The Essential Duke Ellington [Sony]

by Duke Ellington

Overview

The Essential Duke Ellington, a two-CD set, differs from previous Columbia/Legacy Duke Ellington reissues in that the music is drawn not only from Sony's vaults but from BMG's vaults, too. Four selections are from the 1920s, 20 date from the 1930s, seven are from the 1940s, and the final six were recorded between 1950 and 1960. Is this an essential acquisition? Most Ellington collectors will already have all of these performances in more complete fashion, while general collectors should realize that this two-fer does not cover Ellington's final 14 years and largely overlooks most of the highlights from the 1950s. However if it is found at a budget price, this set can act as a decent introduction to the remarkable Ellington. Among the many highlights are "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," "Hot And Bothered," "Rockin' In Rhythm," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Caravan," "Mood Indigo," "Cotton Tail," and the 1950s version of "Perdido," plus four small-group items (headed by Ellington's sidemen) from the '30s. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	06/28/2005
Label:	Sony Music Distribution
UPC:	0696998928121
Rank:	39076

Tracks

Disc 1

1. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
2. Black and Tan Fantasy
3. Take It Easy
4. Hot and Bothered
5. The Mooche
6. Rockin' in Rhythm
7. Creole Rhapsody
8. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
9. Creole Love Call
10. Sophisticated Lady
11. Drop Me Off in Harlem
12. Solitude
13. In a Sentimental Mood
14. Back Room Romp
15. Clouds in My Heart
16. Echoes of Harlem
17. Caravan
18. Blue Reverie
19. Diminuendo in Blue
20. Crescendo in Blue

Disc 2

21. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
22. Pyramid
23. Prelude to a Kiss
24. Tired Socks
25. Mood Indigo
26. Ko Ko
27. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
28. Cotton Tail
29. Take the "A" Train
30. Harlem Air-Shaft
31. Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me
32. Satin Doll
33. Perdido
34. Come Sunday
35. Jeep's Blues
36. Black Beauty
37. Arabesque Cookie

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duke Ellington   Primary Artist,Piano,Tom-Tom
Johnny Hodges   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano)
The Washingtonians   Primary Artist
Mills' Ten Black Berries   Primary Artist
Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters   Primary Artist
Barney Bigard   Primary Artist,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)
The Harlem Footwarmers   Primary Artist
Rex Stewart & His 52nd Street Stompers   Primary Artist
Andres Meringuito   Trumpet
Paul Gonsalves   Sax (Tenor)
Sonny Greer   Drums
Baby Cox   Vocals
Jimmy Hamilton   Sax (Tenor),Clarinet
Rick Henderson   Sax (Alto)
Wallace Jones   Trumpet
John Sanders   Trombone
Freddy Jenkins   Trumpet
Jimmy Blanton   Bass
Billy Strayhorn   Piano
Rudy Jackson   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Quentin Jackson   Trombone
Ray Nance   Cornet,Violin,Trumpet
Otto Hardwick   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Bass),Sax (Tenor)
Aaron Bell   Bass
Bubber Miley   Trumpet
Butch Ballard   Drums
Arthur Whetsol   Trumpet
Al Hibbler   Vocals
Jack Maisel   Drums
Wilber Bascombe   Trumpet
Brick Fleagle   Guitar
Bass Edwards   Tuba
Harold Grimes   Trumpet
Wardell Jones   Trumpet
Bill Graham   Sax (Alto)
Booty Wood   Trombone
Jabbo Smith   Trumpet
Fred Guy   Banjo,Guitar
Ivie Anderson   Vocals
Shelton Hemphill   Trumpet
Claude Jones   Trombone
Jimmy Woode   Bass
Clark Terry   Trumpet
Louis Metcalf   Trumpet
Russell Procope   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Bamboo Whistle
Francis Williams   Trumpet
Cat Anderson   Trumpet
Wellman Braud   Bass
Wendell Marshall   Bass
Louie Bellson   Drums
Lonnie Johnson   Guitar
Sam Woodyard   Drums
Juan Tizol   Tambourine,Trombone (Valve)
Al Sears   Sax (Tenor)
Britt Woodman   Trombone
Harold Baker   Trumpet
Hayes Alvis   Bass,String Bass
Fred Avendorf   Drums
Cootie Williams   Trumpet
Lawrence Brown   Trombone
Ben Webster   Sax (Tenor)
Tyree Glenn   Trombone
Rex Stewart   Cornet
Billy Taylor, Sr.   Bass,String Bass
Willie Cook   Trumpet
Harry Carney   Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Hilton Jefferson   Sax (Alto)
Eddie Mullins   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Matt Cavaluzzo   Transfers
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Mark Wilder   Remastering
Billy Strayhorn   Arranger,Composer
Harry Coster   Restoration
R. Stewart   Composer
Don Hunstein   Photography
Abe Velez   Packaging Manager
Eddie DeLange   Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Duke Ellington   Leader,Arranger,Composer
Loren Schoenberg   Liner Notes
Michael Brooks   Compilation Producer
J.J. Hodges   Composer
Seth Rothstein   Project Director
B. Russell   Composer
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction