Duke Ellington

With a considerable royalty income from his many compositions and a band already on his payroll, Duke Ellington had the luxury of going into the studio whenever he felt like it to work on new compositions or revisit older works and give them a new twist. Since his death in 1974, many of these recordings from his private stockpile have duly been issued for the first time; this is the fifth such collection released by Storyville alone. A number of pieces in this compilation appear on a commercial release for the first time, and while they may be considered works in progress by some, it is fascinating to hear Ellington's aural sketchbook in the studio as pieces were taking shape. The dramatic "Flute" and the subtle blues "Soft" are both vehicles for Norris Turney on the flute, an instrument that Ellington didn't feature at all in his band until very late in his career. The exotic "Afrique" features Paul Gonsalves in a rousing performance, while the playful "Second Line" showcases Russell Procope's vibrato-filled clarinet, along with the growling trumpet of star trumpeter Cootie Williams. Ellington revisits "Sophisticated Lady" by adding a breezy Latin rhythm, featuring Turney on flute and baritone sax great Harry Carney (as this was one of his regular showcases in concert). Rick Henderson, who had played alto sax in the band during part of Johnny Hodges' absence, contributed several charts during this period (though he had not returned to the band), though his charts have a more contemporary pop flavor and don't really seem characteristic of the Ellington sound. "Mood Indigo" was a staple almost from the time it was first recorded; the version here is notable for Tyree Glenn's trombone solo (he had briefly returned to the band), though Procope's delicious clarinet is also a highlight. The vocal numbers "I'm Afraid" and "New York, New York" both feature Anita Moore, though neither is particularly memorable. This Duke Ellington collection will primarily be of interest to longtime collectors vs. newcomers to the bandleader's music, but there are many fine performances within this fascinating release. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide