Ellington,Duke / Palombi,Luigi - Duke Ellington: Piano Works - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Duke Ellington's musical works are seemingly well documented; the likelihood of finding a good, unreleased Duke Ellington recording is slight at best. When Grönland Records called and told me they had found exactly that in Conny Plank's estate and asked me if I wanted to give it a listen, I felt pretty honored, and excited. The music of Duke Ellington is - in my worldview - to Jazz what Bach's oeuvre is to classical music THE great benchmark, or - to raise it up onto an even higher pedestal - the Old Testament, the alpha and omega. With both Bach and Ellington, you can sit down at a piano simply to go through it building chords and something great always happens. This music is so rich, and it is virtually indestructible. Album Tracks 1. Alerado [Take 1] 2. Alerado [Take 2] 3. Alerado [Take 3] 4. Afrique [Take 1] 5. Afrique [Take 2] 6. Afrique [Take 3] [Vocal Version]

This is a re- of the Jazzhaus/SWR music bestseller 101703. Upon nearing the age of seventy, Duke Ellington was looked upon as the great historical figure of African American music, honored with academic degrees and appearing on the front pages of renowned magazines. Still, he had to and wanted to perform as much as he could and therefore toured the world with his orchestra, from Japan to North Africa to South America and Eastern Europe. During his travels, he was able to stop off in Stuttgart in March 1967 to present a colorful mixed programme made up of a few tried-and-true pieces and many lesser-known compositions. By Ellington's standards, it was a modern concert, exuberant in mood and at times mischievous in arrangements, which allowed some shrill coloring. And it also showed that even an ultimately traditional jazz orchestra in the rocky sixties could develop enough charisma to enthrall an audience like that in the Liederhalle. The revolutions were now being made by others, but Duke Ellington remained the brilliant master of the grand musical gesture.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves during the Civil War, jazz giant Duke Ellington began work on a special suite of music commemorating the struggles, triumphs and ongoing battle for the civil rights of blacks in America. This jazz masterpiece debuted in Chicago in the summer of 1963. Legends such as pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn and drummer Louie Bellson were a big part of the performance. And while portions of this master suite have been available for years, this is the very first time the complete piece has been available in it's entirety. Album Tracks 1. Jungle Triangle, Pt. 1 2. Come Sunday 3. Will You Be There/99% Won't Do 4. Ain't But No One 5. David Danced 6. Heritage (My Mother, My Father and Love), Pt. 1 7. After Bird Jungle 8. Montage 9. My People (Soap Box) 10. The Blues Ain't 11. Blues at Sundown 12. Walking and Singing the Blues 13. Working Blues 14. My Man Sends Me 15. Jail Blues 16. I Love My Lovin' Lover 17. Jungle Triangle, Pt. 2 18. King Fit the Battle of Alabam 19. King 20. Purple People 21. What Color Is Virture 22. Purple People [Music] 23. Piano Blues Ouverture 24. Strange Feeling 25. Heritage (My Mother, My Father and Love), Pt. 2