Duke Ellington

This edition presents the great Duke Ellington only rarely recorded in a trio format. This release compiles all of his trio recordings from 1953 to 1957 (three tunes, in fact, are piano-bass duets on which the bass only accompanies Ellington’s piano). As a bonus, an extended 1966 solo piano version of “New World A-Comin’” and an extremely rare solo piano version of “Mood Indigo.

PERSONNEL:

DUKE ELLINGTON, piano on all tracks, plus:

(1-12): WENDELL MARSHALL, bass, BUTCH BALLARD, drums
Los Angeles, April 13 & 14, 1953.

(13-15): WENDELL MARSHALL, bass, DAVE BLACK, drums
New York, December 3, 1953.

(16-17) : JIMMY WOODE, bass, SAM WOODYARD, drums
New York, October 17, 1957.

(18-21): Same personnel as 16-17.
New York, March 20, 1957.

*BONUS TRACKS:
(22): Duke Ellington (solo piano).
Chateau Goutelas en Forez, France, February 25, 1966.
(23): Duke Ellington (solo piano). “Nat King Cole Radio Show”, Cincinnati, Ohio, December 6, 1947.

Note: Tracks 2 & 6-7 are piano/bass duets.
Ralph Colier (conga) added on 14 only.

TRACKS:
01 WHO KNOWS 2:37
02 RETROSPECTION 3:58
03 B SHARP BLUES 2:47
04 PASSION FLOWER 3:05
05 DANCERS IN LOVE 1:56
06 REFLECTIONS IN D 3:35
07 MELANCHOLIA 3:20
08 PRELUDE TO A KISS 3:04
09 IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD 2:30
10 THINGS AIN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE 2:56
11 ALL TOO SOON 3:08
12 JANET 2:15
13 KINDA DUKISH 2:32
14 MONTEVIDEO 2:33
15 DECEMBER BLUE 2:40
16 ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (version 1) 4:00
17 ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (version 2) 3:51
18 PIANO IMPROVISATION No.1 9:45
19 PIANO IMPROVISATION No.2 3:25
20 PIANO IMPROVISATION No.3 2:48
21 PIANO IMPROVISATION No.4 1:53
22 NEW WORLD A-COMIN’ 8:30*
23 VARIATIONS ON MOOD INDIGO 2:18*

TOTAL TIME: 79:23