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
lol, just got this bizarre email from Amazon:
Dear Amazon.com Customer,
As someone who has purchased or rated music by Duke Ellington, you might like to know that New York, March 1959 is now available. You can order yours for just $950.00 by following the link below.New York, March 1959 New York, March 1959Duke EllingtonPrice: $950.00
Album DescriptionNew York, March 1959 by Ellington, Duke
This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
?????????????????
― tylerw, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:16 (3 years ago) Permalink
Me too, discussion over here
CD PRICES: Did they ever become as affordable as the vinyl/cassettes they replaced? Why?/Why not?
It's a "burn on demand" CD, even
― bendy, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
See also http://www.amazon.com/2007-2012-Building-Excluding-Cafeteria-Restaurant/dp/0497503093
― bendy, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:22 (3 years ago) Permalink
Customers Who Bought Related Items Also Bought
― Mark G, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
Duke puts it on wax.
Like making waffles.
― bendy, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 22:13 (3 years ago) Permalink
I bought a cheapy 3-disc Ellington set the other day and it is totally ruling my life.
― GayQuil (The Reverend), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 06:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
your saying so inspired me to listen to the yale concert, which re-blew my damn mind
― brad whitford's impotent rage (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:18 (3 years ago) Permalink
Once I get my sound back, I'll have to track that down.
― i am giving you the viking of compliments (The Reverend), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
whenever this thread is revived, i worry that duke died.
― by another name (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
nobody tell amatuerist what happened, i'm afraid it might break his heart
― i am giving you the viking of compliments (The Reverend), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 10:07 (3 years ago) Permalink
longish piece in the NYorker on Duke, http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/05/17/100517crat_atlarge_pierpont?currentPage=all
― H in Addis, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
just saw that! amazing photo. was going to ask if anyone had read that new book -- i was just flipping through it at the bookstore.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
Keep eyeing that one in the bookstore, but haven't taken the bait yet.
― Generation Blecch (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
"Blazing Saddles" was made in 1974!
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
??
― Generation Blecch (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
He's in it.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
no he ain't, that's count basie
― tylerw, Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:36 (3 years 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