Jazzmatazz Review - Duke Ellington - All-Star Band Vols. 1 & 2

Duke Ellington

All-Star Band Vol. 1
All-Star Band Vol. 2
(Collectables)

Are there too many Duke Ellington recordings? There are certainly many, many Duke Ellington recordings available, but I was quite happy to hear these two dates from 1957 and 1964—they managed to put a smile on my face on a rather gray day.

After the triumph of their 1956 Newport Jazz Festival appearance, the band continued along with renewed energy. On their Carolltown, Pennsylvania dance date from June, 1957 (Vol. 1), the band sounds fresh and is in good spirits. The band might not be quite as sharp on the May 31, 1964 date at the Holiday Ballroom in Chicago (Vol. 2), but Duke plays a bit more piano than usual, which is always a treat.

Despite the band's constant touring and emphasis on their "hits" for their dance dates, these two dates only duplicate three titles—"Jeep's Blues" and "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" (both were also performed at their Newport appearance) and "Mood Indigo." Some rarer tunes are also performed.

Many of Duke's sidemen were noted for the long stays in the band and both dates feature many of the same featured soloists: Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves and Russell Procope. The earlier date also has solos by Clark Terry, Shorty Baker, Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman and Joe Benjamin; while the second date has solos by Cootie Williams, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Hamilton, Cat Anderson, Buster Cooper and Peck Morrison.

Stanley Dance has contributed liner notes to both volumes. There is excellent sound on Vol. 1. The sound isn't quite as good on Vol. 2, although Duke's piano is captured quite well. Hearing Duke's excellent soloists is always wonderful, but so is hearing the sound of his band—tasty, rich (but not too sweet) and complex.

— Alan Lankin, March 2001

Release Date: 5 January 2001

All-Star Band Vol. 1:
1. Take the a Train (Strayhorn) - 4:40 / 2. Take the a Train (Strayhorn) - 2:47 / 3. Such Sweet Thunder (Ellington/Strayhorn) - 2:58 / 4. Frustration (Ellington) - 3:41 / 5. Cop Out (Ellington) - 3:14 / 6. Perdido (Drake/Lengasselder/Tizol) - 4:36 / 7. Mood Indigo (Bigard/Ellington/Mills) - 7:56 / 8. Bassment (Ellington/Strayhorn) - 4:38 / 9. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington/Mills/Parish) - 3:50 / 10. Stardust (Carmichael/Parish) - 4:05 / 11. Jeep's Blues (Ellington/Hodges) - 5:49 / 12. All of Me (Marks/Simons) - 2:36 / 13. Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue (Ellington) - 11:48 / 14. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (Ellington/Webster) - 5:01 / 15. On the Sunny Side of the Street (Fields/McHugh) - 2:59

Personnel: Cat Anderson - Trumpet / Paul Gonsalves - Sax (Tenor) / Johnny Hodges - Sax (Alto) / Cootie Williams - Trumpet / Lawrence Brown - Trombone / Russell Procope - Sax (Alto) / Chuck Connors - Trombone (Bass) / Harry Carney - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone) / Buster Cooper - Trombone / Duke Ellington - Piano / Jimmy Hamilton - Clarinet, Sax (Tenor) / Herb Jones - Trumpet / Peck Morrison - Bass / Nathan Woodard - Trumpet / Sam Woodyard - Drums

All-Star Band Vol. 2:
1. Mood Indigo (Bigard/Ellington/Mills) / 2. Satin Doll / 3. Happy Go Lucky Local / 4. Medley: (a) Things Ain't What They Used to Be (b) Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me / 5. Guitar Amore / 6. Summertime / 7. C-Jam Blues / 8. Silk Lace / 9 . I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (Ellington/Webster) / 10. Isfahan / 11. Timon of Athens / 12. Tutti for Cootie / 13. Stomping at the Savoy / 14. Jeep's Blues (Ellington/Hodges) / 15. Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue (Ellington) / 16. Satin Doll

Personnel: Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Nat Woodard - trumpets / Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper - Trombones / Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope - Alto Saxes / Jimmy Hamilton - Clarinet and Tenor Sax / Paul Gonsalves - Tenor Sax / Harry Carney - Bass Clarinet and Baritone Sax / Duke Ellington - Piano / Peck Morrison - Bass / Sam Woodyard - Drums

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last update 27 March 2001