Search results for "Duke Ellington"

Muhal Richard Abrams: Du King (Dedicated to Duke Ellington) (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music August 08, 08

This is a great take on some of Duke Ellington’s early '20s and '30s music. The density of the horns combined with t...

This track review is included in: THE DOZENS: JASON MORAN SELECTS 12 ESSENTIAL MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS TRACKS

Asked to select a musician to analyze for the “Musician Dozens” column, pianist Jason Moran did not hesitate to c...

Joe Lovano: Duke Ellington Sound of Love (Rating: 97/100) posted in Music September 08, 08

This ballad is a late Mingus composition, which the bassist recorded in two versions (an instrumental as well as voca...

Duke Ellington with Ella Fitzgerald: Imagine My Frustration (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music February 19, 08

The appearances together in 1966-67 of Ella with the Duke Ellington Orchestra quickly assumed almost legendary propor...

This track review is included in: THE DOZENS: TWELVE ESSENTIAL ELLA FITZGERALD PERFORMANCES

Ella Fitzgerald lived to sing. Nothing in her life meant as much to her. Yet she never had a music lesson in her life...

Duke Ellington: Sophisticated Lady (Rating: 91/100) posted in Music December 03, 07

During his illustrious 50-year recording career, Duke Ellington led >1,000 sessions, each yielding multiple tracks. W...

Duke Ellington: Daybreak Express (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music March 15, 09

Unquestionably one of Duke Ellington’s masterpieces, “Daybreak Express” is one of the most thrilling train rides ever...

This track review is included in: THE DOZENS: TWELVE TRAIN TRACKS

For big bands in the thirties, trains were the logical upgrade from the drudgery of the band bus. Airplanes wer...

Duke Ellington: Limehouse Blues (Rating: 92/100) posted in Music September 15, 09

"Limehouse Blues" is not a blues, but it was inspired by the London neighborhood. When Duke Ellington recorded the so...

Duke Ellington: Cocktails for Two (Rating: 83/100) posted in Music November 20, 07

Among Duke Ellington's 7 singles and 2 albums enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame, the 2007 choice is least explicab...

Duke Ellington: Mood Indigo (1930) (Rating: 97/100) posted in Music November 06, 07

Duke Ellington, photo by Herb Snitzer "Stan Kenton can stand in front of a thousand musicians and make a dra...

Duke Ellington: Prima Bara Dubla (Rating: 95/100) posted in Music April 19, 08

Whole careers, it was said, could be rejuvenated with a single triumph at the Newport Jazz Festival. Case in point: D...

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane: In a Sentimental mood (Rating: 95/100) posted in Music July 02, 08

The early 1960s was a controversial time for John Coltrane as fans and critics tried to keep up with his evolving mus...

Duke Ellington: Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1963) (Rating: 96/100) posted in Music March 20, 09

This track, like "Take the 'A' Train" from the same album, employs an unusual instrumental mix to impart a uniqu...

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane: In a Sentimental Mood (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music July 02, 08

Duke Ellington was one of the most influential composers and bandleaders of the 20th century. In this small group set...

This track review is included in: DESERT ISLAND DOZENS: BEN ALLISON

Ben Allison, recently featured in an interview and concert review on jazz.com, now participates in our "Desert Islan...

Duke Ellington: Rockin' in Rhythm (Rating: 91/100) posted in Music March 09, 09

This standard for the Ellington band came, as Duke said, "as close as an arrangement gets to sounding spontaneous," w...

Duke Ellington: Passion Flower (Rating: 90/100) posted in Music March 16, 09

This was the first recording of "Passion Flower," performed by an Ellington small group nominally led by Johnny Hodge...

Duke Ellington: Isfahan (Rating: 95/100) posted in Music March 16, 09

One of the last collaborations of Ellington and his musical soul mate Billy Strayhorn, this track was part of the maj...

Duke Ellington: Take the 'A' Train (1963) (Rating: 94/100) posted in Music March 20, 09

This track, like its even better companion from the same album, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," gives us fascinating...

Duke Ellington: Take the 'A' Train (1941) – as heard in Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987) (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music November 18, 07

In 1941, Duke Ellington escaped the bondage of jungle music via an underground railway called the ‘A’ train. Duke's m...

This track review is included in: THE DOZENS: THE JAZZ SIDE OF WOODY ALLEN

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Duke Ellington: Cotton Tail (Rating: 100/100) posted in Music November 20, 07

Duke Ellington is jazz's most intimidating figure. His reputation (20th Century's Greatest Composer) is exceeded only...

Ella Fitzgerald (with Duke Ellington): Take the 'A' Train (Rating: 95/100) posted in Music October 06, 08

Matching Ella Fitzgerald with the Duke Ellington Orchestra on its signature tune is a surefire winner. But when you ...

Duke Ellington (featuring Al Hibbler): Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Rating: 92/100) posted in Music September 16, 09

As most Ellington fans know, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" was the pop song version of Duke's 1940 instrumental "Ne...

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