I'm a huge fan of his Harlem Years work, late 20's through the 30's - this stuff can be found for pennies in any store, too. The Okeh material is vital - stuff like The Mooche, Black & Tan Fantasy, Snake Hip Dance, Harlem Twist, etc.
As for later material, his suites are never less than rich, beautiful & moving:
DEFINITELY Money Jungle, also, Mood Indigo is a great starter album, has some ballad type stuff that is pretty necessary as far as ellington is concerned.
These mentioned above are all tops. Money Jungle, Ella's songbooks, Far East Suite and Afro-Eurasian. Money Jungle is modern small group jazz that will surprise many people who thought they knew Duke. The Ella records have all the hits in great settings with the perfect vocalist. Far East and Afro-eur groove.
The only one not mentioned that should be there is Newport. A late 50s comeback lp.
Duke Ellington is easily the modern world's single greatest musician and composer. I pick up every single record of his that I see and have never ever been disappointed. The titles listed here are a great start.
I can truly say that I celebrate his ENTIRE catalog.
The late 60s/early 70s suites do get lot play around here though.
With Coltrane ("In a Sentimental Mood" whoa) Money Jungle (modern jazz w Mingus and Roach!) Far East Suite (gorgeous near-programmatic street anthems) @ Newport "comeback" album (Paul Gonsalves legendary sax solo etc.)
A less-known favorite of mine that features the incomparable and underrated Sweets Edison on Trumpet:
As mentioned previously, the Duke Ellington Back to Back and Side By Side are great stuff. Hodges on sweet form, extremely strong albums from really wonderful sessions. Worth looking out for Ellington Suites, principally for The Single Petal of A Rose.
And for one of the best versions, go no further than Nina Simone for her take on Good Bait
Comments
2 volumes each a double LP
Big Cosign on Money Jungle!
A few more I enjoy quite a bit:
The Blanton-Webster Band[/b]
Three CDs of early Ellington goodness.
Afro Bossa[/b]
Really nice collection of Ellington exotica.
Anatomy of a Murder[/b]
I don't have this one myself but I've always heard it is really good...
this stuff can be found for pennies in any store, too. The Okeh
material is vital - stuff like The Mooche, Black & Tan Fantasy, Snake
Hip Dance, Harlem Twist, etc.
As for later material, his suites are never less than rich, beautiful & moving:
Mostly joints recorded afterhours with Duke fucking around by himself or with 2 or 3 cats experimentating. Nice and Mellow.
Mostly recorded afterhours at the studio, Duke playing around by himself or with 2 or 3 cats on some mellow experimentatin.
K in Canada.
The only one not mentioned that should be there is Newport. A late 50s comeback lp.
Also good: the CD with lesser known suites including The Goutelas Suite and the Queens suite.
A Drum is a Woman is weird and has good parts.
Also good is a 80's release with early soundtracks by Ellington including a track with Billy Holiday Saddest Tale that's so incredibly deep.
Masterworks is excellent too, with extended versions of three of his best compositions.
His stuff on Pablo can be very good too, like This One's for Blanton.
Nutcracker Suite has nice parts too.
I asked this before but has anyone seen this movie?
Is the music by Ellington specially composed or do they just use stuff?
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Also, his autobiography is pretty essential reading:
I can truly say that I celebrate his ENTIRE catalog.
The late 60s/early 70s suites do get lot play around here though.
With Coltrane ("In a Sentimental Mood" whoa)
Money Jungle (modern jazz w Mingus and Roach!)
Far East Suite (gorgeous near-programmatic street anthems)
@ Newport "comeback" album (Paul Gonsalves legendary sax solo etc.)
A less-known favorite of mine that features the incomparable and underrated Sweets Edison on Trumpet:
Incredible latter-day Ellington 70th bday celebration:
January 1943 Carnegie Hall Concerts w/ the only full recording of "Black, Brown and Beige":
that's the one i meant, not mood indigo, indigos. for some reason i cannot edit posts right now...
And for one of the best versions, go no further than Nina Simone for her take on Good Bait