Classic Ellington

Amazon.com
Duke Ellington, a restless experimenter, flirted occasionally with the traditional symphony orchestra, most memorably in 1963, when he recorded his band with three European classical orchestras. This new development of those experiments is lent authenticity by the involvement of Lena Horne, who sang with Ellington in 1940, and Clark Terry, who worked with Ellington through the 1950s (and performs a hilarious vocal and trumpet duet with himself in the final blues here). The orchestration is by Luther Henderson, and he, too, worked with Ellington, shortly before the latter's death, in 1974. Along with these veterans, seven younger jazz musicians, including Joshua Redman, Regina Carter, Geri Allen, and Lewis Nash, are heard in excellent form. Although this CD is released by EMI Classics, the jazz contribution dominates, despite some out-of-tempo passages in "Solitude" and "Sophisticated Lady." Henderson's eclectic integration of traditionally separate elements works well, and Rattle's lively conducting of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra demonstrates his commitment. Most of this material (some by Billy Strayhorn) didn't receive symphonic treatment from Ellington himself and is therefore doubly welcome in this very clear recording from Birmingham Symphony Hall. --Graham Colombé

Classic Ellington,Simon Rattle,Angel Records,Classical Artists,Jazz,Jazz Music,Orchestral,Orchestral Jazz,Pop

Jazz Music: