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THE INTERNATIONAL DEMS BULLETIN DUKE ELLINGTON MUSIC SOCIETY 09/2 August - November 2009 Our 31st Year of Publication FOUNDER: BENNY AASLAND |
Voort 18b, 2328 Meerle, Belgium
Telephone: +32 3 315 75 83
Email: dems1@telenet.be
NEW
RELEASES AND
RE-RELEASES
Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10369
(2009)
Duke Ellington “Retrospection - The Piano Sessions”
DEMS 09/2-9
I mention with mixed feelings this recent release of Duke’s Capitol piano
solo’s from 1953.
This could be a welcome addition to someone’s collection if that someone has
failed to acquire the splendid 8 LP or 5 CD Mosaic box set “The Complete Capitol
Duke Ellington” when it was still available (see DEMS 07/3-22), although if
that someone had found the Capitol release “Duke Ellington - Piano Reflections”
CDP 7 92863 2, which is still available through Internet suppliers, he could
have noticed that the first set of 15 selections on Lone Hill are directly
dubbed from the Capitol release (DEMS 91/1-4). Similarly, tracks 16/21 are
directly dubbed from the Columbia Legacy release “Piano in the Foreground”
512920-2 (DEMS 04/3-32). When I say directly dubbed I mean that literally.
Track 22 on Lone Hill was previously released on the Storyville CD “Masters of
Jazz Volume 6”, STCD 4106 (DEMS 87/4-4) and on the Storyville CD “Masters of
Jazz Duke Ellington” 101 8501 (DEMS 06/2-40). The last track on the Lone Hill
CD was previously released on the Vintage Jazz Classics CD “The King Cole Trios
- Live 1947-1948” VJC-1011-2 (DEMS 91/3-6 aand 00/2-13/1).
I find it difficult to praise people whose only contributions consist of
copying other people’s products.
There is a heavy demand for the recordings of the early 40ties on CD. If one
wants to copy previously released material why not copy LPs, which are no
longer in print and why not do the digitizing and sound restoration oneself? To
make a digital copy of someone else’s CD with a fibre optic connection is not a
great achievement. I had to buy a copy of the Lone Hill release to check the
numbering of the Piano Improvisations. Lone Hill followed the numbering
from the Columbia Legacy release, which is explicable. There are two remarks to
be made in favour of this Lone Hill release: It is not expensive and the CD is
filled up to the limit: 79:22!
Before I give you, very reluctantly, the titles of the 23 selections on the
Lone Hill CD, I want to point out that I always give you the most recent
mention of a specific release in DEMS Bulletin. If you want to see the earlier
mentions, you need to trawl back through the references at the top of the
articles.
13Apr53
1. Who Knows
2. Retrospection
3. B Sharp Boston
4. Passion Flower
5. Dancers in Love
6. Reflections in D
7. Melancholia
8. Prelude to a Kiss
14Apr53
9. In a Sentimental Mood
10. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
11. All Too Soon
12. Janet
3Dec53
13. Kinda Dukish
14. Montevideo
15. December Blue
10oct57 (and not 17oct!)
16. All the Things You Are
17. All the Things You Are
20Mar57
18. Piano Improvisations No.1 5713j
19. Piano Improvisations No.2 5713l
20. Piano Improvisations No.3 5713m
21. Piano Improvisations No.4 5713n
No. 4 is also known as Bitches
Ball, which is the piano interlude from Beige (“Black, Brown and Beige”)
— Theme XII in New DESOR’s analysis.
25Feb66
22. New World a-Comin’
6Dec47
23. Mood Indigo
Sjef Hoefsmit
Gambit CD 69323 (2009)
Live in Warsaw 30oct71
DEMS 09/2-10
Warsaw, Sali Kongresowej, 30oct71
1. I’m Beginning To See the Light
2. Addi
3. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
4. Hello, Dolly!
5. La Plus Belle Africaine
6. Everybody Wants To Know
7. Sophisticated Lady
Caravan
8. Satin Doll
9. Goof
10. Lotus Blossom
Tracks 1, 6 and 7 belonged to the Medley.
The original 1978 LP was titled “Last Time Duke Ellington Orchestra”, Poljazz
ZSX-0673, see DEMS 81/2-6. The LP was produced by the Record Club of the Polish
Jazz Society. The original liner-notes were written by Sjef’s friend Henryk
Choliñski.
Suisun City, CA. Travis Air Force Base, 4Mar58
11. Smada
12. Vivi
13. Frivolous Banta
14. Scratchin’ the Surface
15. Blues in Orbit
16. Juniflip
17. Beer Barrel Polka
18. Bassment
19. Caravan
The original 1977 LP was titled “Dance Date Air Force U.S.A. 1958”, Jazz
Connoisseur JC-004. It contained another selection, titled Willow Weep for
Me, which was together with tracks 15 and 19 later released on the LP and
CD Private Selection Volume 6. With the exception of these two tracks, the
other 7 tracks are on CD for the first time.
Both original LPs are long out of print. This seems to be a splendid occasion
for young collectors to fill the holes in their collections.
Milo van den Assem
The release date was 7Jul09
Jo Kloprogge
Dog’n Roll DNR 612 — Harmony Music © 1999
Duke Ellington Special Moon
DEMS 09/2-11
This CD contains the tracks 1 until and
including 14 (The Mooch — Perdido) taken from the “20 Fabulous
Tracks” on the CD Music Star Volume 38. The
Dog’n Roll CD is packed in a very nice good looking round tin but has no liner
notes/info whatsoever. Maybe a nice buy for those who miss still some of these
recordings in spite of the great number of re-releases, from which some were
mentioned in DEMS Bulletin 00/3-17/1.
Milo van den Assem**
ELLINGTONIA©
Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10373
(2009)
“Buenos Aires Blues”
Johnny Hodges with Lalo Schifrin
DEMS 09/2-12
New York, 26May63
Johnny Hodges; Lalo Schifrin (p); Barry Galbraith (g); George Duvivier (b);
Dave Bailey (d).
1. Mama Knows
2. I’m in Another World
3. Dreary Days
4. I Can’t Believe that You’re in Love with Me
5. B.A.Blues
6. Wanderlust
7. All Too Soon
8. Somebody Loves Me
9. Away from You
New York, 6 and 15Aug62
Johnny Hodges with Oliver Nelson’s Orchestra (with strings!), including Bernie
Leighton (p&org); George Duvivier (b) and Osie Johnson (d). With Ray Nance
only on track 13 (on violin).
10. Something To Live For
11. In a Sentimental Mood
12. I Didn’t Know About You
13. Guitar Amour
14. You Blew Out the Flame in My Heart
15. Theme from “The Eleventh Hour”
16. Love Song from “Mutiny on the Bounty”
17. Solitude
18. Satin Doll
19. Don’t Blame Me
20. Prelude to a Kiss
21. Warm Valley
With this release Lone Hill have done a
better job than with “The Piano Sessions” (See 09/2-9). This CD contains the
music from two Hodges LPs which are long out of print. According to Hodges
expert Michael Palmer, neither of these sessions has been issued on CD before.
The 1963 recordings are taken from an untitled 1973 LP in the Verve series with
previously unreleased recordings, V6-8834. The 1962 recordings were previously
released on the album titled “The Eleventh Hour”, Verve V6-8492, and added to
this CD as a bonus. Total time 67 minutes. Both albums demonstrate how great a
bass player George Duvivier was. It seems that Ray Nance’s contribution to
track 13 was recorded later (18Aug) and dubbed in.
Sjef Hoefsmit
Storyville 103 8407 (2 CD set, 2009)
Ben Webster 100 Years
The Brute and the Beautiful
DEMS 09/2-13
CD 1 “The Brute”
10Jan65, Rehearsal at Studio 1
(Koncertsalen) Danmarks Radio, Copenhagen, unissued
Ben Webster solo piano
1. In a Mellotone
10Jan65, from Broadcast at Studio 1 (Koncertsalen) Danmarks Radio,
Copenhagen, unissued
Ben with Kenny Drew p, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen b, Alex Riel dr.
2. In a Mellotone
3. Blues in B-Flat (=Randle’s
Island)
4. Cotton Tail
1Nov49, recorded for Capitol in Kansas City
Ben with Walter Brown voc, Jay
McShann p, Hermann Bell g, Lloyd Anderson b, Jesse Price dr.
5. Nasty Attitude (5141)
5oct58, Live at “NuWay Club” Hempstead, Long Island, released on LP Jazz Guild
1011
Ben with Charlie McLean p, Jimmy Cannady g, John Dailey b, Ray White dr.
6. Dancing on the Ceiling
7. Indiana
8. The Man I Love
7Dec63, Live at Jack Welch’s “Kings and Queens” Pawtucket, Rhode Island,
released on Storyville CD 8237
Ben with Michael Renzi p, Bob Petterutti b, Joe Veletri dr.
9. Sometimes I’m Happy
9Mar68, from Concert at
Studenterforeningen with Danish Radio Big Band, unissued
Ben with Palle Mikkelborg, Perry Knudsen, Palle Bolvig, Allan Botschinsky tp,
Per Espersen, Torolf Mølgård, Axel Windfeldt, Ole Kurt Jensen tb, Uffe Karskov,
Jesper Thilo, Dexter Gordon, Sahib Shihab, Bent Nielsen reeds, Kenny Drew p,
Ole Molin g, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen b, Al ”Tootie” Heath dr.
10. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
22Nov71, from Broadcast in Copenhagen, unissued
Ben with Ole Kock Hansen p,
Finn Ziegler vln, Ole Molin g, Hugo Rasmussen b, Bjarne Rostvold dr.
11. Sweet Georgia Brown
25May66, from Broadcast in
program “Jazzaktuelt” at Danmarks Radio Studio 11, unissued
Ben with Carmell Jones tp, Kenny Drew p, Niels-Henning Ørsted
Pedersen b, Rune Carlsson dr.
12. Better Go
10May72 (and not 19May as in liner-notes), from private recordings by Ton de Goeij at “Jazzzolder Hot
House“, Breestraat 66, Leiden, The Netherlands, issued on LP Hot House HH 001.
Ben with Tete Montoliu p, Rob Langereis b, Erik Ineke dr.
13. Set Call (= The Theme)
CD 2 “The Beautiful”
12 (or) 14Nov69, from Memorial
Concert for the late Timme Rosenkrantz at Odd Fellow Palæet, released on
Storyville CD 4118
Ben with Teddy Wilson p, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen b, Makaya Ntshoko dr.
1. Stardust
10Jan65, from Broadcast at Studio 1 (Koncertsalen) Danmarks Radio,
Copenhagen, unissued
Ben with Kenny Drew p, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen b, Alex Riel dr.
2. My Romance
3. Over the Rainbow
Shortly after 11?May70, from TV recording by Danmarks TV, telecast 19May70,
issued on LP and CD Storyville 4105
Ben with Teddy Wilson p, Hugo Rasmussen b, Ole Streenberg dr.
4. Old Folks
18Apr68, from TV recording by Danmarks TV with Danish Radio Big Band, issued on
LP and CD Storyville 4105
Ben with Anton Kontra, Erling Christensen, Ove Winther, Stanley Carlson, Hans
Chr.Schwenger, Helge Willer-Nielsen, Aage Bertelsen, Børge Madsen, Per Lüdolph,
Finn Ziegler, Svend Aage Jensen, H.Bjerregaard Jensen, Holger Bjerre, Mogens
Holm Larsen, Kurt Jensen, Svend Aage Blankholm strings, Palle Mikkelborg, Perry
Knudsen, Palle Bolvig, Allan Botschinsky tp, Per Espersen, Torolf Mølgård, Axel
Windfeldt, Ole Kurt Jensen tb, Uffe Karskov, Jesper Thilo, Dexter Gordon, Sahib
Shihab, Bent Nielsen reeds, Kenny Drew p, Ole Molin g, Niels-Henning Ørsted
Pedersen b, Al “Tootie” Heath dr, Niels Jørgen
Steen cond.
5. Come Sunday
11. Danny Boy
12. Going Home
7Dec63, Live at Jack Welch’s
“Kings and Queens” Pawtucket, Rhode Island, released on Storyville CD 8237
Ben with Michael Renzi p, Bob Petterutti b, Joe Veletri dr.
6. Bye, Bye Blackbird
7. Tenderly
8. Embraceable You
14. The Theme
5oct58, Live at “NuWay Club”
Hempstead, Long Island, released on LP Jazz Guild 1011
Ben with Charlie McLean p, Jimmy Cannady g, John Dailey b, Ray White dr.
9. Ad Lib Blues
1964?, Recorded privately by
Milt Hinton at his home in St.Albans, released on LPs Famous Door HL 104 and
Stateside IHJ-80111
Ben with Milt Hinton
10. Sophisticated Lady
9Mar68, from Concert at Studenterforeningen, unissued
Ben with Kenny Drew p, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen b, Al “Tootie” Heath dr.
13. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
For compiling this list of discographical details of the Ben Webster double CD,
I have made extensive use of the private files of my friend Heinz Baumeister
(see DEMS 07/3-14).
Sjef Hoefsmit
Fresh Sounds FRS-CD 351 (© &
℗ 2003)
“Swing Low, Sweet Clarinet”
Jimmy Hamilton and his Orchestra
DEMS 09/2-14
This CD is a re-release of the LP with the same title on the Everest label BR
5100. There would have been plenty of space on this CD for a second LP to be
re-released. Now the total time is only 36:06.
The ten selections on this CD were recorded in L.A. in three sessions in Jul60.
Jimmy’s orchestra consisted of John Anderson on trumpet (not a relative of
Cat); Booty Wood, Britt Woodman and Dave Wells on baritone horns; Jimmy
himself; Paul Gonsalves; Jimmy Rowles; Aaron Bell and Sam Woodyard.
The selections: 1. I’ve Got the World on a String; 2. Do Nothin’ Till
You Hear from Me; 3. Tempo de Brazilia (a Jimmy Hamilton original);
4. The Nearness of You (not an Ellington composition as suggested in the
liner-notes); 5. Blue Room; 6. Ain’t She Sweet; 7. I Didn’t
Know About You; 8. Taj Mahal (another Jimmy Hamilton original); 9. In
a Sentimental Mood; 10. After You’ve Gone.
Jimmy’s clarinet sounds great with the three baritone horns in the background
and Paul Gonsalves takes a few very nice solos.
Sjef Hoefsmit
Two highly recommended
recently released CDs:
Woodville records WVCD122, “Harlem Airshaft” (2008) and
Juste Une Trace AMOC305369175646 “Duke Ellington Is Alive” (2009)
DEMS 09/2-15
I am normally rather reluctant to share my personal taste with DEMS Bulletin
readers. I prefer facts and figures and try not to become involved in
discussions about differences in taste. Since many of you also follow the
discussions on the Duke-LYM list, you may have seen the discussions about the
article “Beware of those blasts from the past” by Bob Karlovits, a Tribune
Review of Sunday, July 12, 2009. It was posted by Terry Carter and can be found
at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/music/s_632979.html
Well I felt very happy in the past, listening to Ellington recordings and
occasionally to recreations of his music. As far as I am concerned there are
roughly three different ways to play Ellington music nowadays. The most common
is taking one of Duke’s themes at the beginning and hopefully also at the end
of a performance of what turns out to be nothing more than a lot of more or
less agreeable improvisations which in themselves have nothing to do with
Ellington’s music. Let me say that I am not very interested in this category
and that I do not spend much money on CDs of this kind.
The two other ways of playing Ellington’s music are both equally agreeable to
my ears. There is one on which talented musicians play Duke’s music on their
own way. Maybe with different instruments, maybe with intelligent arrangements,
but still very much Duke’s music. If I listen to these recordings I feel the
excitement of knowing what is coming next combined with an unexpected surprise.
This is the same excitement one can experience if one collects more recordings
of the same selection by the Ellington band itself. This makes collecting
unreleased and even poor recordings on tape so rewarding.
One of the first examples coming to my mind of this kind of “fresh” Ellington
music is the CD by Anthony Brown’s Asian American orchestra “Far East Suite”,
reviewed in DEMS Bulletin 99/5-20. The reason that I write all this is however
the recently released CD titled “Harlem Airshaft” by the Alan Barnes Octet.
This CD was mentioned in DEMS 09/1-38. When I wrote this text I had only a
photo-copy of the liner-notes, sent to me by Ted Hudson, who reviewed this CD
in “Ellingtonia” of March 2009. I had not yet found a copy of the CD. Now I
have listened to it I feel the urge to say a bit more about it. Although the
performance is not always completely flawless, the arrangements by Tony
Faulkner are superb. Only with the last selection, La Plus Belle Africaine,
did Tony take more liberties and not stay close to Duke’s original, as he
himself acknowledges in the liner-notes. With all the other 11 selections I
felt the happy sensation of knowing my way through the music and still being
surprised by it. If you want to know: I enjoyed most of all Andy Woods in Tonight
I Shall Sleep and Alan Barnes in Brown Betty. This probably says
more about my taste than about the CD in question. This is anyway the first of
the two CDs I wanted to bring to your attention.
The second is a fine example of what I consider the third way of playing
Ellington music. That’s playing it as it was written with the exception of some
of the solos. In this category I would mention the band “Echoes of Ellington”
of Peter Long, Michael Kilpatrick’s “Harmony in Harlem” Orchestra, both playing
for us in London last year; and Bob Hunt’s “Duke Ellington Orchestra” whose CD
titled “What a Life!” was mentioned in DEMS Bulletin 99/4-23/1 and 99/5-6/3.
But recently my friend Claude Carrière was so thoughtful as to introduce DEMS
Bulletin to Laurent Mignard, who wrote me a nice letter and sent me a copy of
his latest — actually the first — CD by his “Duke Orchestra”. This orchestra
was founded by Laurent in 2003. It gives concerts four times a year at Duke’s
Place (a warehouse in Paris, called “La Maison de Duke”) but there are many
more concerts elsewhere during the year. Everything one could wish to know can
be found on the Internet at www.laurentmignard.com
and if you select “presentation” (in English) you will have a pdf file
downloaded that contains answers on every possible question.
Laurent was nine years old when Duke died. It is a great comfort for Ellington
fanatics of my age to see (and hear) that a completely new generation shows so
much respect for Duke’s heritage. Laurent’s group of dedicated musicians
succeed in recreating Duke’s music, allowing people who have never heard Duke
live, listen to his compositions like we had the great fortune to listen to
them many times in the last century. There was a very well responded inquiry by
Jo Ann Sterling on the Duke-LYM list to share memories of live performances of
Ellington in the past with the list members.
Laurent’s CD is simply overwhelming. I have never dreamed that it would be
possible to come that close to the original Ellington performances. If you want
to hear Ellington live, go to Paris. If you do not believe me, try to find a
copy of this marvelous CD.
The orchestra consists of Franck Delpeut, Franck Guicherd, François Biensan and
Richard Blanchet on trumpet; Jean-Louis Damant, Guy Figlionlos and Guy Arbion
on trombone; Didier Desbois, Aurelie Tropez, Nicolas Montier, Fred Couderc and
Philippe Chagne on reeds; Philippe Milanta on piano; Bruno Rousselet on bass
and Julie Saury on drums. For the CD “Duke Ellington Is Alive” Fred Couderc was
replaced by Christophe Allemand, and Patrick Bacqueville was invited to do the
vocal.
The selections: 1. Ko-Ko; 2. Harlem Airshaft; 3. Black and Tan
Fantasy; 4. Kinda Dukish and Rockin’ in Rhythm; 5. Sophisticated
Lady; 6. Madness in Great Ones; 7. Half the Fun; 8.
Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue; 9. Isfahan; 10. The Eighth Veil;
11. It Don’t Mean a Thing; 12. Ad Lib on Nippon; 13. Take the
“A” Train.
Tracks 1, 8, 10, 11 and 13 were recorded at Maisons Lafitte - salle Malherbes -
on 16Jan09. The other tracks were recorded at Versailles at the école Sainte
Geneviève Ginette on 7Jan09.
The bottom line of the text says: “Merci à Duke Ellington et Billy Strayhorn
pour leur heritage, leur vision et leur humanité.” I would add: “Thank you
“Duke Orchestra” for keeping Duke alive.”
Sjef Hoefsmit
Landy Star LS-027-01 ℗ 2001; © 2000
“Vladimir Tolkachev Big Band Plays Duke”
DEMS 09/2-16
The Vladimir Tolkachev Big Band formed in
1985 is a famous ensemble that experiments constantly, realizing big projects.
Vladimir Tolkachev Big Band Plays Duke contains a really great recording of the
Shakespearean Suite [all 12 selections in the same order as on the original LP
and CD were recorded in the studio in 1996] and 6 other D.E. compositions: 13. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart; 14. Jubilee Stomp; 15. Rockin’ in Rhythm;
16. The Sheik of Araby; 17. Caravan and 18. Battle of Swing [recorded
in 2000 for an audience]. This CD is played
with such verve and musicianship that I recommend it highly! Finding a copy can
be difficult nowadays. All liner notes are in Russian only. Read a PDF info on
them: put “2008.montreuxjazz.com/getfile.aspx?id=9210” in the search field of
Google.
Milo van den Assem**
Gambit 69322 (release date
7Jul2009)
Dave Brubeck quartet with Paul Desmond
Newport 1958: “Brubeck Plays Ellington”
DEMS 09/2-17
Dave Brubeck Quartet July 3, 1958 Newport
Jazz Festival recording (tracks 4, 5 and 6 were re-recorded on July 28, 1958
with dubbed in applause). Dave Brubeck (piano), Paul Desmond (alto sax), Joe
Benjamin (bass, first with Ellington in 1951, 1957, 1963, 1966 and from 1970 to
1974 on permanent basis), Joe Morello (drums).
1. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be; 2. Jump for Joy; 3. Perdido; 4. Dance No.3 from The Liberian Suite; 5. The Duke; 6. Flamingo; 7. C-Jam Blues into Take the “A” Train; 8. Take the “A” Train (recorded in Berlin February 22, 1958) is a bonus track. Pity they did not add the rest of the Newport 1958 session that was broadcast. The Gambit release left the original sleeve art of the Columbia CS-8082 LP (same painter as de D.E. Newport 1958 sleeve) for a very nice b/w picture of Dave & Paul.
This session was only previously on CD in Japan
without the bonus from Berlin.
Milo van den Assem**
Phono Suecia PSCD 84 (double CD © & ℗ 1995)
A Swedish Tribute to Duke
DEMS 09/2-18
The Swedish Radio Jazz Group played for
the Duke Ellington Conference in Stockholm in 1994 at the Berwald Hall. See
DEMS 94/3-2. There was a gala concert, titled “Serenade to Sweden” on the first
evening (20May). Six Ellingtonians joined the orchestra: Louie Bellson (who
also directed the band), Clark Terry, Willie Cook, Jimmy Woode, Joya Sherrill
and Alice Babs, who hosted the evening together with Leif “Smoke Rings”
Anderson. Rolf Ericson couldn’t come.
The second evening was titled “A Tribute to Duke”. On the program were
compositions by Swedish composers conducted by Lennart Åberg plus one unknown
composition by Billy Strayhorn conducted by Walter van de Leur. One single
selection from the first evening and the complete second evening have been
released on this double CD.
CD 1
20May: 1. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.
21May: 2. Sorrow Is the Birth of Joy by Georg Riedel;
Solgång by Mikael Råberg consists of three movements: 3. Solgång;
4. Jordsång; 5. Dans;
Serenade from Sweden by Bengt Hallberg has four movements, Part I, II,
III, IV on tracks 6, 7, 8 and 9.
CD 2
21May continued: 1. Portrait of a Silk Thread by Billy Strayhorn.
A Ducal Dedication by Nils Lindberg has three movements, Part I, II and
III on tracks 2, 3 and 4.
5. Reminiscing in Red by Bosse Broberg.
6. One of a Kind by Bengt-ArneWallin.
This is taken from what Ken Rattenbury wrote in Bulletin number 1 - 1994 of the
Duke Ellington Swedish Society on page 7: “There were two 2 ½ hours public concerts
given by members of the Swedish Radio Big Band, backing the two Ellington
brassmen, Terry and Cook. A collection of superb musicians-sizzling searing one
time, subtly-shaded and velveteen another. The first concert was all Duke; the
second, to my ear much less affective showcased six original works by local
Swedish composers, one or two of which were light years away from Ellington’s
masterly interpretations of the blues idiom, and therefore a mite diffuse in
concept. But there was no mistake the verve, the fire and the blockbusting
performance of music was, for the most part, highly complex and often busy, but
didn’t it swing? Sure did! A great jazz ensemble.”
The double CD will be difficult to locate. The music can be downloaded from
iTunes however. The 4 over 11 minutes tracks are not for download but you can
listen to the samples or you can buy the complete album.
Milo van den Assem**
The United States Air Force Orchestra
Colonel Lowell E. Graham - Commander/Conductor
Duke Ellington — The Symphonic Portrait
DEMS 09/2-19
In June 1996, Colonel Graham conducted a
concert titled "A Duke Ellington Portrait" featuring The United
States Air Force Orchestra. The event took place at the historic Lincoln
Theater in Washington, D.C., and the repertoire included some of the Duke's
seldom played large-scale symphonic works. In January 1998 a CD was recorded
containing 1. Black, Brown and Beige Suite, 2. New World A-Comin', 3. Harlem
and 4. Three Black Kings. 1 and 4 were orchestrated by Maurice Peress. 2 was
arranged by Maurice Peress and 3 was orchestrated by Luther Henderson and
Maurice Peress.
The United States Air Force Orchestra excited from 1995-2002. The CD version
(BOL-9803) was not for sale for the general public but a CD-R version hit the market
in 2008 on CreateSpace. It’s also available as download but The United States Air Force Orchestra can only be
found on iTunes by using US Air Force Orchestra as name
Milo van den Assem**