This is one of my favorite Duke Ellington albums. A ton of music on 3 CDs, all three-minute masterpieces with Blanton’s bass and Webster’s tenor
This is the playlist for Duke Ellington’s birthday (April 29, 1919), but I mixed in some voice audio recordings of Duke from interviews and a few brief commentaries from Albert Murray (who passed last summer at age 97; wrote eloquently and intimately about Duke Ellington ), Gary Giddins, and Wynton Marsalis. Links to the audio of these audio clips will be posted soon. Personal commentary is missing. Without more self-discipline, writing new posts is a challenge.
Duke Ellington “Black Beauty” composed by Duke Ellington from The Okeh Ellington (1928) on Columbia
Lawrence Brown “Blues For Duke” composed by Brown from Slide Trombone (1955) on Clef
Duke Ellington “Echoes of Harlem” composed by Ellington from Ellington’s Small Units
Duke Ellington “In a Blue Summer Garden” from Duke Ellington – Ellington Uptown on Columbia
Duke Ellington “Blood Count” composed by Duke Ellington from and His Mother Called Him Bill (1967) on RCA
Ben Webster “Stompy” from Duke Ellington Meets Ben Webster
Duke Ellington “Mood Indigo” composed by Duke Ellington from Mood Indigo — Paul Gonsalves, tenor solo
Barney Bigard “C JAM BLUES” composed by Ellington from Barney Bigard – The Legends of Jazz on Crescent Jazz
Duke Ellington “Daybreak Express” composed by Duke Ellington from Daybreak Express
Clark Terry and Duke Ellington “COME SUNDAY” from A Portrait of Duke Ellington — solos: Clark Terry, trum; Johnny Hodges, alto
Duke Ellington “What is jazz?” from What is jazz?
Duke Ellington “Indigo Edges” composed by Duke Ellington from Dukes Men
Paul Gonsalves “Ready, Go” from Ready, Go
Duke Ellington “Passion Flower” composed by Billy Strayhorn from Piano Reflections (1953) on Capitol
The Blanton-Webster Band “Flamingo” composed by Duke Ellington from Never No Lament (1940) on Bluebird — Herb Jeffries, vocals
Johnny Hodges “Just a memory” from Just a memory
Count Basie “Battle Royal” from Battle Royal
Duke Ellington “Such Sweet Thunder” composed by Duke Ellington from Such Sweet Thunder
Duke Ellington and John Coltrane “The Feeling Of Jazz” composed by Ellington from Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (1962) on Impulse
Duke Ellington “Solitude” composed by Duke Ellington from Money Jungle (1962) on Blue Note
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington “Duke’s Place” composed by Ellington from The Great Summit (1961) on Roulette
Cootie Williams “Concerto for Cootie” composed by Ellington from Concerto for Cootie
Bubber Miley “Flaming” from Flaming
The Blanton-Webster Band “Take the A Train” from Never No Lament (1940) on Bluebird
Duke Ellington “Limbo” from Limbo
Call and Response 