- Cotton Tail
- Five O'Clock Drag
- Frustration
- Golden Feather
- Have You Changed
- Hayfoot, Strawfoot
- I Didn't Know About You (vocal)
- I Don't Mind (vocal)
- Lady Of The Lavender Mist
- Love And I
- Magenta Haze
- Main Stem
- Me And You (vocal)
- Morning Glory
- My Greatest Mistake
- (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings
- Perdido
- Royal Garden Blues
- Sherman Shuffle
- Sidewalks of New York
- Someone
- Things Ain't What They Used To Be
- Until Tonight
- Warm Valley
- Asphalt Jungle Theme (Part I)
- Bensonality
- Blues In G
- Cafe Au Lait
- Hello Dolly
- Serious Serenade
- Stay Awake
- Such Sweet Thunder