Plays Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn Live

by Gene DiNovi

Overview

Every April, for the entire week surrounding Duke Ellington's birthday, the brilliant pianist Gene DiNovi commits himself to an extended run of nightly tributes to the Duke and his visionary collaborator, Billy Strayhorn. It happens at the Montreal Bistro & Jazz Club in Toronto, Canada. What you have here is a full set of live jazz well-played in a friendly atmosphere. Bassist Dave Young interacts wonderfully with DiNovi, whose brief spoken commentary between the tunes works uncommonly well, bringing further intimacy to an already relaxed atmosphere. The opening track, "Tomorrow Mountain," hails from Ellington's 1946 Broadway musical Beggar's Holiday. In this exciting curtain-raiser there is also a direct connection with Lena Horne, with whom DiNovi worked for several years and to whom the album is dedicated. This piano/bass duo appears comfortable with and eminently capable of handling the extended dynamic range to be found in the music of Ellington and Strayhorn. The powerfully percussive "Money Jungle" intensity of "Cop Out" is beautifully balanced with two gorgeous medleys: "Single Petal of a Rose/Flower is a Lovesome Thing" and "Chelsea Bridge/Warm Valley." A richly rewarding nightclub jazz recital, easy to groove to and therefore highly recommended. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	07/29/2003
Label:	Baldwin Street Music
UPC:	0776127204323
Rank:	251510

Tracks

1. Tomorrow Mountain
2. Introduction
3. Raincheck
4. Introduction
5. Morning Glory
6. Introduction
7. Cop Out
8. Introduction
9. Medley: Single Petal of a Rose/Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
10. Johnny Come Lately
11. Introduction
12. Passion Flower
13. Lady Mac
14. Introduction
15. Isfahan
16. I'm Beginning to See the Light
17. Medley: Chelsea Bridge/Warm Valley

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gene DiNovi   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Duke Ellington   Composer
Don George   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Johnny Hodges   Composer
David Hinbest   Executive Producer
Harry James   Composer
Lance Martin   Design,Art Direction
Ted Takashi Ono   Producer,Liner Notes
Bill Wilson   Photography
John Latouche   Composer
Rex Stewart   Composer