Customer Reviews

Afro Eurasian Eclipse

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the most powerful performances of Duke Ellington and his band in my entire collection.Shorn of such stallwarts as Jonny Hodges,Jimmy Hamilton,Ray Nance,Sam Woodyard a.o.,This album pulsates with exotic beats,deep orchestral tones and a drive that competes with his most famous recordings.This is not just a brilliant example of the 'latter' day Duke, this is a brilliant examle 'of Duke!'Paul Gonsalves,Rufus Jones,Noris Turney,Harold Ashby,Harry Carney and The Duke himself are the main protagonists,but the band as a whole are simply at their best.I think that Dukes opening speach, so cool and flavoured,sets the pace.This album is a must for any lover of good music.I love it and Im sure you will too.

I recently read Hasse's biography of Ellington, and this CD was mentioned only a few times. But my jazz record guide gave it five stars (a rare thing; usually reserved for recordings such as Kind of Blue), so I figured I'd give it a listen.

I was very surprised at how accessible it is. The sound is typical Ellington, with some other world influences. Perhaps to 1999 ears it is not so strange-sounding as it was when it was released (late 1960's, I think).

Highly recommended!

Duke swings contemporary without cheese.

And he does it well here in the 'Afro-Eurasion Eclipse'. Ever the coolest of cool hosts, Duke Ellington introduces us to a theme of contemporary world music as an ever increasing influence on everything we know.

Harold Ashby does more than his fair share of swinging here and shows us that regardless of influence Duke Ellington's music will always swing. 'Chinoiserie'=WILD! Improvisational jam!

This is a great recording in the fact that Duke really broke away from the bonds of conventional jazz and moved on to areas as yet uncharted. The greatest aspect of this, is, as he did everything else, he did it like the veteran professional he was.

This music swings in a way no one had swung before. Loosen up and listen with your body and soul and this music will grab a hold of you in a new way!

It's a given that Ellington's career is highlighted by more than a few outstanding releases, but 1971 yielded this gem of a disc. Duke and crew put on an amazing, improv-fueled masterwork and Duke is the ever charming host in fine form. Fans of modern groove jazz might want to listen close to this Eclipse for serious Medeski Martin & Wood influences throught. (MMW covers "Chinoiserie" on their own Friday Afternoon in the Universe CD.) A stellar show and fine recording and sound.

One of the last of the suites that Duke wrote (only THE GOUTELAS SUITE was recorded later - by two months), rather than concentrating on a specific area of the world as in the past (NEW ORLEANS SUITE, LATIN AMERICAN SUITE), here he looks at a much bigger part of the world for his influences. African, Asian, even Australian elements are part of this suite.

Some highlights: the opening piece, CHINOISERIE, is a very ambitious composition, with an excellent solo by Harold Ashby on tenor. ACHT O'CLOCK ROCK, a tune that was played by itself in concerts, is a 16-bar blues - Duke's answer to r & r music. TRUE, is a waltz combined with gospel rudiments, with a heart-felt solo by Paul Gonsalves. A few of the pieces do not amount to much (DIDJERIDOO, AFRIQUE) and sound repetitive, but the ECLIPSE is a successful work for Duke and the orchestra.

At this point Duke Ellington was jazz's oldest survivor but he himself didn't feel like it-still insisting his best numbers
were "the ones coming up tomorrow".Well here tomorrow arrived and
the influence of African and Oriental styles and rhythms are integrated into this eight-part suite-Duke's shinning moment!
The opening "Chinoserie" is perhapes best of all-an extended piece that blends Ellington's usual big-band swing approch with
a very carnavalesqe avante-garde rhythm similar to "The Creator
has A Master Plan"."Didjidoo",based on Duke's experience with the
native Aberiginal people of Austrailia is (in retrospect) quite
funky with it's use of polyrhythms and scaling horns.Most delightful though is "Acht O' Clock Rock"-basically a simple 3-chord extention of Louis Jordon/Little Richard-style rock n' roll
done up big band style.So pretty much he brings many of the more
popular musical styles of the early 70's-afro jazz,funk and rock
into his world of Ellingtonia and much good spirits will be felt
by all!The last half of the suite doesn't cover any different ground then the first but is still a fine extention on a wonderful theme.A true testement to a man who I feel is the most
significant composer and performer of the 20'th century AND his
unique ability to update his music to fit the sound of the time
period in whitch he composed-never alienating anyone along the way.Mabye Ellingtons most important work and certainly the
most significant of his latter years.

This album is testament to the fact that Ellington's artistry and drive never waned with age unlike others of his generation. Just when you think Ellington could get no better than "New Orleans Suite" (1970), along comes "Afro-Eurasian Eclipse" (1971). Every one of Ellington's albums are better than the previous ones and all are GREAT music! This album is devastating, in the good sense of this word! The only one to remotely compare with the excellence of Duke in the early 70's was Charles Mingus. Ellington definitely "went out on a high note". But, we would expect no less of the maestro. Your collection is not complete until you own this CD. When I arrive in heaven, Ellington will be the first public personality I will seek. This is his last GREAT recorded effort and stands as a testament to six decades of glorious music making. Ellington was a pioneer of Swing music and his big band never sounded better than in 1971. Anyone who listens to "Eclipse" and doesn't consider Ellington unequaled among his peers must be stone deaf!

The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse is a groundbreaking suite, full of intriguing new sounds and grooves. Ellington didn't fade into predictability and mundanity in his last years; instead, his compositions became more and more original and exciting. This suite has rocking, swinging, waltzing grooves that, though seemingly disparate, work together and illustrate the theme stated in the Duke's spoken introduction to the suite: to show that "the whole world is going Oriental, and that no one will be able to retain his or her identity... not even the Orientals." Duke doesn't leave his standbys behind, though. The phenomenal playing of Ashby, Carney, Jones, and the rest of the Orchestra keeps The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse firmly rooted in virtuosity, even when playing to new grooves, melded with African, Asian, and Australian rhythm and sound.

On a personal note, this is one of my favorite CDs. Aside from the remarkable music, it gets bonus points for the spoken introduction, at the beginning of the "Chinoiserie" track. Audio notes give the listener a greater understanding of the CD, especially one with a single focus, like this one.

I bought this album on its original release and still find it wonderful. Each listening, although I cannot say it brings new pleasure each time, rekindles the pleasure I recieved on first hearing. The outstanding track for me is Chinoiserie; Harold Ashby must be the most underrated tenor sax player around. Check out his own albums, unalloyed delight.

Now, after hearing hundreds of records by the late, great Duke, this must be the finest.
I was brought to the attention to this music by a great friend of mine, Christian Fäh, wherefore I was skeptical.
Nonetheless, the moment I put on this record, I was spellbound, fascinated, gone out of my mind.
I don't know what to call this music(being a musician myself) but that does not mean anything. The Eclipse is a bunch of songs which will have you singing and dancing like you never knew.
Put this record on and realize that modern music started with the Duke: it's one hell of an experience and you'll be renewed by the result. Anyone with a little bit of style should know this record. Enjoy!