Masters of Jazz

by Duke Ellington

Overview

While tempted to call this collection of tracks by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra a hodgepodge, it's more like a mishmash. The music here -- 18 cuts worth -- is presented in strange fashion. First, it's from all different periods ranging from 1943 to 1966 (the latest cut chronologically is a solo piano read of a medley of Duke's finest). It's not presented in chronological order either, but was sequenced aesthetically instead. The first pieces, "Take the 'A' Train" and "Blow Boy Blow," are from 1962 when the band, while not in its prime, did contain a number of startling players including Cat Anderson and Ray Nance on trumpets, Paul Gonsalves and Johnny Hodges on saxophones, and Sam Woodyard and Harry Carney on drums and bass, respectively. These tunes swing hard, though the sound quality is a little ragged. The treasure piece here is the aforementioned solo piano medley recorded in Paris in 1966, with Ellington moving through "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Satin Doll," "Sophisticated Lady," "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," "Mood Indigo," and "Caravan," just to name a few. At nearly 12 minutes, it is excellent intimate Ellington. The remainder of the material comes from either 1943 or 1949, including a number of cuts with Ben Webster and Juan Tizol, recorded at either Carnegie Hall or the Hollywood Empire. Al Hibbler is featured on some of the 1943 dates singing "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," "Rockin' in Rhythm," and "Ring Dem Bells." The sound quality varies but the performances are excellent throughout. This is for the collectors out there searching for rare material. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	07/11/2006
Label:	Storyville
UPC:	0717101850129
Rank:	139702

Tracks

1. Take the "A" Train
2. Blow Boy Blow
3. Medley: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)/Satin Doll
4. Kinda Dukish
5. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
6. Satin Doll
7. New World A-Comin'
8. VIP Boogie/Jam with Sam
9. The Good Years of Jazz
10. What Am I Here For?
11. Johnny Come Lately
12. Main Stem (Altitude)
13. Ring Dem Bells
14. Rockin' in Rhythm
15. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
16. Juat A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
17. C Jam Blues
18. Cotton Tail

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duke Ellington   Primary Artist,Piano
Sonny Greer   Drums
Fred Guy   Guitar
Cat Anderson   Trumpet
Paul Gonsalves   Sax (Tenor)
Chuck Connors   Trombone
Russell Procope   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Francis Williams   Trumpet
Wendell Marshall   Bass
Sam Woodyard   Drums
Juan Tizol   Trombone
Jimmy Hamilton   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
Wallace Jones   Trumpet
Quentin Jackson   Trombone
Ray Nance   Vocals,Trumpet
Aaron Bell   Bass
Johnny Hodges   Sax (Alto)
Al Hibbler   Vocals
Harold Baker   Trumpet
Lawrence Brown   Trombone
Taft Jordan   Trumpet
Ben Webster   Sax (Tenor)
Tyree Glenn   Trombone
Rex Stewart   Trumpet
Al Killian   Trumpet
Harry Carney   Clarinet,Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Oett "Sax" Mallard   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Leon Cox   Trombone
Chauncey Haughton   Clarinet
Elmer "Skippy" Williams   Sax (Tenor)
Ed Mullens   Trumpet
Joseph Nanton   Trombone

Technical Credits

Duke Ellington   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Anders Stefansen   Producer
Jan Persson   Photography
Pearce Marchbank   Design
The Mike Hennessey Chastet   Liner Notes,Biographical Notes