Title: The Essential Duke Ellington [Sony] Artist: Duke Ellington Release Date: 6/28/2005 Label: Sony, Sony Jazz Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 696998928121, 5099746714628 Genre: Jazz Styles: Big Band, Swing Moods: Atmospheric, Lively, Lush, Poignant, Sentimental, Sophisticated, Stately, Sweet, Intimate, Light, Playful, Romantic, Soothing, Swaggering, Boisterous, Dramatic, Elegant, Freewheeling, Fun, Humorous, Literate, Passionate, Rollicking, Smooth, Theatrical, Warm, Bright, Carefree, Cheerful, Exuberant, Gentle, Nocturnal, Rousing, Soft, Spooky, Stylish, Ambitious, Amiable/Good-Natured, Confident, Party/Celebratory, Refined/Mannered, Reserved, Laid-Back/Mellow, Sensual, Joyous Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
2. Black and Tan Fantasy
3. Take It Easy
4. Hot and Bothered
5. The Mooche
6. Rockin' in Rhythm
7. Creole Rhapsody
8. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
9. Creole Love Call
10. Sophisticated Lady
11. Drop Me Off in Harlem
12. Solitude
13. In a Sentimental Mood
14. Back Room Romp
15. Clouds in My Heart
16. Echoes of Harlem
17. Caravan
18. Blue Reverie
19. Diminuendo in Blue
20. Crescendo in Blue

1. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
2. Pyramid
3. Prelude to a Kiss
4. Tired Socks
5. Mood Indigo
6. Ko Ko
7. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
8. Cotton Tail
9. Take the "A" Train
10. Harlem Air-Shaft
11. Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me
12. Satin Doll
13. Perdido
14. Come Sunday
15. Jeep's Blues
16. Black Beauty
17. Arabesque Cookie

Year Type Label Catalog # 2005 CD Sony 89281 1996 CD Sony Jazz 4671462

No other editions were found for this album.

The Essential Duke Ellington, a two-CD set, differs from previous Columbia/Legacy Duke Ellington reissues in that the music is drawn not only from Sony's vaults but from BMG's vaults, too. Four selections are from the 1920s, 20 date from the 1930s, seven are from the 1940s, and the final six were recorded between 1950 and 1960. Is this an essential acquisition? Most Ellington collectors will already have all of these performances in more complete fashion, while general collectors should realize that this two-fer does not cover Ellington's final 14 years and largely overlooks most of the highlights from the 1950s. However if it is found at a budget price, this set can act as a decent introduction to the remarkable Ellington. Among the many highlights are "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," "Hot And Bothered," "Rockin' In Rhythm," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Caravan," "Mood Indigo," "Cotton Tail," and the 1950s version of "Perdido," plus four small-group items (headed by Ellington's sidemen) from the '30s. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bell Bass Abe Vélez Packaging Manager Al Hibbler Vocals Al Sears Sax (Tenor) Andres Meringuito Trumpet Arthur Whetsol Trumpet Baby Cox Vocals Barney Bigard Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) Bass Edwards Tuba Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Bill Graham Sax (Alto) Billy Strayhorn Arranger, Piano Billy Taylor, Sr. Bass, String Bass Booty Wood Trombone Brick Fleagle Guitar Britt Woodman Trombone Bubber Miley Trumpet Butch Ballard Drums Cat Anderson Trumpet Clark Terry Trumpet Claude Jones Trombone Cootie Williams Trumpet Don Hunstein Photography Duke Ellington Tom-Tom, Piano, Leader, Arranger Eddie Mullins Trumpet Francis Williams Trumpet Fred Avendorf Drums Fred Guy Guitar, Banjo Freddy Jenkins Trumpet Harold Baker Trumpet Harold Grimes Trumpet Harry Carney Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Harry Coster Restoration Hayes Alvis String Bass, Bass Hilton Jefferson Sax (Alto) Howard Fritzson Art Direction Ivie Anderson Vocals Jabbo Smith Trumpet Jack Maisel Drums Jimmy Blanton Bass Jimmy Hamilton Sax (Tenor), Clarinet Jimmy Woode Bass John Sanders Trombone Johnny Hodges Clarinet, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Alto) Juan Tizol Tambourine, Trombone (Valve) Lawrence D. Brown Trombone Lonnie Johnson Guitar Loren Schoenberg Liner Notes Louie Bellson Drums Louis Metcalf Trumpet Mark Wilder Remastering Matt Cavaluzzo Transfers Michael Brooks Compilation Producer Otto Hardwick Sax (Bass), Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Clarinet Paul Gonsalves Sax (Tenor) Quentin Jackson Trombone Ray Nance Cornet, Violin, Trumpet Rex Stewart Cornet Rick Henderson Sax (Alto) Rudy Jackson Sax (Alto), Clarinet Russell Procope Clarinet, Bamboo Whistle, Sax (Alto) Sam Woodyard Drums Seth Rothstein Project Director Shelton Hemphill Trumpet Sonny Greer Drums Steven Berkowitz A&R Tyree Glenn Trombone Wallace Jones Trumpet Wardell Jones Trumpet Wellman Braud Bass Wendell Marshall Bass Wilber Bascombe Trumpet Willie Cook Trumpet