Audio CD review:
Duke Ellington - The Essential Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington - The Essential Duke Ellington

Band: Duke Ellington Title: The Essential Duke Ellington Rating: Release Date: 28 June, 2005 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo 2: Black And Tan Fantasy 3: Take It Easy 4: Hot And Bothered 5: The Mooche 6: Rockin' In Rhythm 7: Creole Rhapsody 8: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 9: Creole Love Call 10: Sophisticated Lady 11: Drop Me Off In Harlem 12: Solitude 13: In A Sentimental Mood 14: Back Room Romp 15: Clouds In My Heart 16: Echoes Of Harlem 17: Caravan 18: Blue Reverie 19: Diminuendo In Blue 20: Crescendo In Blue 21: I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 22: Pyramid 23: Prelude To A Kiss 24: Tired Socks 25: Mood Indigo 26: Ko-Ko 27: Don't Get Around Much Anymore 28: Cotton Tail 29: Take The 'A' Train 30: Harlem Air-Shaft 31: Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me 32: Satin Doll 33: Perdido 34: Come Sunday 35: Jeep's Blues 36: Black Beauty 37: Arabesque Cookie

Editoral Review So it goes with this two-disc collection. Duke Ellington recorded for so many labels and went through so many stylistic phases, any attempt to boil down his "essence" will inevitably come up short. While containing a wealth of gems from Columbia's huge Duke catalog, as well as some early efforts for Brunswick, it does not represent such defining works as the late-'30s/early-'40s songs gathered on RCA's Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band and The Far East Suite, Prestige's Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943, Blue Note's supertrio album Money Jungle, and Fantasy's The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse. That said, this 37-song set offers a great ride through the ages, powered by such classics as "Black and Tan Fantasy," "Creole Love Call," "Caravan," "Mood Indigo," "Cotton Tail" and "Come Sunday" featuring such immortal soloists as Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart and the never-to-be-underrated Ellington. Even after all this time, the transcendent genius of "Ko-Ko" still manages to spin you around the room in delight. --Lloyd Sachs .. You can see a complete list of all Duke Ellington discography, or go back to the Duke Ellington tabs