Will Big Bands Ever Come Back?

Duke Ellington

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Will Big Bands Ever Come Back? Review

by Scott Yanow

In general the '60s were not a good period for big bands and many veteran jazz artists. The labels often pressured musicians to play the more faddish tunes of the day or to come up with gimmicks that would increase their record sales. In Duke Ellington's case, he largely avoided the traps that were set for so many others of his era, with the exception of four albums. This one found him playing 11 tunes from the swing era and, although not that painful (at least there were no note-for-note recreations), the results are also not all that stimulating. It's interesting to hear Ellington play such material as "Smoke Rings," "Artistry in Rhythm" and "Sentimental Journey," once.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Tuxedo Junction
Erskine Hawkins
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 03:31 SpotifyAmazon
2
Smoke Rings
Glen Gray
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 02:56 SpotifyAmazon
3
Artistry in Rhythm
Stan Kenton
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
4
The Waltz You Saved for Me
Wayne King
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
5
Woodchopper's Ball
Woody Herman
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 03:17 SpotifyAmazon
6
Sentimental Journey
Les Brown
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 02:32 SpotifyAmazon
7
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
8
One O'Clock Jump
Count Basie
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 07:21 SpotifyAmazon
9
Good-Bye
Benny Goodman
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 03:07 SpotifyAmazon
10
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Fred Waring
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 02:48 SpotifyAmazon
11
Rhapsody in Blue
Paul Whiteman
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 04:51 SpotifyAmazon
12
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington feat: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra 02:35 SpotifyAmazon
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Will Big Bands Ever Come Back?

Duke Ellington Discography Browser