Title: The Centennial Anthology Artist: Duke Ellington Release Date: 9/13/2005 Label: Master Classic Series, Master Classics Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 881162805425, 803680177358 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: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Take the "A" Train
2. Frenesi
3. Until Tonight
4. It's Sad But True
5. I Hear a Rhapsody
6. Bakiff
7. Flamingo
8. Chelsea Bridge
9. Clementine
10. Frankie and Johnnie
11. After All
12. Love Like This Can't Last
13. The Girl in My Dreams (Tries to Look Like You)
14. You and I
15. Have You Changed
16. I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire
17. Perdido
18. I'm Checkin' Out, Go'om Bye

1. Take the "A" Train [DVD][Live]
2. Satin Doll [DVD][Live]
3. Stormy Weather [DVD]
4. Blow by Blow [DVD][Live]
5. Jam with Sam [DVD][Live]
6. Rockin' in Rhythm [DVD]
7. Things Ain't What They Used to Be [DVD][Live]
8. V.I.P.'s Boogie [DVD][Live]
9. Kinda Dukish [DVD][Live]
10. Bugle Call Rag [DVD]
11. Rockin' in Rhythm [DVD][Live]
12. Black and Tan Fantasy [DVD]

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Master Classics 2005 CD Master Classic Series 8054

The Centennial Anthology [Bonus DVD]

On April 29, 2005, Duke Ellington would have turned 106. But the influential bandleader/pianist died long before 2005; he passed away in 1974, leaving behind a wealth of recordings that continue to fascinate jazz enthusiasts after all these years. Numerous Ellington reissues came out in the 2000s; the thing that separates this two-disc set from other Ellington packages that were assembled in 2005 is the visual element -- disc two is a DVD that offers footage from the early '30s and early '60s. There are countless opportunities to hear Ellington's greatness but not that many chances to see it, and the DVD's highlights range from a 1933 video for "Stormy Weather" (with Ivie Anderson lip-synching) to several rare 1962 performances (all of them in color) that were commissioned by the Goodyear Tire Company and filmed "live in the studio" (is that an oxymoron?) without an actual live audience. Now for the bad news: part of the DVD is screwed up, and some of the tunes that are listed on the DVD's menu aren't actually on the DVD, including "I Got Rhythm." Oops! That frustrating goof brings The Centennial Anthology's rating down several notches. Disc one, meanwhile, is an audio CD devoted to V-disc recordings (most of them from 1941). While these V-disc performances of "Take the 'A' Train," "Chelsea Bridge," "Frenesi," and other gems weren't released commercially in the '40s, all of them find Ellington's band in excellent form -- and the V-discs' sound quality, for the most part, is enjoyably good (certainly by 78-era standards). The Centennial Anthology is not recommended to casual listeners, but hardcore collectors will likely want this double-disc in spite of the things that are problematic about the DVD. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bell Bass Arthur Whetsol Trumpet Athan Maroulis Liner Notes, Art Direction, Producer, Compilation, Annotation Barney Bigard Sax (Tenor), Clarinet Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Benny James Guitar Billy Strayhorn Arranger Cat Anderson Trumpet Chuck Connors Trombone (Bass), Trombone (Baritone) Cootie Williams Trumpet Dudley Murphy Writer, Director Duke Ellington Leader, Piano Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra Cast Ed Mullens Sax (Tenor) Eunah Lee Graphic Design Fred Guy Guitar Fred Waller Producer, Director Fred Washington Cast Freddie Jenkins Trumpet Harry Carney Sax (Alto), Clarinet, Sax (Baritone) Herb Jeffries Vocals Ivie Anderson Vocals Jimmy Blanton Bass Jimmy Hamilton Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) Joe Tricky Sam Nanton Trombone Johnny Hodges Clarinet, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Alto) Juan Tizol Trombone (Valve) Ken Tighe Copy Editing Lawrence D. Brown Trombone Leon Cox Trombone Otto Hardwick Sax (Alto), Sax (Bass), Sax (Baritone) Paul Gonsalves Sax (Tenor) Peggy Logan Copy Editing Ray Nance Clarinet, Violin, Trumpet Rex Stewart Cornet Russell Procope Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Sam Woodyard Drums Shorty Baker Sax (Tenor) Sonny Greer Drums Wallace Jones Trumpet