Tonight's Jazz Feature honors the Birthday Anniversary of one of America's most important artists. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C.and he passed away in New York on May 24, 1974 at age 75 from cancer. Tonight The Jazz Show presents one of Ellington's latter day masterpieces, "The Far East Suite". It commemorates a US State Department tour the band took in late 1963 to the Middle east, India and Japan. The music was written by Ellington and his partner Billy Strayhorn and recorded in late 1966. The band is at it's best and the prominent soloists are alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton, Ellington himself on piano and baritone saxophonist Harry Carney and trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson. The bassist is John Lamb and the drummer is the great Rufus Jones. Enjoy this classic and marvel at how contemporary this music sounds today.
Track Listing:
Take The "A" Train
Duke Ellington · The Blanton-Webster band
Ko-Ko
Duke Ellington · The Blanton-Webster Band
Cottontail
Duke Ellington · The Blanton-Webster Band
Blue Serge
Duke Ellington · The Blanton-Webster Band
Main Stem
Duke Ellington · The Blanton-Webster band
Tourist Point of View
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Bluebird of Delhi
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Isfahan
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Deok
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Mount Harussa
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Blue Pepper
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Agra
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Ahmad
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Ad Lib on Nippon
Duke Ellington · The Far East Suite
Money Jungle
Duke Ellington · Money Jungle
Fleurette Africaine
Duke Ellington · Money Jungle
Very Special
Duke Ellington · Money Jungle
Cry From The Mountain
George Adams · Jazz a Confronto
Don't Lose Control
George Adams/Don Pullen · Don't Lose Control
Mr. Smoothie
George Adams/Don Pullen · Breakthrough
Sea Lady
Kenny Wheeler · Kayak
C Man
Kenny Wheeler · Kayak
Blues for E.J.
Bernie Senensky · Moment to Moment
All The Things You Are/Prince Albert
Bob Mover/Walter Davis Jr. · The Salerno Concert
Tom Kattin'
Lucky Thompson · Lucky Meets Oscar
Old Reliable
Lucky Thompson · Lucky meets Oscar