Duke Ellington - Newport To Paris - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The year is 1973 and the great Maestro Duke Ellington led his world famous orchestra on it's final European tour. To collectors and expert listeners alike this performance is a rare document of his final band which includes a few remaining veterans and a healthy sprinkling of young blood who would keep the Ellington flame lit for some time after Duke's passing, as members of the Ellington Orchestra led by his son Mercer. The remarkable thing about this recording is that Ellington, despite being terminally ill, is still playing like a younger man, full of energy and fresh ideas. The material is standard fare, but the music has a certain urgency and abandon that will convince the listener that Duke had much more left to express before leaving the planet. The concert was produced by George Wein as part of the 'Newport to Paris' series, and features special guest pianists Raymond Fol and Claude Bolling, as well as Ellingtonians such as Harry Carney, Russell Procope, Harold Minerve, Johnny Coles, and many more. Album Tracks 1. Rockin' in Rhythm 2. Creole Love Call 3. Spacemen 4. Caravan 5. How High the Moon 6. New York, New York 7. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good 8. Blem 9. Chinoiserie 10. Basin Street Blues 11. Medley Don't Get Around Much Anymore / Mood Indigo / I'm Beginning to See the Light / Sophisticated Lady 12. In Triplicate 13. Love You Madly 14. One More Time 15. Woods 16. Somebody Cares 17. Take the 'A' Train 18. Take the 'A' Train 19. Lotus Blossom

EU-only two CD set containing all existing material related to the legendary 1958 Newport performances by the great Duke Ellington. Eight of the ten tracks present on the original NEWPORT 1958 LP were in fact studio recordings made shortly after the actual concert. Our set combines the complete authentic live sets with the eight studio songs, reuniting for the first time ever all existing material related to the Newport 1958 Ellington performances. Among the evening's impressive guests are Gerry Mulligan (playing a duet with Harry Carney) and Mahalia Jackson, who sings 'Come Sunday' with the band, from BLACK BROWN & BEIGE. As a bonus, we have added the original 1956 studio versions of two of the concert tunes, 'Feet Bone' and 'Just Scratchin' the Surface'. Includes 16-page booklet. Album Tracks 1. Introduction By Willis Connover 2. Take the InchAInch Train [Theme] 3. Princess Blue 4. Duke's Place [C Jam Blues] 5. Just Scratchin' the Surface 6. Happy Reunion 7. Juniflip 8. Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool 9. Jazz Festival Jazz 10. Feet Bone 11. Hi Fi Fo Fum 12. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 13. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home 14. Prima Bara Dubla 15. El Gato 16. Multicolored Blue 17. Introduction to Mahalia Jackson 18. Come Sunday 19. Keep Your Hand on the Plow 20. Take the InchAInch Train [Theme] 21. Jones 22. El Gato [Studio Version] 23. Happy Reunion [Studio Version] 24. Multicolored Blue [Studio Version] 25. Princess Blue [Studio Version] 26. Jazz Festival Jazz [Studio Version] 27. Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool [Studio Version] 28. Juniflip [Studio Version] 29. Hi Fi Fo Fum [Studio Version] 30. Feet Bone [ Studio Version] 31. Just Scratchin' the Surface [ Studio Version]

Toward the end of his career, Duke Ellington found himself filling up his calendar when home in New York City, with a residence at the famous Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza. This afforded fans to hear a scaled-down version of his Big Band in the form of an Octet, plus occasional added vocalists. On this album we present a rare stereo recording of Duke's Rainbow Room Octet as they were captured playing a private party in New Jersey during the summer of 1968. This is one of only perhaps two issued live recordings of this rare instrumentation, featuring some of Ellington's great sidemen, such as Johnny Hodges, Lawrence Brown, Paul Gonsalves, Cat Anderson, and Harry Carney. Listen closely as Duke has fun bantering with his band and the fans as well, in this very intimate setting, as he performs for a group of cultured enthusiasts, and you will experience some of the most swingingly warm moments ever captured on an Ellington recording. Album Tracks 1. Satin Doll 2. Take the a Train 3. Body and Soul 4. Mood Indigo 5. Contrapuntal Riposte 6. Passion Flower 7. Me and You 8. I'm Beginning to See the Light 9. It Don't Mean a Thing 10. Acht O'Clock Rock 11. Satin Doll (Ending Theme)