Guest Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 I thought of this after picking up yet another album today that covered it. I'm partial to the Charles Mingus version on Pre-Bird Quote
Sundog Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 I really like Jimmy Jones piano solo rendition from Kenny Burrell's tribute album, Ellington Is Forever Volume 1. It's a nice change of pace from the more typical uptempo swinging versions. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Quote
Spontooneous Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Can't beat the original, though the version on "Ellington Uptown" kicks my ass too. One of the rules I've set for myself after years of club-hopping in Kansas City: There's no point sticking around after somebody calls " 'A' Train." Quote
JSngry Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Not "the" favorite, but certainly "a" favorite: Quote
JSngry Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Can't beat the original, though the version on "Ellington Uptown" kicks my ass too. One of the rules I've set for myself after years of club-hopping in Kansas City: There's no point sticking around after somebody calls " 'A' Train." ← I heard that. Most people lose sight of the fact that it's actually an orchestral composition, not just a tune for blowing. It's a good blowing vehicle, but not a tireless one... Quote
maren Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 My favorite live experience: Sun Ra and Arkestra playing "A Train" at free outdoor concert on South Street Seaport Pier in summer of 1979... Organ intro sounded just like actual A train rumbling into the station! Quote
kh1958 Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Favorite non-Ellington version--Mingus on Mingus at Monterey. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Definitely the various Sun Ra versions I've heard on record (or video). No idea what releases they came from, but I remember there being at least a couple different Arkestra versions that I've heard. Quote
rostasi Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Can't beat the original, though the version on "Ellington Uptown" kicks my ass too. One of the rules I've set for myself after years of club-hopping in Kansas City: There's no point sticking around after somebody calls " 'A' Train." ← I heard that. Most people lose sight of the fact that it's actually an orchestral composition, not just a tune for blowing. It's a good blowing vehicle, but not a tireless one... ← Quartet Out does a damn fine version! Quote
sal Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 There's a real nice one on the Johnny Hodges Small Group Mosaic. Quote
ghost of miles Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 Betty Roche--both the UPTOWn and the Bethlehem versions. James Carter also does a great job on one of his early albums. Quote
John Tapscott Posted October 29, 2005 Report Posted October 29, 2005 to the Uptown version; also Ray Bryant's solo piano romp on Montreux '77 (Pablo). Quote
chris olivarez Posted October 30, 2005 Report Posted October 30, 2005 At this moment in time I just have to give props to the version by the late great Gate- Gatemouth Brown!!! Quote
JSngry Posted October 30, 2005 Report Posted October 30, 2005 Can't beat the original, though the version on "Ellington Uptown" kicks my ass too. One of the rules I've set for myself after years of club-hopping in Kansas City: There's no point sticking around after somebody calls " 'A' Train." ← I heard that. Most people lose sight of the fact that it's actually an orchestral composition, not just a tune for blowing. It's a good blowing vehicle, but not a tireless one... ← Quartet Out does a damn fine version! ← Yeah, but you notice we always save it for the end of a set and we always go out and visit with friends and/or fans and/or anybody else immediately afterwards... Quote
Peter Friedman Posted October 30, 2005 Report Posted October 30, 2005 Ellington recorded it hundreds of times. Here are a few non-Ellington versions that I very much enjoy. Ray Bryant - Montreux '77 - Pablo Jimmy Rowles - Plays Duke Ellington And Billy Strayhorn - Columbia Stuff Smith - Live At The Montmartre - Storyville Quote
Kalo Posted October 31, 2005 Report Posted October 31, 2005 Not "the" favorite, but certainly "a" favorite: ← Jimmy Rowles - Plays Duke Ellington And Billy Strayhorn - Columbia ← Two excellent versions, indeed. My favorite live version was part of a Benny Carter gig at the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA, at least 15 years ago. Alan Dawson was the drummer, and he played an entire chorus as a drum solo, never losing the thread of the tune the entire time. In fact, he kept the audience on the edge of their seats. My favorite drum solo ever (in memory, at least). Quote
BeBop Posted October 31, 2005 Report Posted October 31, 2005 Many fine versions cited, to which I must add: Clifford Brown / Max Roach / Harold Land / Richie Powell / George Morrow Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted October 31, 2005 Report Posted October 31, 2005 I like the Ra solo piano on LEO (Teatro La Fenice). Quote
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