Duke Ellington

4 STARS DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
INCLUDES 9 BONUS TRACKS

This release contains the complete Duke Ellington sexte album "Back to Back", which is dedicated to the blues form. In addition to Duke's own playing, the LP showcases his veteran sideman Johnny Hodges. Also it's have been added nine bonus tracks from Ellington's sessions recorded during the same period, which prominently feature both Hodges and the blues.

PERSONNEL.

(1-7) DUKE ELLINGTON (p), JOHNNY HODGES (as), HARRY “SWEETS” EDISON (tp),
LES SPANN (g), SAM JONES (b), JO JONES (d). New York, Feb. 20, 1959.

(8-16) Bonus Tracks:
(8) John y Hodges (as), Ray Nance (tp), Quentin Jackson , Brit Woodman ,
John Sanders (tb), Harry Carney (bar), Duke Ellington (p), Jim y Woode (b),
Sam Wood yard (d). New York, February 25, 1959.

[9-16] John y Hodges (as), Ray Nance (tp, vln), Brit Woodman , Boot y Wood ,
Matthew Gee (tb), Jim y Hamilton (cl, ts), Russel Procope (cl, as),
Paul Gonsalves (ts), Harry Carney (bar, b-cl, cl), Duke Ellington (p)
Billy Strayhorn (p, replacing Ellington on 11 & 14 only), Jim y Woode (b),
Jim y Johnson (d). New York, December 2 & 3, 1959.

TRACKS:

01. Wabash Blues,
02. Basin Street Blues,
03. Beale Street Blues,
04. Weary Blues,
05. St. Louis Blues,
06. Loveless Love
07. Royal Garden Blues
08. Villes Ville Is The Place, Man
09. Brown Penny
10. Sentimental Lady [Aka I Didn't Know About You,
11. Smada
12. The Swinger's Jump
13. The Swingers Get The Blues, Too
14. Blues In Blueprint
15. Three J's Blues, 16. C Jam Blues

Total Time: 78:23

“It is both exciting and rewarding to hear these tunes with a fresh interpretation after the plethora of Dixieland versions. The ‘Royal Garden' is exceptionally good.” (George Hoeffer - DownBeat Magazine)