music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Perdido" is a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol that was recorded on December 3, 1941 by Duke Ellington. However, it is the January 21, 1942, recording of the song on the Victor label by the Ellington orchestra, of which Tizol was a member, that is regarded as the original recording.[1] In 1944, Ervin Drake and Hans Lengsfelder were hired to write lyrics for the song.

"Perdido"
Juan Tizol in 1943
Song
Written	1941 (music), 1944 (lyrics)
Composer(s)	Juan Tizol
Lyricist(s)	Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder

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:

• 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]

References

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

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