Duke Ellington - Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 CD

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 buy CD music Initial pressings of SEVEN STEPS are packaged with a deluxe metal spine. Also includes a 92-page booklet with rare photos, complete discography and essays by Michael Cuscuna and Bob Blumenthal. All tracks have been digitally mastered using 24-bit technology. In the 1960s, trumpeter Miles Davis became a star outside of the jazz world, first with what history refers to as "the Quintet" with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, then with his highly influential post-BITCHES BREW electric bands. But there was a "transitional" period, after John Coltrane left Davis's employ and before the Shorter/Hancock era, which the SEVEN STEPS box set based around the SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN album documents in its entirety, often in a live context. Davis was seeking the right combination of musicians for his sonic flights, where hard-bop and modal styles could be combined with a wide-open, increasingly elastic sound. Before settling on Shorter (present here), he tried the conventionally hearty, blues-accented bop approach of saxophonist George Coleman and the rippling, somewhat more avant-garde Sam Rivers. Both soar and sear at their respective best, providing remarkable contrast to Davis's magically cool horn. UK-born pianist Victor Feldman plays on some tracks, Hancock on others; the drum chair features Tony Williams (also an explorer of avant expression) and Frank Butler (a crackling, swinging mainstream bopper). SEVEN STEPS includes material originally available on the early-'60s albums IN EUROPE and FOUR & MORE, among others, with (attention, collectors!) the inclusion of eight previously unreleased tracks. Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Miles Davis; Ron Carter (double bass); Tony Ruption Williams , Tony Williams (drums); George Coleman, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone); Victor Feldman, Herbie Hancock (piano); Frank Butler (drums). Audio Remixer: Mark Wilder. Liner Note Authors: Michael Cuscuna; Bob Blumenthal. Recording information: Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Berlin, Germany (04/16/1963-09/19/1964); Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, NY (04/16/1963-09/19/1964); Columbia Studios, LA (04/16/1963-09/19/1964); Kohseinenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan (04/16/1963-09/19/1964); Philharmonic Hall, New York, NY (04/16/1963-09/19/1964); The Festival Mondial Du Jazz Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Fr (04/16/1963-09/19/1964). Introduction bys: Billy Taylor ; André Francis; Terry Isono; Mort Fega. Photographers: Vernon Smith; John Wilkes; Ted Williams ; Joe Alper; Jan Persson; Roger Marshutz; Lee Tanner; Chuck Stewart.

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 songs In 1963 Duke Ellington realized a longtime goal, to record some of his extended works using both a symphony orchestra and his regular big band. Included on this fine CD are the three movements of "Night Creature," the relatively brief "Non-Violent Integration," "La Scala," and an adaptation of Ellington's "Harlem Air Shaft." With most of his all-star soloists heard from in this program and a complete avoidance of trying to make his music sound so-called "respectable" or self-consciously third stream, Ellington's arrangements keep the strings from weighing down the proceedings and the music is actually quite successful. ~ Scott Yanow Recording information: Germany; Milan, Italy; Paris, France; Stockholm, Sweden. Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Duke Ellington; Lawrence D. Brown, Lawrence Brown (trombone); Ernie Shepard (double bass); Ray Nance (violin, cornet); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson (trumpet); Buster Cooper (trombone); Chuck Connors (bass trombone); Sam Woodyard (drums). Liner Note Author: Stanley Dance.

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 album for sale Yes, it's true--the Duke Ellington band did actually make a whole album of songs from MARY POPPINS. Allegedly recorded at the request of Walt Disney himself, this selection of songs from the popular movie is remarkable both for its existence and for its imaginative Billy Strayhorn arrangements. While the source material is inescapably Disney fare, Strayhorn and Ellington work a kind of magic, transforming these children's songs into blues and bebop workouts. The tongue-twisting "Supercalifragelisticexpialidocious" is one of the main beneficiaries of the bebop treatment, while on "Chim Chim Cheree" Russell Procope's lyrical clarinet playing is prominently featured. Even in a one-on-one contest with Mickey Mouse, the Ellington orchestra comes out on top. Live Recording Composer/Lyricists: Richard M. Sherman; Robert M. Sherman. Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Duke Ellington; Russell Procope (clarinet, reeds, alto saxophone, trombone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, reeds, tenor saxophone); Johnny Hodges (reeds, alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (reeds, tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (reeds, baritone saxophone); Herb Jones, Nathan Woodard, Herbie Jones, Nat Woodard (trumpet); Lawrence D. Brown, Lawrence Brown (trombone); John Lamb (double bass); Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson (trumpet); Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper (trombone); Sam Woodyard (drums). Liner Note Author: Stan Cornyn. Recording information: 09/04/1964-09/09/1964. Arranger: Billy Strayhorn.

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 CD music Although in his mid-60s, Duke Ellington proves on this program of mostly new music that he never declined nor lost his creativity. Four of the pieces comprise "The Virgin Islands Suite," and there are new versions of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" and "Chelsea Bridge," and also a variety of miniature classics. In 1965 the Ellington orchestra had 11 very distinctive soloists; eight are heard from during this memorable set. ~ Scott Yanow Recording information: Virgin Islands (04/14/1965). Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Cat Anderson (trumpet). Liner Note Authors: Leonard Feather; Stanley Dance.

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 buy CD music The mid-1960s Duke Ellington band had become a cultural institution, performing concerts regularly abroad, with its leader showered with honors, including a Lifetime achievement award at the Grammys. However this didn't stop them recording more contemporary, commercial fare. This release, with trumpeter Cootie Williams very much in evidence, captures the orchestra swinging for the fences, with arrangements of two Beatles songs--a Latin-tinged "All My Loving" and an artfully deconstructed "I Want to Hold Your Hand--as well as hits of the day, like "People," and a trio of Henry Mancini-composed movie themes in "Charade," "Moon River," and "Days of Wine and Roses."

Mrs. Clinkscales to the Cotton Club, Vol. 1: 1926 - 1 songs In addition to its reputation as a cultural and artistic phenomenon, the Duke Ellington orchestra was also one of the finest dance bands of the Swing era. Though the big band roster had been decimated throughout the 1950s, Ellington managed to keep his outfit intact by constant national and international touring. First released in 1962, after Ellington had signed to Frank Sinatra's Reprise label, this salute to the big band era features classics like "Woodchopper's Ball," "One O'Clock Jump," and "Tuxedo Junction," made famous by Ellington's contemporaries, including Stan Kenton, Count Basie, and Woody Herman. The set displays Ellington's orchestra in relaxed mood, demonstrating both its technical prowess and effortless swing. Recording information: 11/29/1962-01/04/1963. Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano). Liner Note Author: Charles Champlin.