Ellington at Newport [1999]

by Duke Ellington

Overview

Duke Ellington's appearance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival has long been famous, and justifiably so. Paul Gonsalves' 27-chorus tenor solo on "Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue" practically started a riot at Newport and made headlines around the world. The momentum generated by this concert led to Ellington's comeback and never let up during his 18 remaining years. A double CD put out in 1999 presents the entire concert performance, previously unheard material, and a few revelations. After a brief truncated set that was cut short because four of Ellington's musicians could not be found, the Ellington Orchestra returned to the stage three hours later. They played "Take the 'A' Train," "Newport Jazz Festival Suite," a showcase for Harry Carney on "Sophisticated Lady," and a so-so Jimmy Grissom vocal outing on "Day In, Day Out." Then came "Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue." The saxophone interlude caused crazed dancing, and soon the crowd was as loud as the band. When the crowd would not quiet down, Ellington saved the day by closing with a long version of "Skin Deep." But unknown to most people is that on July 9, the orchestra went to the studios to reproduce the program. The earlier version of the "Newport Jazz Festival Suite" had been a bit sloppy and Gonsalves' famous tenor solo on "Diminuendo" had actually been played into the wrong microphone. Ellington's band therefore performed the entire "Newport Jazz Festival Suite" again and it was issued (with phony applause, introductions, and crowd noises) on the original LP. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	05/11/2010
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0886974920526
Rank:	40324

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Star Spangled Banner
2. Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke & the Orchestra/Duke Introduces Tune & Anderson, Jackson, & Procope
3. Black and Tan Fantasy
4. Duke Introduces Cook & Tune
5. Tea for Two
6. Duke & Band Leave Stage/Father Norman O'Connor Talks About the Festival
7. Take the "A" Train
8. Duke Announces Strayhorn's a Train & Nance Duke Introduces Festival Suite, Pt. 1 & Hamilton
9. Festival Junction, Pt. 1
10. Duke Announces Soloists/Introduces, Pt. 2
11. Blues to Be There, Pt. 2
12. Duke Announces Nance & Procope/Introduces, Pt. 3
13. Newport Up, Pt. 3
14. Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves, & Terry/Duke Introduces Carney & Tune
15. Sophisticated Lady
16. Duke Announces Grissom & Tune
17. Day in, Day Out
18. Duke Introduce Tune(s) and Paul Gonsalves (Interludes)
19. Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue
20. Announcements, Pandemonium
21. Pause Track

Disc 2

22. Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges
23. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
24. Jeep's Blues
25. Duke Calms Crowd, Introduces Nance & Tune
26. Tulip or Turnip
27. Riot Prevention
28. Skin Deep
29. Mood Indigo
30. Studio Concert (Excerpts)
31. Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke Ellington/Duke Introduces New Work, Pt. I, & Hamilton
32. Festival Junction, Pt. 1
33. Duke Announces Soloists/Introduces, Pt. 2
34. Blues to Be There, Pt. 2
35. Duke Announces Nance & Procope/Introduces, Pt. 3
36. Newport Up, Pt. 3
37. Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves, & Terry/Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges
38. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
39. Jeep's Blues
40. Pause Track

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duke Ellington   Primary Artist
Ray Nance   Primary Artist
Jimmy Grissom   Primary Artist
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Irving Caesar   Composer
Barney Bigard   Composer
Seth Rothstein   Project Director
Patti Matheny   A&R
Howard Fritzson   Reissue Art Director
John Stafford Smith   Composer
Nicholas Bennett   Packaging Manager
Randall Martin   Reissue Design
Arnold Newman   Cover Photo
Rob Schwarz   Assistant
Steve Berkowitz   A&R
Bob Woolf   Assistant
Don Hunstein   Photography
Seth Foster   Assistant
Francis Scott Key   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Rube Bloom   Composer
Don George   Composer
John Jackson   Production Assistant
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Louie Bellson   Composer
Phil Schaap   Research,Assistant,Remastering,Restoration,Reissue Producer,Stereo Enhancement
Mark Wilder   Digital Mastering,Stereo Enhancement,Digital Enhancement
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Paul Francis Webster   Composer
Darren Salmieri   A&R
Bubber Miley   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Vincent Youmans   Composer
Johnny Hodges   Composer