Search - Duke Ellington :: Cosmic Scene

Yes, this work really exists

bukhtan | Chicago, Illinois, USA | 03/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It exists and it isn't a disguised Sun Ra record from his inexhaustable vaults ...
The music was recorded on April 2nd and 3rd of 1958 in New York City, at the beginning of Duke's second great period of small ensemble work (the first was in the late thirties and early forties), during which he produced other such fine works at Back to Back and Side by Side with Johnny Hodges and the LP with Coleman Hawkins. This personnel on this diminutive orchestra are:
piano: Duke Ellington throughoutbass: Jimmy Woode
drums: Sam Woodyard
trombones: Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman & John Sanders
trumpet & fluegelhorn: Clark Terry
tenor sax: Paul Gonsalves
clarinet: Jimmy Hamilton.
Works featured:
Avalon (arr. Hamilton)
Body & Soul
Bass-ment
Early Autumn (arr. Hamilton)
Jones (two takes)
Perdido
St. Louis Blues
Spacemen
Midnight Sun
Take the "A" Train
Hamilton, Terry and Gonsalves all solo frequently and to fine effect. Duke a bit too, but not enough, in my view. Ellington fans will know that the trombonists are all capable soloists, especially Britt Woodman, but they play pretty much as an ensemble throughout.
Hamilton's arrangements alone are well worth the cost of the CD, if you can find it.
My copy is CBS 467179 2, with a disc manufactured in Austria and inserts printed in Holland, labelled under an "I [heart] jazz" series. Evidently an LP was at one time available, differing only in lacking the alternate take of "Jones""

Big Hint

T. Butler | Chicago, IL United States | 03/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hey you can get this excellent CD at Mosaic for $15. It is in the Mosaic singles section. Mosaic's transfers are first rate and the linear notes are very detailed."

Great surprise

BevRich | St. Louis | 09/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've never heard of this cd and came across it while surfing through Duke's titles on Amazon. All I can say is that this is another great offering from Duke and his musicians. We certainly don't get wonderful music like this today."