Any time there is undiscovered Ellingtonia, church bells should ring.
This one is a delight, capturing a November 7, 1958 gig in Copenhagen with the timeless reed section of Jimmy Hamilton/ts-cl, Paul Gonsalves/ts, Johnny Hodges/as, Russell Procope/as-cl and Harry Carney/brs-cl-bcl. Have you not memorized that lineup yet?
And let’s not forget the horn section of Cat Anderson-Harold Baker/tp, Clark Terry/tp-fh, Ray Nance/tp-vi, Britt Woodman-Quenton Jackson-John Sanders/tb. And the band is SMOKING throughout, as the brass is bragging on “Newport Up” and other newer pieces like “Sonnet To Hank Cinq” and “Hi Fi Fo Fum” and Sam Woodyard shining on “What Else Can You Do With A Drum”. Of course, there are the classics, with Hodges swooning on “Things Ain’t What They Used T Be” and Gonsalves digging in on “Diminuendo and Crescendo In Blue”.
But the real treat are the collection of intimate recordings done after official concerts, with someone recording Ellington in a particularly cozy mood. The May 1950 recordings include Ellington in a relaxed solo setting of “I Can’t Get Started”, but the real gem is a simmering 10 minute “Body and Soul” and a glowing “A Little Blues” with Don Byas and Jimmy Hamilton joining in sublime sounds. WHEW! For a June night in Denmark, Ellington goes solo again, for lovely reads of “Sophisticated Lady” and “Mood Indigo” with The Duke giving charming vocal intros to each. This is why you like jazz, and LOVE Ellington.