Customer Reviews

Compact Jazz - Duke Ellington & Friends

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Duke recorded for 40 years or so. Therefore, no single CD of 11 songs could possibly be comprehensive. That doesn't mean such a disc can't be superb, however. On this one, you get just under an hour of songs Duke wrote or co-wrote, performed by ensembles of as few as four players or as many as 16. Ella Fitzgerald sings twice and Al Hibbler once. Among the great soloists are Ben Webster and Johnny Hodges on saxophones, Lawrence Brown on trombone, and Duke on piano. Also contributing are people like Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Paul Gonsalves, Sam "The Man" Taylor, Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Haywood Henry, Teddy Wilson, Louis Bellson, Billy Strayhorn and Mercer Ellington. Look at the list of artists, read the names of the tunes, and if you don't already have these songs by Duke, find a copy of this collection. You won't be sorry. The highlight for me is the five-minute version of "Satin Doll" featuring Strayhorn's piano and Hodges on alto sax. The other 51 minutes don't stink, either.

Two of my favorite scat solos by Ella Fitzgerald appear on this album. They are bright, nuanced, and take many unexpected directions. The entire album is very classy and sure-footed and stands up to multiple listens.

excellent service, super fast, will buy again :)