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 November 23 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 November 23 by hopkins

[hopkins]

Here's another one I particularly enjoy: Portrait of Wellman Braud, from "New Orleans Suite".

The album was recorded in quadraphonic sound. It was re-issued in quadraphonic sound on Blu Ray.

https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/duke-ellington/new-orleans-suite-quadio-blu-ray-audio/081227815257.html

I could not resist purchasing a copy, even though I have no way to listen to it in quadraphonic sound (4 speakers, with a special amp).

However, I extracted the four channels of audio, to listen to them separately:

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 1.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 2.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 3.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 4.wav

- Channel one has Ellington's piano in the foreground

- Channel two has Joe Benjamin's bass in the foreground

- Channel three has the bass clarinet (Carney) and clarinet (Procope) solos and the saxophone section (if I am not mistaken) in the foreground

- Channel four has the brass section and trumpet solo (Williams) in the foreground

The instruments featured on each channel are really well recorded, and it is just interesting to listen to them individually.

Perhaps some of you will be curious to listen to them, so enjoy!

 

Edited December 6 by hopkins

[soulpope]

6 minutes ago, hopkins said:

Here's another one I particularly enjoy: Portrait of Wellman Braud, from "New Orleans Suite".

The album was recorded in quadraphonic sound. It was re-issued in quadraphonic sound on Blu Ray.

I extracted the four channels of audio, and it is interesting to listen to them:

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 1.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 2.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 3.wav

https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 4.wav

Channel has Ellington's piano in the foreground

Channel has Joe Benjamin's bass in the foreground

Channel three has the bass clarinet (Carney) and clarinet (procope) solos and the saxophone section (if I am not mistaken) in the foreground

Channel four has the brass section and trumpet solo (Williams) in the foreground

Enjoy!

 

Thnx .... Joe Benjamin a true force here ....

[jazzbo]

The whole of this album is a favorite. I'll never tire of it.

[HutchFan]

 

[miles65]

One of my favorites

 

Old King Dooji

[soulpope]

On 12/6/2024 at 10:41 PM, jazzbo said:

The whole of this album is a favorite. I'll never tire of it.

👌👍 !!

[Rooster_Ties]

Perhaps(?) an atypical choice…

but as a composition, I’ve always been mesmerized by his “Reflections in D” 

 

[JSngry]