Duke Ellington - Masters of Jazz

Title: Masters of Jazz Artist: Duke Ellington Release Date: 7/11/2006 Label: Retro Records, Storyville Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPCs: 717101850129, 3356579580052 Genre: Jazz Styles: Big Band, Swing, Early Jazz, Standards 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: 1

1. Take the "A" Train
2. Blow Boy Blow
3. Medley: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)/Satin Doll
4. Kinda Dukish
5. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
6. Satin Doll
7. New World A-Comin'
8. VIP Boogie/Jam with Sam
9. The Good Years of Jazz
10. What Am I Here For?
11. Johnny Come Lately
12. Main Stem (Altitude)
13. Ring Dem Bells [Live]
14. Rockin' in Rhythm [Live]
15. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me [Live]
16. Juat A-Sittin' and A-Rockin' [Live]
17. C Jam Blues [Live]
18. Cotton Tail [Live]

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Storyville 8501 1999 CD Retro Records 2CD8005

No other editions were found for this album.

While tempted to call this collection of tracks by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra a hodgepodge, it's more like a mishmash. The music here -- 18 cuts worth -- is presented in strange fashion. First, it's from all different periods ranging from 1943 to 1966 (the latest cut chronologically is a solo piano read of a medley of Duke's finest). It's not presented in chronological order either, but was sequenced aesthetically instead. The first pieces, "Take the 'A' Train" and "Blow Boy Blow," are from 1962 when the band, while not in its prime, did contain a number of startling players including Cat Anderson and Ray Nance on trumpets, Paul Gonsalves and Johnny Hodges on saxophones, and Sam Woodyard and Harry Carney on drums and bass, respectively. These tunes swing hard, though the sound quality is a little ragged. The treasure piece here is the aforementioned solo piano medley recorded in Paris in 1966, with Ellington moving through "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Satin Doll," "Sophisticated Lady," "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," "Mood Indigo," and "Caravan," just to name a few. At nearly 12 minutes, it is excellent intimate Ellington. The remainder of the material comes from either 1943 or 1949, including a number of cuts with Ben Webster and Juan Tizol, recorded at either Carnegie Hall or the Hollywood Empire. Al Hibbler is featured on some of the 1943 dates singing "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," "Rockin' in Rhythm," and "Ring Dem Bells." The sound quality varies but the performances are excellent throughout. This is for the collectors out there searching for rare material. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bell Bass Al Hibbler Vocals Al Killian Trumpet Anders Stefansen Producer Ben Webster Sax (Tenor) Cat Anderson Trumpet Chauncey Haughton Clarinet Chuck Connors Trombone Duke Ellington Piano Ed Mullens Trumpet Francis Williams Trumpet Fred Guy Guitar Harold Baker Trumpet Harry Carney Sax (Baritone), Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet Jan Persson Photography Jimmy Hamilton Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) Johnny Hodges Sax (Alto) Joseph Nanton Trombone Juan Tizol Trombone Lawrence D. Brown Trombone Leon Cox Trombone Paul Gonsalves Sax (Tenor) Pearce Marchbank Design Quentin Jackson Trombone Ray Nance Vocals, Trumpet Rex Stewart Trumpet Russell Procope Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Sam Woodyard Drums Sax Mallard Sax (Alto), Clarinet Skippy Williams Sax (Tenor) Sonny Greer Drums Taft Jordan Trumpet The Mike Hennessey Chastet Biographical Notes, Liner Notes Tyree Glenn Trombone Wallace Jones Trumpet Wendell Marshall Bass