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

Duke Ellington chronology

Masterpieces by Ellington
(1951)

Ellington Uptown
(1952)

Premiered by Ellington
(1953)

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.

Duke Ellington

Studio albums

Live albums

Collaborations

with Alice Babs	Serenade to Sweden

with Count Basie	First Time! The Count Meets the Duke

with Teresa Brewer	It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

with Rosemary Clooney	Blue Rose

with John Coltrane	Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

with Ella Fitzgerald	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook Ella at Duke's Place The Stockholm Concert, 1966 Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur

with Coleman Hawkins	Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins

with Frank Sinatra	Francis A. & Edward K.

Compositions

"All Too Soon"
"Azure"
"Black and Tan Fantasy"
"Black, Brown and Beige"
"C Jam Blues"
"Cotton Tail"
"Day Dream"
"Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"
"Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me"
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
"Drop Me Off in Harlem"
"Echoes of Harlem"
"Everything But You"
"I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues"
"I Didn't Know About You"
"I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)"
"I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"
"I'm Beginning to See the Light"
"I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So"
"In a Mellow Tone"
"In a Sentimental Mood"
"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"
"Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'"
"Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)"
"Mood Indigo"
" Prelude to a Kiss"
"Rocks in My Bed"
"(In My) Solitude"
"Sophisticated Lady"

Billy Strayhorn compositions associated with Ellington	"Take the "A" Train" "Lush Life" "Chelsea Bridge" "Something to Live For" "Satin Doll" "Blood Count"

Juan Tizol compositions associated with Ellington	"Caravan" "Perdido"

Orchestra
members

Filmography

Discography

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/2/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.