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Mood Indigo © Sophisticated Lady ¢ The Tattooed Bride e Solitude DUKE ELLINGTON-#nd hie Orchestes

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Rarely in popular music does a composition earn numbers, broadening their scope as both popular Elmer Snowden’s orchestra, where he met trump- the status of a masterpiece. There is so much that music and as music with recognizable claims to eter Arthur Whetsel, drummer Sonny Greer and is ephemeral, and so much that is worthless, that serious attention. Ellington once listed George saxophonist Otto Hardwick. Next he played with the few lasting and memorable pieces shine like Gershwin, Stravinsky, Debussy and Respighi as Wilbur Sweatman’s band, and sometimes obtained the well-known stars in a singularly naughty his favorite composers, a significant group of outside engagements with a five-piece group < Duke Ellington’s contributions to this small choices to remember in listening to his music. Gersh- known as the Washingtonians, including the galaxy are among the brightest and most secure, win, the inspired melodist, also showed a masterly above-named players, with James Miley as second and four of the finest have been chosen for this preoccupation with intricate rhythms and meters. trumpeter and trombonist Charley Ervis. collection. Although in his time the Duke has been Stravinsky, certainly the most important influence In 1926, he moved to New York and began responsible for an occasional comet, the best of his in modern classical music, is an experimenter of playing at the Kentucky Club with his own orch- work has been such as to inspire the warm admira- the first order, continually exploring rhythms and estra. His fame began to spread, and soon pub- tion and envy of other working composers and textures in his compositions. Debussy is the master lisher Irving Mills stepped in to foster the growth orchestra leaders, and his place among the jazz of Impressionism, refining delicate themes to a and promotion of the orchestra. On December 4, immortals has long been assured. gauzy web of articulate grace. And Respighi, what- 1927, Ellington opened at the then-famous Cotton Three of the compositions in this group are ever his claims as a composer, was a master of Club in Harlem, and here the tingling excitement vintage Ellington, from one of his most creative orchestration. These revealing choices give the of his music really burst into the limelight. The periods. These are Mood Indigo of 1931, Sophis- clue te the basis of Ellington’s music, and to its startling arrangements, the unforgettable originals ticated Lady of 1933, and Solitude of 1934. The incontestably immense appeal: melody, rhythm, poured forth in rich profusion, and the orchestra Tattooed Bride, showing many contemporary delicacy and color. was securely established as one of the great organ- influences, dates only from 1950, but, like the Moreover, the Ellington orchestras have always izations in music, a popular success, and a critical others, is completely Ellington in its conception. been virtuoso groups, capable of superb ensemble success. This record presents, for the first time in These recordings, incidentally, were the last made playing and inspired solo feats. Through the years, full-length recorded arrangements, four of the before extensive changes in orchestral personnel from his initial success in 1927 up to the present, finest Ellington scores, typical of the advancement took place early in 1951. But most important in the changes in personnel have been infrequent. This and lively intelligence that the Duke has brought consideration of the compositions is the fact that has given the group a continuity and a unity that to popular music. Each is genuinely a masterpiece, never before have they been available at full- is achieved generally only by the great symphony and each, obviously, could only have been created length on records. At best, some eight minutes’ orchestras. The musical thought has been con- by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. — GBD worth of each arrangement has been obtainable genial and general, and has given the orchestra’s for the edification and enjoyment of musicians experiments a group origin and execution that are Recorded December 19, 1950 as polished as they are rare. For the Ellington and public, but the complete, concert-type arrange- PIANO ments that have consistently dazzled Ellington orchestra has compelled serious musicians to take Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn fans have simply been impractical for ordinary note. Concerts in Carnegie Hall and at the Metro- record purposes. Thanks to Long Playing records, _ politan Opera House have been reviewed by SAXOPHONE these great Ellington settings can now be heard at responsible critics, and the orchestra’s European Russel Procope, Paul Gonzi last in their entirety. fame is of surpassing stature. Recently Ellington Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton Even the most casual listening attests to the fact was commissioned by the Republic of Liberia to that Ellington has again and again revised these write a composition signalling its centennial, TRUMPET settings. Not content to let them rest on their orig- resulting in the provocative Liberian Suite. Other Nelson Williams, Andrew Ford, inal merits, he has added and subtracted, using an notable Ellington works include Black, Brown and Harold Baker, Ray Nance, William Anderson eclectic approach (in the better sense of the word) Beige, and the score for the musical Beggar's ‘TROMBONE < to polish and enlarge them. There is still to be Holiday. Quentin Jackson, Lawrence ‘Brown, found the supremely mellow sound that is the Born in Washington, D. C. on aoe 29, 1899, he Tyree Glenn Ellington trade-mark. There is the almost tangible earned the name Duke in high school, for his texture of a splendidly proficient orchestra. There exceptionally neat dress and fastidious manners. HORN are still the long, semi-erotic melodic lines. But Edward Kennedy Ellington took only a few piano Mercer Ellington with all these, there is an added experimentation lessons, but became proficient enough to acquire DRUMS with harmonies and rhythms that increases the a job as jazz pianist in Washington cafes during Sonny Greer interest of already-fascinating music. the first World War. At the same time, he became ata pengte 45S 8 Always an innovator, Ellington has clearly selec- a member of a large orchestra organized by BASS | ted the best of the present-day trends and worked Russell Wooding to give Sunday nights concerts in Wendell Marshall them into his own musical schome. The modern the war-time capital. thinking of The Tattooed Bride is echoed again _ Later, he became the leader of one of Oliver VOCALIST and again in these arrangements of the earlier “Doc” Perry’s orchestras, and in 1922 he joined ~ Yvonne

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