Who was Warren Mills? The name appears to be a thinly veiled pseudonym for Duke Ellington's business manager Irving Mills. This session features Matty Malneck directing Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Orchestra together with an unknown White orchestra. Tommy Dorsey plays trombone in the medley from Gems from "Blackbirds of 1928". Blackbirds of 1928 was a floor show at the Cotton Club that included tunes by the great songwriting team of Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Gems from "Blackbirds of 1928"
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Dig A Dig A Do - I Must Have That Man - Magnolia's Wedding Day - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh)		 2-1-1929 New York, New York Victor
35962-A
St. Louis Blues
(W.C. Handy)		 12-20-1928 New York, New York Victor
35962-B
Artist Instrument
Barney Bigard Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Wellman Braud Bass
Harry Carney Clarinet, Alto and Baritone Saxophone
Tommy Dorsey Trombone
Duke Ellington Piano
Sonny Greer Drums, Vocals
Fred Guy Banjo
Johnny Hodges Alto Saxophone, and Soprano Saxophone
Freddy Jenkins Trumpet, Flugel Horn
Joe Nanton Trombone
Matty Malneck Violin, Director
Bubber Miley Trumpet
Arthur Whetsel Trumpet
unknown Trumpets, Saxophones, Violins, Piano, Guitar, Bass Brass, Drums, Vocals
A special thanks to Owen Miller, for his help with the recordings on this page.