AAAHHHHH! ELLINGTON!!!!!
No one puts out as much essential and rare Ellingtonia as Storyville Records. Here are two more releases that need to be either on your shelf or in your ipod.
1) The broadcasts from Duke Ellington’s Orchestra on this 2 disc set come from various sources and times: some 1943 and 1945 shows from different dates in Radio City or The Hurricane Restaurant in NYC. The earlier shows have all of the stars and studs that you’ll want to hear, with some lovely alto work by Johnny Hodges on “C Jam Blues” and a smoking tenor reading by Ben Webster on “Tonight I Shall Sleep. “ The 1945 collection includes Al Sears blowing like a tornado on “Just A Sittin’ And A Rockin” while Harry Carney gives a gorgeous reading on “Frustration.” The addition of Oscar Pettiford as bassist is a dream come true, as he tears apart “Jack The Bear,” while Harry Carney, like the glow of the sun, is there as a presence that’s noticed mostly when it’s missing. This is music that needs to be played over and over until it takes over your corpuscles.
2) Move up a score of years, and you’ve got Ellington on TV! The band has changed quite a bit; in fact,a lot of the band consists of studio musicians and a selection of regulars for this 79 minutes of what is essential a musical history lesson of the contributions of the black race in America. Wisely sticking to the positive, Ellington emphasizes the importance of family, work, religion, science and wartime bravery here. Sandwiched between an exciting and pair of Louis Bellson driven “Jungle Triangles” are selections from his Sacred Concert fit right in perfectly, with “Will You Be There/99%” and “David Danced” sounding better than the original. A couple of his suites pop up as well, with “Strange Feeling” richly delivered with some exotic tones. The real pleasure in this whole disc, however, is the rare treat of Ellington leading a band (Jimmy Jones and Billy Strayhorn are on the piano) that goes through a series of straight-ahead blues. One right after another, with vocals by Jimmy Grissom, Jimmy McPhail and others, the band grooves through some hip shaking material like “Working Blues,” Walking and Singing the Blues” and “Jail Blues” with an abandon you rarely get from the Duke. A rear and rare treat. Look for this one-but did I need to say that anyway?
Storyville Records
www.storyvillerecords.com