Portrait of Arthur Whetsel (Podcast #23-008)

Ellington Reflections · Sep 29, 2023

https://ellingtonreflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/portrait-of-arthur-whetsel.mp3

“As a trumpet player, [Arthur Whetsel] had a tonal personality that has never really been duplicated. Sweet, but not syrupy, nor schmaltzy, nor surrealistic, it had a superiority of extrasensory dimensions. Both as a soloist and from the point of view of teamwork, he was a fine musician. Everything with him had to be of the best, and he was one of the really good readers.”

Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress

Arthur Parker Whetsel [1905-1940]

Duke Ellington and his orchestra, with Arthur…