During his long and prolific career, Duke Ellington composed music for concerts ranging from the most prestigious venues to dance halls. He also wrote for the theatre, for movies, and, of course, for records. The work cont... more »ained on this album, however, originates from an early television special. This musical fantasy or allegory told the story of Jazz in terms of the adventures of Madam Zajj and Carribee Joe, from the Caribbean to the moon via Congo Square and Fifty-Second Street. It was in four parts with a dozen selections, two reprises, and a finale. Extra percussion, a harp, and the voices of Margaret Tynes, Joya Sherrill, and Ozzie Bailey were used, but what could not be experienced on the album was the radiant presence of Carmen de Lavallade, who danced so superbly in the television version. This edition presents the complete original album A Drum Is a Woman plus a rare song played at the original TV show but omitted from the LP. 16 tracks. Jazz Track.« less
During his long and prolific career, Duke Ellington composed music for concerts ranging from the most prestigious venues to dance halls. He also wrote for the theatre, for movies, and, of course, for records. The work contained on this album, however, originates from an early television special. This musical fantasy or allegory told the story of Jazz in terms of the adventures of Madam Zajj and Carribee Joe, from the Caribbean to the moon via Congo Square and Fifty-Second Street. It was in four parts with a dozen selections, two reprises, and a finale. Extra percussion, a harp, and the voices of Margaret Tynes, Joya Sherrill, and Ozzie Bailey were used, but what could not be experienced on the album was the radiant presence of Carmen de Lavallade, who danced so superbly in the television version. This edition presents the complete original album A Drum Is a Woman plus a rare song played at the original TV show but omitted from the LP. 16 tracks. Jazz Track.
CD Reviews
Very much of its time, not timeless, doesn't hold up
Robert Wade Cottingham | Dallas, TX | 06/07/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"In a recent flurry of listening to all things Ellington, I got this CD too, since I had read about it.
I'm not surprised Columbia has not re-issued it, it's a tough listen. Its sounds like what it was, a score commissioned for a colorful TV variety show to show off the early days of color TV. Silly songs, silly narration, I think you had to be there, watching the TV show this was written for, to enjoy it. Even Duke Ellington is quoted as saying that the album cannot give you the full experience of this piece, because you don't see the dancing.
Summary: I love most everything Duke Ellington did. But if I ever listen to this again, ever, it will be a strange day."
Wonderful, Playful Ellington
Cynthia Waller | Vashon Island, WA | 12/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great album. It is not one that you can listen to only once and love. The more you listen to it, the better it gets. It is whimsical and fun. My mother listened to it in the fifties. I listened to it in the seventies, eighties, etc. etc. I think it is timeless if you know and love this great music we call Jazz. You have to listen to it like you are reading a book so you get the nuances. " Keep the change officer... because I'll be coming back just as fast as I am going." C'mon you got to love it. Ellington is so wonderful albeit a bit sexist.... context is everything."
CRY ME A RIVER
GENE ADDINGTON | HERCULES, CA United States | 08/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
YOU WILL EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT. I PLAY IT EVERYDAY AND
BECOME OVERCOME WITH EMOTION EVERY TIME. BUY IT...TRY IT."
Mom, is there anything else on?
jive rhapsodist | NYC, NY United States | 12/19/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is the mystery: Ellington is the cornerstone of so much of our musical language. He has created some of the great works of our music. And yet, all of his epics have something so intensely superficial about them. You can try to put whatever spin you like on this: that it reflects some kind of "trickster mentality" or an elaborate use of masks and/or veils. Maybe so, but that doesn't change the mediocrity of much of this work. It reads - at least much of it - like an elementary school course on Jazz Appreciation - that text of "Hey, Buddy Bolden" - Ouch! Give me Guys and Dolls and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat" instead! At least with the Broadway Musical, fakeness seems to be such an integral part of whatever realness it possesses. But Duke, ever since the Cotton Club period, has been such a master of revealing the realness behind the fakeness - or the fakeness behind the realness. But not here - this ain't no "Black and Tan Fantasy". More's the pity... But for a dissenting opinion, you can read Graham Lock's Blutopia - the most Bleeding Heart of PC apologias for this lost opportunity for sly transgression."
Another must
Alain Robert | Québec | 05/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We were waiting for this reedition for a long time.
A must for every Elligton's fan, and for anybody who wants to know someting about jazz."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1