INCLUDES 3 BONUS TRACKS

This release compiles all known small group sessions recorded by Duke Ellington in the studio during the 1950s. For an artist so widely recorded (and one who boasts one of the most extensive – if not the most extensive – discographies in jazz history), the fact that all of his small group studio sessions from a whole decade fit onto this CD speaks of the rarity of this format in the Duke’s career. He had done a few small group recordings in the mid 1930s (mostly septets to nonets) featuring some members of his orchestra, such as Johnny Hodges and Barney Bigard, which were subsequently issued under their respective names. And of course there were a few early piano solos, and the celebrated piano-bass duets with Jimmy Blanton, but small formations would continue to be the exceptions in Ellington’s career. Therefore, it is worth listening to these documents, on which not only the musical voices of such musicians as Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Hodges or Clark Terry are heard in solitude, but also Ellington’s marvellous piano playing, as well as the pure sound of his long-time rhythm section of Jimmy Woode on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums (who are present all throughout this CD).

PERSONNEL:

DUKE ELLINGTON, piano on all tracks, plus:

1-8: QUARTET: Paul Gonsalves (ts), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d).
Chicago, June 24, 1958 (1 to 5) & January 17-29, 1957 (6 to 8).

9-10: QUINTET: Same as above except Clark Terry (tp) added.
Chicago, January 29, 1957.

11-13: SEPTET: Same as above except Ray Nance & Willie Cook (tp) added.
Chicago, January 17-29, 1957.

14: QUINTET: Same as above except Paul Gonsalves & Clark Terry omitted.
Chicago, January 29, 1957.

15: SEXTET: Same as above except Clark Terry (tp) added. Chicago, January 29, 1957
.
16-19: SEPTET: Clark Terry (tp), John Sanders (v-tb), Jimmy Hamilton (cl),
Johnny Hodges (as), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (d). Chicago, March 19, 1956.

BONUS TRACKS (20-22):
ORCHESTRA: Same session and personnel as 16-19 with the addition of Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance (tp), Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson (tb), Russell Procope (as, cl), Paul Gonsalves (ts) & Harry Carney (bs).

TRACKS:
01 IN A MELLOW TONE (take 1) 3:16
02 IN A MELLOW TONE (take 2) 3:00
03 HAPPY REUNION (take 1) 3:28
04 HAPPY REUNION (take 2) 2:45
05 DIMINUENDO AND CRESCENDO IN BLUE 7:21
06 WAILING ‘BOUT 2:48
07 I COVER THE WATERFRONT 3:27
08 DEEP BLUES 3:30
09 CIRCLE OF FOURS 2:12
10 PERDIDO 3:13
11 THE RIFF 2:25
12 BLUER 2:14
13 SLOW BLUES ENSEMBLE 3:13
14 BLUES A LA WILLIE COOK 4:03
15 THREE TRUMPS (aka SPACEMEN) 2:46
16 WAY BACK BLUES 3:28
17 WHERE’S THE MUSIC? 3:12
18 RUBBER BOTTOM 2:49
19 PLAY THE BLUES AND GO 4:32
20 PRELUDE TO A KISS 3:29
21 MISS LUCY 3:18
22 MARCH 19th BLUES 5:26

TOTAL TIME: 76:05