Ellington Uptown
| Ellington Uptown | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Duke Ellington | ||||
| Released | 1952 | |||
| Recorded |
December 7 & 11, 1951, February 29, June 30 & July 1, 1952 Bonus tracks December 24, 1947 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Duke Ellington chronology | ||||
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| Alternative Cover | ||||
Ellington Uptown (also released as Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown) is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1951 & 1952.[1] The album was re-released on CD in 2004 with additional tracks recorded in 1947 and originally released as the Liberian Suite.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Although some historians have characterized the early '50s as Duke Ellington's "off period" (due to the defection of alto star Johnny Hodges), in reality, his 1951-1952 orchestra could hold its own against his best. This set has many classic moments... One of the great Duke Ellington sets".[2] Three factors stand out in the interpretation of Ellington's music on this album: Betty Roche's vocal on a multi movement version of "Take The 'A' Train," the addition of Louis Bellson on drums (Skin Deep), and the updating of old Ellington material that is made new and fresh.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide |  [3] |
Track listing
:All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated
- "Skin Deep" (Louis Bellson) - 6:49
- "The Mooche" (Ellington, Irving Mills) - 6:36
- "Take the "A" Train" (Billy Strayhorn) - 8:02
- "A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)" - 13:48 Previously released on Ellington Uptown only
- "Perdido" (Juan Tizol) - 8:25
- "Controversial Suite Part 1: Before My Time" - 6:09 Previously released on Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown only
- "Controversial Suite Part 2: Later" - 4:14 Previously released on Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown only
- "The Liberian Suite: I Like the Sunrise" - 4:28 Bonus track on CD reissue
- "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 1" - 4:50 Bonus track on CD reissue
- "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 2" - 3:26 Bonus track on CD reissue
- "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 3" - 3:45 Bonus track on CD reissue
- "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 4" - 3:04 Bonus track on CD reissue
- "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 5" - 5:08 Bonus track on CD reissue
- Recorded in New York on December 24, 1947 (tracks 8-13), December 7, 1951 (track 4), December 11, 1951 (tracks 6 & 7), June 30, 1952 (track 3), July 1, 1952 (tracks 2 & 5) and in Fresno, California on February 29, 1952 (track 1)
Personnel
- Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano
- Cat Anderson (tracks 1-3 & 5), Shorty Baker, Willie Cook (tracks 1-7), Shelton Hemphill (tracks 8-13), Al Killian (tracks 8-13), Clark Terry (tracks 1-7), Francis Williams (tracks 4 & 6-13) - trumpet
- Ray Nance - trumpet, violin
- Lawrence Brown (tacks 8-13), Quentin Jackson (tracks 1-7), Britt Woodman (tracks 1-7) - trombone
- Tyree Glenn (track 8-13) - trombone, vibraphone
- Claude Jones (tracks 8-13), Juan Tizol (tracks 1-7) - valve trombone
- Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Willie Smith (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 7), Johnny Hodges (track 3 & 8-7), Hilton Jefferson (tracks 1-3 & 5) - alto saxophone
- Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
- Paul Gonsalves (tracks 1-7), Al Sears (tracks 8-13) - tenor saxophone
- Harry Carney - baritone saxophone
- Fred Guy - guitar (tracks 8-13)
- Wendell Marshall (tracks 1-7), Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin (tracks 8-13) - bass
- Louis Bellson (tracks 1-7), Sonny Greer (tracks 8-13) - drums
- Betty Roche (track 3), Al Hibbler (track 8) - vocal
References
- ↑ A Duke Ellington Panorama accessed May 24, 2010
- 1 2 Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed May 24, 2010
- ↑ Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 69. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.