Every now and then, each person on earth needs to be refreshed by the sounds of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, and these 2 cd sets of their shows during the WWII era are the perfect oasis of swing and creativity in a present desert of sound. Here, you’ve got broadcasts from 1943 and 1946 with the band in NYC and Philly. The only major difference in the band is with Oscar Pettiford being on bass for the later dates, giving the band a bit more of a bop to its feel.
Between promotions for war bonds, you’ve got Johnny Hodges (pronounced “Hodge” by the announcer!) delivering a beautiful “A Flower is a Loveswome Thing” and the band swinging with thunder on “Main Stem” and “In a Jam,” the latter with a nifty “ja ja” solo by Joe Nanton. As always, there are a few obscurities, with Ray Nance singing on “Riff Staccato” and the patented sax section doing wonders with “Light” and “Emancipation Celebration” from the Black, Brown and Beige suite. It’s simply amazing how fresh this band still sounds after almost 70 years.
Storyville Records