Beginning Duke and his orchestra arrived to play at the Newport Jazz Festival at a time when jazz festivals were a fairly new innovation. Ellington's band was the first and last group to play at the Newport Festival. After performances by the other groups, the remainder of the band was located and the real performance began. Duke asked trumpeter
Herbie Jones to join the band on stage, as a
flop insurance in case something went wrong. When the solo ended and Gonsalves collapsed in exhaustion, Ellington himself took over for two choruses of piano solo before the full band returned for the "Crescendo in Blue" portion, finishing with a rousing finale featuring high-note trumpeter
Cat Anderson.
Ending After that performance, pandemonium took over. Duke calmed the crowd by announcing: "If you've heard of the saxophone, then you've heard of
Johnny Hodges." Duke's best known alto saxophonist then played two of his most famous numbers in "
I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" followed by "Jeep's Blues". Still the crowd refused to disperse so Duke called for Ray Nance to sing "Tulip or Turnip". The festival's organizers tried to cut off the show at this point but once again were met with angry refusals to end the evening. Duke told the announcer that he would end the show and wanted to thank the audience but instead announced he had a "very heavy request for Sam Woodyard in 'Skin Deep'", a number written by former Ellington drummer
Louie Bellson. This drum solo feature was the final number featured, followed by a farewell from Duke over "
Mood Indigo". In his farewell, he thanked the crowd for the "wonderful way in which you've inspired us this evening." He then finished with his trademark statement: "You are very beautiful, very sweet and we do love you madly." With that, the historic show concluded. ==Recordings==