Search - Duke Ellington :: Afro Eurasian Eclipse

Eclecticism In The Final Phase

Andre' S Grindle | Bangor,ME. | 11/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At this point Duke Ellington was jazz's oldest survivor but he himself didn't feel like it-still insisting his best numbers
were "the ones coming up tomorrow".Well here tomorrow arrived and
the influence of African and Oriental styles and rhythms are integrated into this eight-part suite-Duke's shinning moment!
The opening "Chinoserie" is perhapes best of all-an extended piece that blends Ellington's usual big-band swing approch with
a very carnavalesqe avante-garde rhythm similar to "The Creator
has A Master Plan"."Didjidoo",based on Duke's experience with the
native Aberiginal people of Austrailia is (in retrospect) quite
funky with it's use of polyrhythms and scaling horns.Most delightful though is "Acht O' Clock Rock"-basically a simple 3-chord extention of Louis Jordon/Little Richard-style rock n' roll
done up big band style.So pretty much he brings many of the more
popular musical styles of the early 70's-afro jazz,funk and rock
into his world of Ellingtonia and much good spirits will be felt
by all!The last half of the suite doesn't cover any different ground then the first but is still a fine extention on a wonderful theme.A true testement to a man who I feel is the most
significant composer and performer of the 20'th century AND his
unique ability to update his music to fit the sound of the time
period in whitch he composed-never alienating anyone along the way.Mabye Ellingtons most important work and certainly the
most significant of his latter years."

Duke's World Music

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 11/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the last of the suites that Duke wrote (only THE GOUTELAS SUITE was recorded later - by two months), rather than concentrating on a specific area of the world as in the past (NEW ORLEANS SUITE, LATIN AMERICAN SUITE), here he looks at a much bigger part of the world for his influences. African, Asian, even Australian elements are part of this suite.



Some highlights: the opening piece, CHINOISERIE, is a very ambitious composition, with an excellent solo by Harold Ashby on tenor. ACHT O'CLOCK ROCK, a tune that was played by itself in concerts, is a 16-bar blues - Duke's answer to r & r music. TRUE, is a waltz combined with gospel rudiments, with a heart-felt solo by Paul Gonsalves. A few of the pieces do not amount to much (DIDJERIDOO, AFRIQUE) and sound repetitive, but the ECLIPSE is a successful work for Duke and the orchestra."

Devastatingly beautiful!

James | Indianapolis, IN United States | 12/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is testament to the fact that Ellington's artistry and drive never waned with age unlike others of his generation. Just when you think Ellington could get no better than "New Orleans Suite" (1970), along comes "Afro-Eurasian Eclipse" (1971). Every one of Ellington's albums are better than the previous ones and all are GREAT music! This album is devastating, in the good sense of this word! The only one to remotely compare with the excellence of Duke in the early 70's was Charles Mingus. Ellington definitely "went out on a high note". But, we would expect no less of the maestro. Your collection is not complete until you own this CD. When I arrive in heaven, Ellington will be the first public personality I will seek. This is his last GREAT recorded effort and stands as a testament to six decades of glorious music making. Ellington was a pioneer of Swing music and his big band never sounded better than in 1971. Anyone who listens to "Eclipse" and doesn't consider Ellington unequaled among his peers must be stone deaf!"