Centenary Celebration 1999 1

Duke Ellington | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 25, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Louisiana Red Hot
• ASIN: B00000IQZO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,927 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hop Head

2. Creole Love Call

3. Black and Tan Fantasy

4. What Can a Poor Fellow Do?

5. Chicago Stomp Down

6. Black Beauty

7. Jubilee Stomp

8. The Mooche

9. Hot and Bothered

10. The Blues with a Feeling

11. Misty Mornin'

12. Saturday Night Function

13. Paducah

14. Cotton Club Stomp

15. Blues of the Vagabond

16. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

17. Mood Indigo

18. Creole Love Call

19. Fast and Furious

20. Solitude

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stereo-like sound!, July 15, 2009

By 

Miniaturist.Com "www-miniaturist-com" (Essex Junction, VT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Centenary Celebration 1999 1 (Audio CD)

This is the best sounding early Ellington CD I've ever heard. It was remastered by the amazing Robert Parker, who was able to give it a natural STEREO sound! Unlike other's who have tried it, Parker was able to do it without the "echo effect." This is a stunning CD!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duke Ellington taking chances in the 1920's, May 14, 2005

By 

C. Johnson (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Centenary Celebration 1999 1 (Audio CD)

This disc is a great representation of the Jazz Age, that period where jazz was moving away from straight Dixieland into something new. Ellington treated his band like an orchestra, giving them well-conceived arrangements. Yes, there is a great deal of stellar improvisation on this disc, but Ellington's arrangements steal the show.

My favorite Ellington track, "The Mooche," is included here. The haunting melody in the reeds is accompanied by wild muted trumpet effects and a thumping rhythm section. The harmonic progression is somewhat "out there" for the 1920's, but Duke makes it work without being overly jarring to the ear. This is quintessential Cotton Club music.

It's a real treat to hear some of the lesser known "hot jazz'" pieces like "Hot and Bothered." The solos are burning with intensity. You probably won't find this on other "best of" albums.

This is my favorite type of Ellington, when he had everyone in the world saying, "What the heck is that?!?" His later work is amazing, but a little tame compared to this. I love the early, experimental period in his career.

The sound quality of the disc is remarkable, no pops or hisses, and it even has a full bass sound. This would be a wonderful addition to any jazz lover's CD collection.