Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Russell Procope (alto saxophone, clarinet); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (baritone saxophone, clarinet); Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Cat Anderson (trumpet); Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson, John Sanders (trombone);
Jimmy Woode (bass); Sam Woodyard (drums).
Recorded between March 17 and December 16, 1956. Includes liner notes by Stanley Dance.
Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (clarinet, baritone saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Clark Terry, Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson (trumpet); Quentin Jackson, John Sanders, Britt Woodman (trombone); Sam Woodyard (drums).
Audio Remasterers: Giovanni Scatola; Andrew Pearce .
Liner Note Author: Stanley Dance.
Recording information: 03/17/1956-12/16/1956.
Illustrator: Nancy Stahl.
Duke Ellington, along with his frequent collaborator Billy Strayhorn, was so prolific a composer that whether or not he had an "outlet" for his music--an album for a record company--he'd record it if only to hear how it sounded! Also, some of these pieces of music were, in part or in entirety, works-in-progress, that would sometimes be "fine-tuned" at a later date. This is a great opportunity to hear Ellington & company playing for themselves--relaxed and informal, but by no means sloppy or second-rate. Note the rich, easygoing-but-with-a-swagger "Miss Lucy" or the sly, blusey, understated take on "Satin Doll." Fans or neophytes--this is a keeper!
