Duke Ellington's Finest Hour

Duke Ellington

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Duke Ellington's Finest Hour Review

by Thom Jurek

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about this entry in Verve's Finest Hour series is that it covers 46 years in Ellington's career, from the very beginning of his recording career in 1926, to the very end in 1972. There are brilliant stops along the way with the Blanton/Webster edition of the band, and many of the '30s versions of his classics as well. Both parts of "Creole Rhapsody" are here, as are rather unexpected entries like "Stompy Jones," and "Self Portrait (Of a Bean)." There are better collections to be sure, but this is not one to discount for its cheesy title or for its sound, which is exceptionally good.

Track Listing

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	East St. Louis Toodle-Oo Duke Ellington / Bubber Miley	Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Kentucky Club Orchestra	02:54	Spotify Amazon
2	Black and Tan Fantasy Duke Ellington / Bubber Miley	Duke Ellington feat: The Washingtonians	03:19	Spotify Amazon
3	Jubilee Stomp Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra	02:46	Spotify Amazon
4	Black Beauty Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington	03:14	Spotify Amazon
5	The Mooche Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra	03:13	Spotify Amazon
6	Rent Party Blues Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges	Duke Ellington feat: Jungle Band	03:27	Spotify Amazon
7	Double Check Stomp Barney Bigard / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington feat: Jungle Band	02:53	Spotify Amazon
8	Mood Indigo Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington	02:58	Spotify Amazon
9	Creole Rhapsody, Pt. 1 Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington feat: Jungle Band	03:09	Spotify Amazon
10	Creole Rhapsody, Pt. 2 Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington feat: Jungle Band	03:21	Spotify Amazon
11	Stompy Jones Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington feat: Johnny Hodges	06:39	Spotify Amazon
12	Self-Portrait (Of the Bean) Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington feat: Coleman Hawkins	03:54	Spotify Amazon
13	In a Sentimental Mood Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington feat: John Coltrane	04:16	Spotify Amazon
14	Take the 'A' Train Billy Strayhorn	Duke Ellington	04:56
15	Prelude to a Kiss Duke Ellington / Irving Gordon / Irving Mills	Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra	04:29
16	Sophisticated Lady/Solitude Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish	Duke Ellington	04:45
17	Satin Doll Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer / Billy Strayhorn	Duke Ellington	02:52