vote three for The Blanton-Webster Years; I've been advised by people who know to avoid the new repackage of the same material in a cardboard case: "they fucked up the remaster" was his objection.
I really love The Far East Suite, it's the only thing I know from way later, obv I need to explore more
and I was beaten to recommending the Proper box, so I'll second that
― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 5 June 2003 16:43 (9 years ago) Permalink
― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 5 June 2003 16:44 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 5 June 2003 17:22 (9 years ago) Permalink
― arch Ibog (arch Ibog), Thursday, 5 June 2003 17:26 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 5 June 2003 17:28 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Lee G (Lee G), Thursday, 5 June 2003 17:32 (9 years ago) Permalink
― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 5 June 2003 17:45 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Al Andalous (Al Andalous), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:20 (9 years ago) Permalink
I don't know - I have this and the remaster sounds fine to me, as good as you could expect for this period. I'm pretty sure that this is the same remaster that's in the Centennial edition.
― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:49 (9 years ago) Permalink
― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:55 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 14 September 2004 21:22 (8 years ago) Permalink
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 15 September 2004 03:55 (8 years ago) Permalink
― mentalist (mentalist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 04:35 (8 years ago) Permalink
"chocolate shake" is v. close.
― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 06:20 (8 years ago) Permalink
― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 06:21 (8 years ago) Permalink
― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 06:22 (8 years ago) Permalink
― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 06:26 (8 years ago) Permalink
As for Far East Suite...it's absolutely beautiful. Can't think of anything else to say.
― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 06:56 (8 years ago) Permalink
Indeed. They are catchy and fill o hooks. With early to mid Ellington, due to recording technology, most songs were only around 3 minutes long. The classic Ellington / Strayhorn number Take The A Train packs a whole musical narrative in less than 3 minutes and has a great fadeout ending.
― mentalist (mentalist), Wednesday, 15 September 2004 11:58 (8 years ago) Permalink
I am listening to Jungle Nights in Harlem and you should too.
― Oilyrags, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:24 (5 years ago) Permalink
I really love Far East Suite and the shite with Coleman Hawkins.
If you don't like it, you're racist.
― our work is never over, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:28 (5 years ago) Permalink
underrated record is 'side by side' w/ johnny hodges sweets edison KILLS IT on trumpet
― deej, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:29 (5 years ago) Permalink
Must look into that then! I love those underrated ones.
― our work is never over, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:33 (5 years ago) Permalink
Jubilee Stomp is an acceptable substitute if Jungle Nights in Harlem is not available.
― Oilyrags, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:40 (5 years ago) Permalink
Damnit hes prolific. I havn't heard any of this.
― our work is never over, Monday, 21 January 2008 03:47 (5 years ago) Permalink
Jungle Nights and Jubilee Stomp are early stuff. On Bluebird, nice and cheap and very hard swinging and excellent.
― Oilyrags, Monday, 21 January 2008 04:26 (5 years ago) Permalink
I am really enjoying The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, one of Ellington's last albums. I know it's supposed to be African-influenced -- and it is -- but it sounds even more rock-influenced, to me. Dark, thumping and rhythmic. Very unlike what I expect of Ellington (OTOH, I'm not all that familiar with his bread-and-butter big band work). Anyway, great disc. (n.1).
------------- (n.1) I did cringe at the corny spoken-word opening of the album, tho. Minor quibble, I guess.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 5 August 2008 10:55 (4 years ago) Permalink
haha, i LOVE that spoken word intro. as has been noted in this thread, there's a ton of later period (60s-70s) Ellington that is amazingly good. One I didn't see mentioned is the piano/bass album with Ray Brown called This One's For Blanton. Sort of an album length sequel to the duets Duke did with Blanton way back when. The New Orleans Suite (Hodges' last album, I think) has some great moments as well.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 13:58 (4 years ago) Permalink
I have this and the remaster sounds fine to me, as good as you could expect for this period
I've kind of changed my mind on this. I think they did kind of screw it up - though it's still listenable if you turn the treble down a couple of notches on your stereo.
― o. nate, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 16:07 (4 years ago) Permalink
yeah, i think maybe the first disc of the B|W Band comp is kind of dodgy, esp. on headphones. I've got an old double LP with a lot of the same stuff and it sounds better to me, even on my crappy turntable. That said, those recordings would be great recorded on a cell phone. goddam, some of it is unbelievably good.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 17:12 (4 years ago) Permalink
I am really enjoying The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
YES.
"Didjeridoo" is quickly becoming a tune I feel really gypped that I never got to play with my jazz combo in college
― TOMBOT, Friday, 24 October 2008 07:15 (4 years ago) Permalink
emusic subscribers who don't have this record, you have wasted a month.
Tom, you should post here too:Ellington as pianist
Matos DJs on Wednesdays here and plays something from The Far East Suite almost every week.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 24 October 2008 08:35 (4 years ago) Permalink
I've been listening to The Far East Suite pretty much nonstop, with a couple of plays of The Seattle Concert thrown in. Sound is rough, as it's a 1952 show (and Ellington's first LP as such), but really sweet. Clark Terry is really nice on "Perdido."
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 00:02 (4 years ago) Permalink
I should say the album is really sweet, not the rough sound.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 00:03 (4 years ago) Permalink
Duke Ellington becomes first African-American on U.S. coin
― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 14:59 (4 years ago) Permalink
this is great -
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gbfqxqejldse
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 15:40 (4 years ago) Permalink
Eee, that does look good. Also expensive.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:46 (4 years ago) Permalink
Jazz man is first African-American to solo on U.S. circulating coin
― double bird strike (gabbneb), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:49 (4 years ago) Permalink
I've been saying for years we need to get politicians off our money and artists on. Nice work, DC! We could get off to no better start.
― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:53 (4 years ago) Permalink
http://dcist.com/2009/01/dc_duke_ellington_quarter_released.php
Oh god, the comments.
"I looked up Duke Ellington"
Wow. Says it all, really.
― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 17:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
[6] | snoopydog
Who is Duke Ellington and why should I care about him? Are there any other individuals on the quarters that I missed? Usually it's some stupid mountain or some wild life from the state. Who's Duke Ellington? Was he the architect of DC? I thought that guy was French. Ellington does not sound French to me.
― deej da 5'9 (deej), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 17:10 (4 years ago) Permalink
I realize that DC isn't exactly the center of intellectualism but really, a piano player who likes white suits?
― Øystein, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 17:47 (4 years ago) Permalink
This is why I have instituted a strict "DO NOT READ COMMENTS ON INTERNET" policy. Talk about douchebags.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 17:59 (4 years ago) Permalink
a funny thing to post on an Internet message board, yeah, but I'm talking about newspaper comments, etc.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 18:00 (4 years ago) Permalink
Beat out Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass. I guess I could live with any of those on a quarter. I still would like to replace Andrew Jackson on the 20 with someone a little less....genocidal, though.
― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 20:03 (4 years ago) Permalink
Charlie Parker never committed any indian massacres, did he?
― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 20:05 (4 years ago) Permalink
<a href=http://www.sendspace.com/file/oc5mla>;Shhhh!</a>
― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 14:59 (4 years ago) Permalink
What is that, video of Charlie Parker committing indian massacres? Whilst playing "Cherokee"?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 15:30 (4 years ago) Permalink
Jubilee Stomp
― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 25 February 2009 16:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
The Whitney gig is a lot of fun; he plays some of his earliest material (and laughs with the audience about him being unable to play it now). Reminds me of James Booker just hanging out and reeling off medleys.
In the Uncommon Market has more trio stuff which I love.
― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 20:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
wow, never even heard of that one. looks like a cool set, though. amazing how much ellington there is!
― tylerw, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 20:25 (2 years ago) Permalink
It's not well known, but it's on iTunes and it's got a bunch of great live performances from the early sixties. The trio bits are recorded in this Italian garden, I think, so there's tons of crickets etc, which sounds awful but it's really magical.
― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 20:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
actually, I love all the room noise in his 60s recordings- he had a lot more open space in his work, and with recording fidelity improving there's cool little details. Like the guy going "dink-da-dink-dink" in between the call and response on "Limbo Jazz"
― bendy, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 20:59 (2 years ago) Permalink
eesh, didn't even know this was happening. mosaic, y u so expensive
The Definitive Songs. The Definitive Orchestra. And Now...The DEFINITIVE Edition.The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia, and Master Recordings ofDuke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
After achieving youthful acclaim in Washington, and making a successful move to New York fronting (at first) small groups, Duke Ellington entered the 1930s with an expanded line-up and an increasingly creative approach to composing. Weekly radio broadcasts and swank guests in the audience spread the word; Hollywood noticed his marquee smile and musical brilliance; and the orchestra began touring extensively, including trips to Europe. His fame and popularity were on the rise.
But more importantly, Ellington entered the '30s having perfected his method of using the group to experiment with arranging and orchestrating. Ensconced at the Cotton Club in New York at the end of the previous decade, Ellington catered to a lot of musical interests and needs - he played for the dancers, and for the jazz lovers. He relied on ideas from his musicians, and wrote for them as individuals rather than as anonymous section players. With all that work and a line-up of marvelous, distinctive musical voices, Ellington began the most creative period of his life.
"Sophisticated Lady." "Stormy Weather." "Solitude." "In a Sentimental Mood." "Echoes of Harlem." "Caravan." All of them and many more are a part of "The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia, and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra," an unprecedented 11-CD set that compiles these recordings for the first, and quite possibly the last, time. There would be many more exceptional compositions in the years following, including his highly regarded suites and longer works, but the scope of our latest, lavish Mosaic collection is the period when Ellington would establish himself as the most important composer ever in jazz.
Musicians Created Their Own Voices, and Interpreted His
"Jazz, if it means anything, means freedom of expression," he told writer Stanley Dance. And express himself is what he did, through the instruments of stalwarts and newcomers to the orchestra who not only created personality for Ellington's band - they were, in many instances, standard bearers in their own right for their respective instruments.
Barney Bigard on clarinet and tenor saxophone established links to the past with his New Orleans-style runs, executed with exceptional warmth. Harry Carney was the only important soloist on baritone saxophone for years, and the big bottom his instrument provided brought real gravity to the Ellington sound. The great trumpeter Cootie Williams joined to replace the fallen Bubber Miley, quickly perfecting Miley's growl and mute techniques while creating his own sound with the open horn. He was a master of establishing mood and emotion. Lawrence Brown had a ringing tone on trombone, which complemented Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton's earthy growl and Juan Tizol's fat sound. Trumpeter Arthur Whetsel, saxophonist Otto Hardwick, and the inimitable Sonny Greer on drums were all associates from the earliest days in Washington. Ben Webster began perfecting his tenor saxophone style during a brief mid-'30s stint with the band before being offered a permanent position in 1940. Late in the decade, Ellington discovered Jimmy Blanton, who would revolutionize bass playing with his terrific sense of swing and dead-on intonation before illness led to a tragically early death. And what can be said about Johnny Hodges, the silky smooth alto saxophonist who influenced generations of musicians? He was, in a line-up of superstars, a cut above all.
Ellington made use of them all, for their personal styles as well as for his own unique voicings that placed trombones at the apex of their range and clarinets at the bottom, or by putting unusual notes in the baritone instead of giving the instrument the chord's dominant tone. His compositions, the unique personal style of his players, his innovative arrangements, and his confidence in his soloists to raise any composition to a new level, combined to provide him with a palette unequaled in music.
The Complete Collection
Our set comprises a massive 11 discs featuring well over 100 Ellington compositions. In addition to the above-named musicians, guest stars Bing Crosby, Ethel Waters and the Mills Brothers make notable appearances. Ellington's female vocalist Ivie Anderson proves she was tailor-made for the band along with other superb band-mates Freddie Jenkins and Wallace Jones on trumpet, Fred Guy on banjo and guitar, Wellman Braud, Billy Taylor and Hayes Alvis on bass, and the unique cornetist Rex Stewart.
The exclusive Mosaic booklet includes a complete discography of the dates, a revealing essay and track by track analysis by Steven Lasker, and a number of rarely seen photographs. We urge you to order early - like all Mosaic sets, this edition is strictly limited, and given the importance of the music it contains, we're expecting significant interest.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 17 May 2011 21:28 (2 years ago) Permalink
RIP Kay Davis, Ellington vocalisthttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/arts/music/kay-davis-91-dies-ellington-used-her-voice-as-instrument.html?_r=1
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 15:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
RIP.
Did anyone read that book from last year Ellington's America or whatever it was called?
― Can You Please POLL Out Your Window? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 23 February 2012 15:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah, I read it, it was great -- a little discussion of it upthread. One of the rare autobios where I came out of it with even more respect for the subject. He wasn't a saint, but it seems like he lived his life in a generally admirable way. For a genius anyway.
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 16:01 (1 year ago) Permalink
Sad news. Always loved the '44 "Creole Love Call." Had no idea she was from my hometown (or that that's where Duke discovered her).
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 23 February 2012 16:03 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah she was great -- not really what people think of when they think "jazz vocalist" but Duke used her well in a lot of songs. btw i made this spotify playlist of Duke in the 1970s - lots of cool stuff! http://open.spotify.com/user/tywilc/playlist/3KNtFDxQE5BBi9fCvNK5m6
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 16:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
RIP Kay Davis.
Nice playlist, Tyler! Thanks for the reminder to order a copy of Live at the Whitney, I need that.
― Brad C., Thursday, 23 February 2012 16:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah, i have this thread to thank for letting me know about the whitney gig -- it is really fun. that duet discs with ray brown is rad too.
― tylerw, Thursday, 23 February 2012 16:28 (1 year ago) Permalink
"The three greatest composers are Bach, Delius and Duke Ellington"
--Percy Grainger
(just came across this quote in Bernard Herrmann's biography)
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:14 (1 year ago) Permalink
hee hee... Delius is like "who, me?"Speaking of Ellington in the 70s - just saw this:Duke Ellington ConcertMunicipal Auditorium New Orleans (New Orleans, LA) Apr 24, 1970http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/duke-ellington/concerts/municipal-auditorium-new-orleans-april-24-1970.html
― tylerw, Friday, 24 February 2012 16:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
Was just about to post that! Can't wait to listen. It seems a bit short and heavy on the standbys, but I guess that's to be expected.
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 24 February 2012 16:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah, festival date, crowd-pleasing mode. but those can be the best when it comes to duke.
― tylerw, Friday, 24 February 2012 16:40 (1 year ago) Permalink
Happy 113th, Duke! WCKR birthday broadcast here.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Sunday, 29 April 2012 16:16 (1 year ago) Permalink
Thanks for the tip. Happy Birthday, Duke!
― Stars on 45 Fell on Alabama (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 April 2012 18:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
happy b-day! here he is 50 years ago
― tylerw, Sunday, 29 April 2012 19:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nice!
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Sunday, 29 April 2012 19:34 (1 year ago) Permalink
Don't know why it took me a decade to get around to watching Ken Burns' Jazz doc, but there was a fascinating bit about Duke composing the ambitious but melancholy 13 minute "Reminiscing In Tempo" after his mother's passing in 1935. Critics savaged it at the time, but it sounds like a groundbreaking masterpiece. The version I found, however, from a 9 disc Complete Brunswick, Columbia and Master sounds like crap, recorded off a scratchy 78. Anyone know the best version? I'm guessing it's the Best of 1932-39, as it was restored by Harry Coster from the Dutch Jazz Archive. Ironically Sony released the budget priced set just in 2008, but it's already sold out and now fetching prices over $75. Trade, anyone?
The Best of Duke Ellington: 1932-1939 [4CD]Masterpieces 1926-1949 [4CD]Reminiscing In Tempo (1991 comp)
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 15 February 2013 03:25 (3 months ago) Permalink
Further reading says the version I have is actually from the 11 disc Mosaic set, The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick,Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, and it's supposed to be the best. That can't be right!
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 15 February 2013 03:59 (3 months ago) Permalink
Sadly, that's probably the case. I haven't heard, or heard of, a single instance of any Mosaic set having anything less than stellar mastering from the best available sources.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Friday, 15 February 2013 14:43 (3 months ago) Permalink
Had never heard this one (but there's tons of Ellingtom I haven't heard). This original 78 sounds really nice!
― Nataly Dawn's echoey swamp sound (Dan Peterson), Friday, 15 February 2013 15:33 (3 months ago) Permalink