Featuring: Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (tp), Clark Terry (flh), Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Russell Procope (as, fl), Jimmy Hamilton (cl), Ben Webster, Harold Ashby (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Skeeter Best (g),


Until Stepping into Swing Society, by Mercer Ellington’s orchestra, was released in 1959, many jazz fans were scarcely aware that Duke had a talented son with a career of his own. Billy Strayhorn, Wendell Marshall, and John Sanders worked for Mercer before their jobs with Duke. His next album, Colors in Rhythm, along with its predecessor, were Mercer’s definitive introduction as a band-leader. The arrangements here are by such Ellington disciples as Mercer, Luther Henderson, Dick Vance, Andy Gibson Jimmy Hamilton, Billy Strayhorn, and Jimmy Jones. The playing is by nearly all of Duke’s then-current stalwart sidemen, including Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, and Harry Carney, and also a few of his legendary ex band members, such as Ben Webster, one of the most compelling of all tenor saxophonists. It was he who once looked up from his music, adjusted his reed, and declared: “Mercer Ellington: you got the key!” His verdict is confirmed here in the rich orchestral colours and superb use of soloists found in the best of Ellington; the band is swinging, full-bodied and, where the past is revisited, puts it in a fresh perspective.

Track Listing:

01. Steppin’ Into Swing Society
02. Black Butterfly
03. Got My Foot In The Door
04. Indelible
05. Ruint
06. Frolic Sam
07. Be Patient
08. If You Were In My Place (What Would You Do)
09. The Gal From Joe’s
10. Afternoon Moon
11. Broadway Babe
12. Yearning For Love
13. Little White Lies
14. Azure
15. Cherry Pink
16. Maroon
17. Coral Rock
18. Black And Tan Fantasy
19. Aqua-Tonic
20. Mood Indigo
21. Dawn Of A Greenhorn
22. Blue Serge
23. The Moon Was Yellow
24. Golden Cress

All sessions recorded in New York between July, 1958 and July 1959