jazzbo Posted September 10, 2003 Report Posted September 10, 2003 (edited) I'm listening to a borrowed advance copy (sleeve version, no booklet etc.) of Ellington's "Uptown." DAMNIT THIS IS GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC RELEASE! The sound is excellent. I put on one of my favorites from this time period included here, "I Like the Sunrise" and it sounded as if a larger than life Al Hibbler were singing in my living room! Whenever this one comes out, seriously consider grabbing it! (Not sure they'll use this cover.) How does such a huge sound come from this guy? One of the mysteries of the universe! Edited September 10, 2003 by jazzbo Quote
wesbed Posted September 10, 2003 Report Posted September 10, 2003 I have this copy of Uptown: The up-coming release is a re-release/remaster of the same? Quote
jazzbo Posted September 11, 2003 Author Report Posted September 11, 2003 It contains what the lp did and also includes the Liberian Suite. Skin Deep The Mooche Take the A Train A Tone Parallel to Harlem Perdido The Controversial Suite: Before My Time/Later The Liberian Suite: I Like the Sunrise Dance No. 1 Dance No. 2 Dance No. 3 Dance No. 4 Dance No. 5 Quote
Claude Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Duke Ellington Uptown was released shortly after Ellington adopted the 12-inch long player philosophy and began recording concert versions of some of his greatest pieces. Before the present release, this recording was issued on three different occasions, each released including slightly different material. The original release (Columbia ML 4639) contained the opening five tracks: "Skin Deep," "The Mooche," "Take The 'A' Train," "A Tone Parallel To Harlem," and "Perdido." The second release, entitled HiFi Ellington Uptown (CL 830) replaced "A Tone Parallel to Harlem" with "The Controversial Suite." The third version (CL 848) traded "Perdido" for "The Liberian Suite." Finally, the current Ellington Uptown unites all of these versions on a single disc with digital remastering. The result is a voluminous big band sound coupled with exceptional composition and orchestration, even on the lesser-known pieces. A young and brash Louis Bellson provides the opening piece, "Skin Deep," where he capable demonstrates his all encompassing ability to drive a band. "The Mooche" and "Take the 'A' Train" bristle with vitality and invention in their extended version, the latter given a be bop flavor by vocalist Betty Roche. The centerpiece is "A Tone Parallel to Harlem," a piece that justifies all of Wynton Marsalis? extended jazz composition catalog. Harry Carney demonstrates his importance to the Ellington Orchestra with his bass clarinet. The center of this piece is country brass band playing a civil war tune before hitting NYC again for the coda. The two suites included are prime Ellington musings. Perhaps not the best known, but essential nevertheless. This is an important and complete release of Ellington material. Ellington Uptown article from AAJ (Google cache link, AAJ is currently down) Hifi Ellington Uptown has been reissued on SACD in Japan: http://www.sacdinfo.com/showtitle.php?title=1001 Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 This is a combination of 2 early Columbia lps - CL 848 (Liberian Suite and Harlem) and CL 830 (the rest of it). I have it all on cd, sounding dandy, as well as the lps. Quote
JSngry Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 I have an old LP of HI-FI ELLINGTON UPTOWN, and have TONE PARALLEL & LIBERIAN SUITE on some French CBS LP. Don't think I have this version of "Perdido". Had no idea of all the different variations of this album! "Controversial Suite" isn't one of Duke's "major" works, but it is certainly one of his most curious (and therefore, intriguing), and I'm looking forward to hearing it without any scratches. Bottom line - you can't beat Betty Roche on the "A-Train" heard here! Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 (edited) "Controversial Suite" isn't one of Duke's "major" works, but it is certainly one of his most curious (and therefore, intriguing), and I'm looking forward to hearing it without any scratches. Russell Procope's soprano solo is enough to justify ANYTHING. By the way, when I saw the thread title I thought someone was in my mailbox. Yesterday I received cdrs of unissued JR Monterose (2 discs), Jaki Byard - 1948, Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino, and unissued Fentone masters. Edited September 11, 2003 by Chuck Nessa Quote
JSngry Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 (edited) You like to torture us, don't you? Uh, coming to Texas again any time soon? Edited September 11, 2003 by JSngry Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Uh, coming to Texas again any time soon? I'm not sure Brenda is ready for our return! Quote
jazzbo Posted September 11, 2003 Author Report Posted September 11, 2003 My dad's copy of Uptown was an adolescent discovery, and I've had all this material on cd for some time thanks to the Columbia cd and the French 1947 to 1952 five cd set that I spent all my amd money on a logn time ago and I am so glad I did. . . . B u t the stuff has never sounded like this. I think the sound on this is phenomenal. Quote
Free For All Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino Please tell me what Carl and Frank you got! Quote
RDK Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Looking forward to this one! I have "Liberian Suite" on the original 10" LP and really dig it; I only have ""Uptown" on an old cassette. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 I'll probably get this one. Now if they can re-do "Jazz Party"........ I've never been big on Ellington, but that one SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
catesta Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 DAMNIT THIS IS GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC RELEASE! You can say that again. Although, there will never be a day I have to be told twice to pick up some more Duke. Quote
alankin Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 I've heard the the three Columbia Ellington reissues have been pushed back until 2004. But I have advances. They sound great. BHAHAHA. (Sorry, I couldn't help it.) Quote
Christiern Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Am I the only one here who cringes at the sound of Al Hibbler? Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 11, 2003 Report Posted September 11, 2003 Yeah, but he does like the sunrise. Quote
jazzbo Posted September 12, 2003 Author Report Posted September 12, 2003 Well, I'm a big Hibbler fan. Go figure! Quote
Larry Kart Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 Christern, I agree with you about a lot of Al Hibbler, but "I Like the Sunrise" (which I love, along with the rest of "Liberian Suite") is inconceivable to me (and might not have been conceivable to Ellington) without the timbral eccentricities of Hibbler's voice as a given. (Don't know if Chuck agrees with me on this.) At the least, we can be grateful that on this occasion Hibbler didn't do his mock-Cockney thing. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 Funny, I guess I always thought Duke used Hibbler for his sound the way he used his instumentalists. Every Ellington/Hibbler track I can think of could be Carney or a trombonist. I have not thought this through, but Duke may have chosen all his singers for sound. This may explain Duke's relative failure with "band vocalists". Quote
JSngry Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 Good point, Chuck. You get that late 40s RCA stuff with the several vocalists going at once, and it's just WACK - pure sound. I like the thing Hibbler did w/Rahsaan quite a bit, but otherwise, I find him an acquired taste that I've only partially acquired. And I like Jimmy Grissom & Milt Grayson too. Good singers in a band that at the time really didn't need one. Rock City Rock, baby! Quote
montg Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 Am I the only one here who cringes at the sound of Al Hibbler? If Hibbler gives you the willies, what does Jimmy Grissom do for you? For me, Duke reached a low point as far as vocalists go when JG signed on. But, I still love Ellington's Capitol period. Quote
Christiern Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 Funny, I guess I always thought Duke used Hibbler for his sound the way he used his instumentalists... This may explain Duke's relative failure with "band vocalists". That makes a lot of sense, Chuck. Think of how he used Baby Cox, Adelaide Hall, and Kay Davis. Tony Watkins was pretty bad, I thought. And then there were: Darlene Huff Nell Brookshire Anita Moore Shirley Witherspoon Trish Turner Lil Greenwood Ozzie Bailey Quote
kenny weir Posted September 12, 2003 Report Posted September 12, 2003 An interesting theory. And don't forget Alice babs. Quote
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