Do Nothing till You Hear from Me

Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me is a composition by Duke Ellington with the text by Bob Russell.

Background

The composition is based on the instrumental title Concerto for Cootie 1940, a feature for trumpeter Cootie Williams; Russell's text was added later. Ellington's first own recording of the composition reached in 1944 took first place in the rhythm and blues charts. Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me has since been recorded by many singers, such as Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Dr. John, Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett, Robbie Williams and Nina Simone. Significant instrumental recordings of the title comes from Johnny Hodges, Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson and Zoot Sims. André Hodeir called the composition " a masterpiece. It shows an economy of means, which is the sign of real classical music. " J. L. Collier considered Echoes of the Jungle, one of those pieces in the Jungle Style ( 1930 ), the predecessor of the Concerto for Cootie; also there were to be found the contrasting themes of growl and open trumpet by Williams.

Cover versions

Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me was recorded by many famous singers, including by Mose Allison, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, Suzy Bogguss, Nat King Cole, Phil Collins, Harry Connick, Jr., Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Dr. John, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Patti Page, Robert Palmer, Nina Simone, Andy Williams, Robbie Williams and Fiona Apple.

Trivia

Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (2004) is also the title of a sitcom TV comedy of the British radio station BBC Radio 4

Literature / source

  • Carlo Bohländer u.a: Reclam Jazz guide; Reclam, Stuttgart, 1990
  • James Lincoln Collier Duke Ellington. Berlin, Ullstein, 1998

Comments

  • Jazz Title
  • Duke Ellington
Bob Russell (songwriter) Robert Palmer (singer)
293040
de