Audio CD review:
Duke Ellington - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

Duke Ellington - Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

Band: Duke Ellington Title: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band Rating: Release Date: 01 April, 2003 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: You, You Darlin' 2: Jack The Bear 3: Ko-Ko 4: Morning Glory 5: So Far, So Good 6: Conga Brava 7: Concerto For Cootie 8: Me And You 9: Cotton Tail 10: Never No Lament 11: Dusk 12: Bojangles 13: A Portrait Of Bert Williams 14: Blue Goose 15: Harlem Air-Shaft 16: At A Dixie Roadside Diner 17: All Too Soon 18: Rumpus In Richmond 19: My Greatest Mistake 20: Sepia Panorama 21: There Shall Be No Night 22: In A Mellotone 23: Five O'Clock Whistle 24: The Flaming Sword 25: Warm Valley 26: Across The Track Blues 27: Chloe (Song Of The Swamp) 28: I Never Felt This Way Before 29: The Sidewalks Of New York 30: Flamingo 31: The Girl In My Dreams Tries To Look Like You 32: Take The 'A' Train 33: Jumpin' Punkins 34: John Hardy's Wife 35: Blue Serge 36: After All 37: Bakiff 38: Are You Sticking? 39: Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 40: The Giddybug Gallup 41: Pitter Panther Patter 42: Body And Soul 43: Sophisticated Lady 44: Mr. J.B. Blues 45: Ko-Ko 46: Bojangles 47: Sepia Panorama 48: Jumpin' Punkins 49: Jump For Joy 50: Chocolate Shake 51: I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 52: Clementine 53: The Brown-Skin Gal (In The Calico Gown) 54: Jump For Joy 55: Moon Over Cuba 56: Five O'Clock Drag 57: Rocks In My Bed 58: Bli-Blip 59: Raincheck 60: What Good Would It Do? 61: I Don't Know What Kind Of Blues I Got 62: Chelsea Bridge 63: Perdido 64: The 'C' Jam Blues 65: Moon Mist 66: What Am I Here For? 67: I Don't Mind 68: Someone 69: My Little Brown Book 70: Main Stem 71: Johnny Come Lately 72: Hayfoot, Strawfoot 73: Sentimental Lady 74: A Slip Of The Lip (Can Sink A Ship) 75: Sherman Shuffle

Editoral Review It's named for bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. This 75-track, three-CD set from Duke Ellington's RCA dates from 1940 to 1942, was culled from the massive, 1999 Bluebird mega-set. Blanton's astonishing technique made him one of the greatest bass players of all time, and Webster's warm, raw-boned tenor tones inspired future saxophonists. Along with the famous Ellingtonians, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, trumpeter Cootie Williams, violinist Ray Nance, and trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton, the addition of Blanton and Webster, along with the arrival of composer/arranger/pianist Billy Strayhorn, make this aggregation Ellington's first "superband. " All the vivid and varied dimensions of Ellingtonia are included in this digitally remastered set, with songs written by his son, Mercer. There's Ellington's silky blues numbers such as "Jack the Bear" and "C-Jam Blues. " The Puerto Rican valve trombonist Juan Tizol's "Conga Brava," "Moon Over Cuba," and "Bakiff" contribute Latin and Middle Eastern colors. "Harlem Airshaft" and "Sepia Panorama" are but two examples of Ellington's tonal portraits. The legendary Ellington/Blanton duets, with the bouncy "Pitter Panther Patter" and the emotive "Sophisticated Lady" still sound modern. Webster's surging, pre-bop solos drive the George Gershwin-based "Cottontail," and soulfully signature Strayhorn's ballad "Chelsea Bridge. " This set also marks the introduction of other Strayhorn's classics, including "Take the 'A' Train" and "Johnny Come Lately. " All told, these World War II-era sides are essential for the Ellington canon. Eugene Holley, Jr. .. You can see a complete list of all Duke Ellington discography, or go back to the Duke Ellington tabs