Duke Ellington

The ninth of ten volumes of music from Duke Ellington's Private Collection of unknown tapes, this CD captures him in 1968 shortly after clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton left the band and tenor-saxophonist Harold Ashby joined up. Even after 30 years of playing some of these standards, Ellington found new ways to re-arrange such songs as "Sophisticated Lady," "Mood Indigo" and "Just Squeeze Me." In addition, there are a few new obscurities such as "Knuf" (which finds Jeff Castleman switching to electric bass), "Reva" and the somewhat dated Trish Turner vocal on "Cool and Groovy." Lots of surprises on this fine CD. - SCOTT YANOW

TRACKS:

01. I Can't Get Started
02. Waiting for You
03. Knuf
04. Gigl
05. Meditation
06. Sophisticated Lady
07. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
08. Mood Indigo
09. In a Sentimental Mood
10. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
11. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
12. Reva
13. Ortseam
14. Cool and Groovy
15. Elos
16. C-Jam Blues