CLICK HERE to hear the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra’s recording of “Cotton Tail”

This Duke Ellington composition “Cotton Tail” was originally recorded on May 4, 1940, for his orchestra which historians also referred as the period of the “Blanton-Webster Band” from 1940-1942. The original recording showcases saxophonist Ben Webster’s iconic solo that is still recognized today for his brilliance as a soloist. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Quintet pays tribute to Ellington and Webster with this spirited rendition of “Cotton Tail.”