Search - Duke Ellington :: Chicago Concerts

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bukhtan | Chicago, Illinois, USA | 06/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was recorded on two dates in Chicago in late 1946. The band varies a bit; Ray Nance performs on the first but not the second date. Remarkably, the great Django Rheinhardt was touring with Duke at this time (a lot of stories out there about that) and in fact performs on four numbers in the first concert. A lot of this music is closely related to the Musicraft studio recordings made that same year.
These concerts compare favorably with famous Fargo concert of 1940. That concert was dominated by the great soloists, most notably Ben Webster. Though "Chicago" certainly doesn't lack for great solos by Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Al Sears, Django and others, I would say that it is most remarkable for the quality of the ensemble playing. The band is as well rehearsed as I've ever heard them, and Duke & Strayhorn have really drawn together a lot of disparate elements of big band music, as well as music from outside jazz traditions."

ONE OF THE BEST; BUY IT NOW!!!

bukhtan | 10/05/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one the best Duke Ellington collections available! His orchestra plays some arrangements in this collection with a vitality that is not found in other recordings. You must get this album, if not for the remarkable arrangement of "Blue Skies" alone, for the chance to listen to some of Ellington's most masterful performances. I highly recommend this album, along with ALL of the Travelog albums!!"