Search - Duke Ellington :: Afro-Bossa

What else to say?? I tell you NOW!

Peppino | 10/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As volumes are written about "Sir Duke", it is only appropriate to recount that this recording, entirely unique in the tradition of Ellingtonia.



The "jungle" fase is well documented, but..just to comment, this recording is very elemental, the arrangements , melodies and harmonic content very modern and more as a Sun Ra recording from late 50s through early 60s. QUITE progressive. The counterpoint intriguing, the chords extend to where , even as the music is completely "consonant", it infers the "dissonance" that Le Sun Ra's sidemen would occasionally flavour.



Billy Strayhorn's solo on the "mandolin-piano" another lovely touch!



Ray Nance violin excursions incredible emotive, unpolished but exciting! Nice pizzacato work too Ray! Much percussion and poliritmos, more Africa than swing, though still the blues occasionally "prevail".



bossa, tango, bolero,cha-cha-cha, all given the "elegant Ellington" treatment.



That the CD format FINALLY avaliable, NOSSA!!!! What took so LONG?



Not only for Elllington fans, but for those who like adventurous , progressive sounds, this recording should be in your collection to "surprise" your contro-corrente associates!



This recording would also go big with the fans of soundtrack musics, and the "new" genre of appreciation of the musics now referred as "space-age lounge sounds" (oh, we label everything, dont we??)

tudo é som, viva mestre Duke! (100000000 stars!)



"

Great 60's Latin/World Jazz Suite

Scott Williams | Oakland, CA United States | 08/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Overview:

Afro Bossa is a rich, textured, mood drenched, jazz suite. The inspiration of the suite is Latin, African, and Brazilian music. Even though the title has the word "Bossa" in it, I would not really call this a Bossa Nova CD. On the whole, it is significantly different from something by Antonio Carlos Jobim. It is a Duke Ellington suite first, and a World/Latin/ Brazilian jazz CD second. The album is full of beautifully crafted songs from start to finish. There isn't a bad song on the album. While most critics would argue that Ellington's best days were in the 1930's and 1940's, my favorite era is hands down the 1960's. This album is another gem from this era. In the 60's Ellington partnered with all sorts of artists (J. Coltrane, L. Armstrong, M. Roach, C. Mingus, C. Bassie, C. Hawkings to name a few), and toured the world. All of this input and stimuli lead to his most creative and adventurous work. The album features a great lineup of Ellingtonian stars including (Ray Nance, Harry Carney, Ray Nance, and Cootie Williams).



Song Highlights:

Purple Gazelle - Opens with a classic Ellington piano riff. Instantly accessible, insanely catchy. Features a Cootie Williams plunger muted solo.



Sempre Amore - This features the violin play of Ray Nance. It reminds one of Django Reinhardt and Stephanne Grappelli. There is both bowing, and plucking of the violin string which is layered above the top of a tropical percussion section.



Volupte - This song is a bossa nova song. It has the classic bossa nova beat, and opens which some dreamy piano. A seductive bass line permeates throughout the song. This song definitely reminds one of Antonio Carlos Jobim.



Bonga - This song is a fast past adventure with brilliant integrated horn lines and a touch of piano. It is amazing how Ellington can combine 3 or 4 different lines into a beautiful tapestry of sound. It's the perfect backdrop for many blazing solos.



This is one of Ellington's greatest albums.

"