Search - Duke Ellington :: Duke Ellington Christmas

If you love the Duke, you'll hate this

C. J. Brawn | Midwest US | 01/09/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The Duke is rolling over in his grave. There was nothing of his style on this CD. There are lots of flutes in Jingle Bells and Sleigh Ride. Liner notes are almost non-existent -- you have no idea who the vocalists or musicians are, or when the track was recorded. Silver Bells is really awful, especially the person who is singing the little bit of echo completely flat. Ouch. Auld Lang Syne is played Dixieland style, which is somewhat odd for an Ellington recording. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas sounds like a Lawrence Welk recording. :o(



As a straight big band CD it might pass, but don't expect much more than that."