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A masterpiece. Timeless music from the master, and in extended form. Essential listening for anybody interested in what Ellington was capable of. Most certainly in my top ten Duke list.
Recorded in New York City in September and October, 1957, this is sophistication, this is elegance, this is Dom Perignon and Courvoisier music, this is dinner party and dance music with Wildean wit and effortless charm. The band, now sadly no longer with us, but playing, hopefully, an endless Great Gig in the Sky (with apologies to PF fans), reads like a list of jazz greats, and they were, with soloists playing together the likes of which we will probably never see again. Starting with Ellington's exquisite introduction to Solitude, followed by the whole band, we then meet a sensuously relaxed Paul Gonsalves on a superb Where or When, the rendition of which must have brought a smile to Ben Webster's face when he listened to it (I hope he did). Listeners who might only know him through his Newport tour de force will find the other Paul G. most endearing. Shorty Baker, trumpet, is heard twice in solo spots, muted and lyrically graceful on Mood Indigo, and open and more forceful on Willow Weep for Me. Night and Day, Cole Porter delivering cosmopolitan urbanity with seeming effortlessness, is a Duke solo with well-recorded bass, with Harry Carney underpinning in his own unique way, which leads into another touch of Paul Gonsalves before Duke takes over again. A gem. All the Things You Are, by Jerome Kern, is another vehicle for Duke, and rightly so becuase he plays it with charm and grace, ably supported again by that well-recorded bass, and minimal Sam Woodyard. Tenderly gives us Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet, an instrument that sadly seems to be somewhat out of fashion at present, with apologies to Tony Coe. Here Hamilton shows us what this instrument, so much a part of the history of jazz music, can do. He plays it straight, no baroque embellishment, and just lets that beautiful tone illuminate a beautiful song. Harry joins him with some charm of his own, accompanied by strong support from other members of the band for a rousing finale, before a delicate conclusion from Duke and Hamilton. Autumn Leaves has two renditions, both featuring Ray Nance on violin and Ozzie Bailey on vocals. The performances bring out a certain and fitting pathos. Tenderley is a part vehicle for the magisterial Harry Carney who gives us both charm and grace in his two solos, ably supported by some fine trumpet playing and solid backing by Woodyard.
I have not covered every track, and I have not reviewed them necessarily in the order that they are presented, but I have, without apologies, kept my favourite for last. I first heard Hodges as a teenager, over fifty years ago, and my admiration for him has never diminished. Prelude to a Kiss is up there with his great solos. Quite magnificent. The way he plays it tells us that there must have been more than a kiss involved! A great album, correctly released after some messy earlier issues. Buy it - just in time for Feb.14th!
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picoReviewed in Japan on January 7, 2023
素晴らしい以外無い、最高の一枚です。
私は４６～７年前の高校時代に新潟の石丸電気で輸入盤LPとして買ったと思います。JAZZを聞き始めて１年目か２年目位でしたが、素敵なエリントンのピアノにホッジスの魅惑的なAltoSaxで、ライナーノーツにexcruciating ecstasyと書かれてたのが印象強く、メンバー全員の演奏がほんとに上手く、お気に入りの一枚でした。スイングジャーナルのAUDIO紹介コーナーだったか、マスターのお気に入りの１枚でこのアルバムが出てました。飛び跳ねて喜んだ覚えがあります。CDになって別テイクが収録される事が多くなって、聞きたくなります。楽しんで聞いてます。自作真空管アンプでアルテック・タンノイ・イソフォンなどドイツ物かな・・・お勧めの１枚です。pico素晴らしい以外無い、最高の一枚です。
Reviewed in Japan on January 7, 2023
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- VictorReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2010
The Complete Ellington Indigos, Duke Ellington (2008 Jazz Beat release) - Ellington delivers another triumph
