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The general public's modernist view of the Duke Ellington Orchestra was greatly formed at Newport in 1956 with Paul Gonsalves’ 27 choruses and Elaine Anderson's flying blonde hair and little black dress convincing many that if Ellington's music was cool enough for the “jet set" then it was cool enough for them. With Newport as the catalyst, a reexamination of Ellington’s work began in academia as well as within the world of jazz criticism. As Ellington’s musical stature increased, it opened new venues for his orchestra to appear—many where few Afro-American jazz contingents had ever had access to. In the coming years it meant appearing less at high school auditoriums, American Legion halls and county fairs and more often at jazz festivals, places of worship, concert halls and clubs... https://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/2024/07/dancing-with-duke-ellingtons-live-dance.html?m=1

In 2004 RCA issued. 6 sets of "greatest hits" cds coupled with a dvd of period clips, soundies, etc. I collected them all. I'd almost forgotten them and have taken them off the shelf to watch the video stuff this week. Anyone out there have favorites?

https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/03/09/duke-ellington-heading-for-newport/ Discography (1) Black and Tan Fantasy; Stompin’ at the Savoy; Clarinet Melodrama; Harlem Airshaft; Sophisticated Lady; Theme for Trambean; Satin Doll; (2) Take the ‘A’ Train; (1) Take the ‘A’ Train; La Virgen de la Macarena; Monologue; V.I.P. Boogie; Jam With Sam; The Hawk Talks; Prelude to a Kiss; Things Ain’t What They Used to Be; (1) Day In, Day Out (75.57) (1) Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson (t); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders (tb); Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney (reeds); Ellington (p); Jimmy Woode (b); Sam Woodyard (d). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2 July 1956. (2) add Nance (v). (3) Jimmy Grissom (v) replaces Nance. Doctor Jazz 018

Tonight I was listening to a CD I forgot I had - Duke Ellington at Birdland 1952 on the Jazz Unlimited label. The CD has 73 minutes of NBC radio broadcasts from November, 1952. It's generally excellent, but it got me thinking about Hilton Jefferson's stint in the Ellington band. Jefferson is arguably one of the half-dozen best swing-era lead alto saxophonists and soloists. He was with Ellington for about six months, from June to December, 1952, filling what I can't help thinking of as the "Johnny Hodges chair" between Willie Smith's and Rick Henderson's stints in that slot. This great saxophonist doesn't get any solos on those November broadcasts, and as far as I can tell, his only recorded solo with Ellington is twelve bars in "The Mooche" from the Ellington Uptown album. Ellington said that, "You can't write music right unless you know how the man that'll play it plays poker." But surely he must have played a game or two with Hilton Jefferson during those six months. But come to think of it, neither Willie Smith (Hodges' replacement, as part of the "Great James Robbery"*) nor Rick Henderson got much solo space with Ellington. Maybe the Duke was at a loss as to what to do with that chair until Hodges returned in 1955. So I see Jefferson's stint with Ellington largely as a wasted opportunity. I can think of several other cases where Ellington had an excellent soloist on board whom he didn't take full advantage of, but I'll wait to see if anyone else mentions them. *After Hodges quit Ellington, taking Sonny Greer and Lawrence Brown with him, Ellington hired Willie Smith, Juan Tizol, and Louis Bellson from Harry James' band.

Saw Armstrong on tv multiple times but never caught him in person. Albert Ayler and Eric Dolphy were missed as well. Otherwise, considering opportunities, I think I have done well, but I regret those three.

I know there is an early 2cd set by CBS/Sony containing these early Duke recordings made for Columbia and Okeh from 1927 to 1930. http://www.amazon.com/Okeh-Ellington-Duke/dp/B00000274L but the transfers leave a lot to be desired. Are there any other subsequent relases on CD that are satisfactory? Many thanks! Alex.-