Share some favorite Ellington tracks

[hopkins]

Here's one I really enjoyed listening to recently. It is "modest" in its ambition - just a solid "blues" with some groovy Hodges, and good accompaniment by Ellington and the band. It is "to the point", and I appreciate the simplicity.

"Big Fat Alice's Blues":

 

 

 

In a sense it is "quintessential" Ellington, or at least some aspects of Ellington... There are so many facets, this is just one.

Now that I listen to it again, I think I'll be going on another Ellington binge in the coming days!

Edited Saturday at 10:54 AM by hopkins

[hopkins]

Here's another that I particularly enjoy: Tina, from his Latin American Suite:

 

However many times I listen to it, it still sounds fresh to my ears, as if Ellington was composing the piece for the first time. There is nothing flashy about his playing, nothing pretentious. It is simple, yet so subtle - creative, spontaneous, yet so obvious, and so captivating! His long improvisation on "Azure" at the Rainbow Grill (1967) gives me a similar impression, for example. I am sure there are many others. Ellington is often referred to as one of the great composers in jazz; he is certainly one of the greatest improvisers as well.

I forget which jazz critic wrote that an Ellington chord was like a universe in itself, or something to that extent, and this piece also illustrates that aspect of his playing, which can be found in so many other tracks (I'm thinking for example of that chord that marks a transition half way through his "Mood Indigo" on "Masterpieces by Ellington"). Deep stuff! All this played over a nice latin beat.

My only complaint would be that the track is too short, but I play it on repeat...

 

Edited Saturday at 11:40 AM by hopkins