Perdido (song) explained

Perdido
Written:	1941 (music), 1944 (lyrics)
Composer:	Juan Tizol
Lyricist:	Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder

"Perdido" is a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol, a longtime member of Duke Ellington's orchestra. It was first recorded for radio transcription on December 3, 1941, by Duke Ellington. The Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded it again, this time for Victor, on January 21, 1942.^[1] In 1944, Ervin Drake and Hans Lengsfelder were hired to write lyrics for the song.

Background

"Perdido" is Spanish and means lost, but also sloppy or indecent.^[2] The song refers to Perdido Street in New Orleans.^[3]

Ella Fitzgerald recording

"Perdido" was not usually sung with the Ellington band, the exception being Ella Fitzgerald on her 1957 album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook.

Other recordings

Many others recorded the song, including:

• Ben Webster
• Sarah Vaughan
• Dinah Washington
• Art Tatum
• Quincy Jones
• The Charlie Parker Quintet
• Dave Brubeck
• Charles Mingus
• Randy Weston
• Erroll Garner
• Bill Doggett
• Harry James
• Enoch Light and Light Brigade^[4]
• Dancing Mood

External links

• "Perdido" at JazzStandards.com
• Standards Throwdown! (THE Greatest Standard of ALL-TIME!): Perdido "36 different artists recordings of Perdido, in a 'Standards Throwdown!'" at rdio.com

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/perdido.htm "Perdido"
2. H. J. Schaal Jazz-Standards. p. 395.
3. Basilio Serrano, "Juan Tizol: His talents, his collaborators, his legacy", Centro Journal 18(2): 83–99 (2006).
4. Web site: Enoch Light and the Light Brigade – Future Sound Shock (1973, Vinyl).