Duke Ellington

4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

One of ten CDs of previously unreleased (and even unknown) studio and concert performances by Duke Ellington's orchestra, these sets allow one to hear Duke experimenting with his ensemble. Some selections were essentially works-in-progress that would develop within the next few years; others were quickly discarded originals or rearrangemetns of older tunes. This seventh volume is split between big-band sessions from 1957 and 1962 and a get-together from an octet that included Duke's former drummer, Sonny Greer, in the latter year. Ellington fans will want all ten in this valuable series. - SCOTT YANOW

TRACKS:

01. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
02. Something Sexual
03. Riff
04. Bluer
05. Wailing 'Bout
06. I Cover The Waterfront
07. Blues A La Willie Cook
08. Slow Blues Ensemble
09. Circle Of Fourths
10. Perdido
11. Three Trumps
12. Deep Blues
13. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Instrumental)
14. Paris Blues
15. I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
16. Circle Blues
17. Perdido
18. Sky Fell Down
19. Cottontail
20. Passion Flower