The Great Concerts: London & New York 1963-1964
Duke Ellington
Nimbus, 2008
2 CD
Catalogue #: NI2704/5
EAN: 0710357270420
UPC: 710357270420
You save: 20%
Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Ray Nance (violin, cornet); Johnny Hodges (reeds); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Willie "The Lion" Smith, Billy Strayhorn (piano).
Liner Note Author: Stanley Dance.
Recording information: Wollman Auditorium, Columbia University, NYC (1964); London (1964).
While Count Basie and Glenn Miller might have been strong rivals during the Swing era, Duke Ellington led one of the classiest, most musical bands from the 1920s until his death in the early `70s. The Duke's music kept developing past the heyday of the big bands, and by the early '60s--the time of LONDON & NEW YORK--his band was at one of its all-time peaks. Along with the hits, GREAT CONCERTS features some of the Duke's most adventurous compositions ("Isfahan," "Little African Flower"). Legendary pre-Swing era pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith also guest-stars.
Tracklist
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington's gift for combining blues simplicity, gospel emotion, and sophisticated musical themes reflected a unique style that drew fans from around the world. From the 1920s to the 1970s, he created a huge body of work that ranks among the greatest contributions to American music. As a pianist, composer, and bandleader, Ellington contained multitudes: from solo recordings to orchestral works, from novelty songs to extended suites, from the sacred to the not-so-sacred. As Miles Davis once said, "All musicians should get down on their knees one day to thank Duke Ellington."
