As well as the Duke's skills as pianist, composer and arranger, key sidemen, such as 'Bubber' Miley, Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton and Johnny Hodges were recognised as major jazz soloists. This collection spans March 1929 to February 1940, a key period for jazz in general and Ellington in particular. We concentrate on the orchestra's performances, mainly instrumental, along with some featuring singer Ivie Anderson. In late 1929, there had been a major change: Bubber Miley had gone. In his place came 'Cootie' Williams, a powerful blues player in his own right. In July 1929, the Ellington Orchestra provided the music for a Ziegfeld revue, 'Showgirl', which featured the debut of George Gershwin's, An American In Paris. The revue quickly closed, panned by critics. Ziegfeld said of Duke's contribution, "... The finest exponents of syncopated music in existence. Irving Berlin went mad about them and some of the best exponents of modern music who have heard them almost jumped out of their seats with excitement over their extraordinary harmonies and exciting rhythms." Shortly after 'Showgirl' closed, the Ellington Orchestra made it's screen debut in 'Black And Tan Fantasy', a short film. A year later, the band spent their summer break in Hollywood, filming 'Check And Double Checks' featuring radio stars Amos 'n' Andy, character's played by two white actors who appeared in blackface. The best thing about the film was the number Double Check Stomps heard here in the studio version. In February 1931, Ellington left the Cotton Club. No longer restricted to serving the club's floorshows, Ellington could explore wider musical horizons. Recorded in two parts and released as a double-sided 12 inch 78 rpm disc, Creole Rhapsody, from June 1931, represented his most ambitious work to date. From 1943 until 1948, the Ellington Band performed annually at Carnegie Hall - confirmation, if any were needed, that the Duke and his band had reached the pinnacle of showbiz success
7 It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
8 Jazz Cocktail
9 Delta Bound
10 Diga Diga Doo
11 I Can't Give You Anything But Love
12 Eerie Moan
13 Merry Go Round
14 Sophisticated Lady
15 I've Got the World Upon a String
16 Down a Carolina Lane
17 Slippery Horn
18 Drop Me Off at Harlem
19 Get Yourself a New Broom (And Sweep the Blues Away)
20 Bundle of Blues
21 Stormy Weather
22 Hyde Park
23 Ain't Misbehavin'
24 Jive Stomp
25 In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
- Disc 3 -
1 Daybreak Express
2 Solitude
3 Troubled Waters
4 Moonglow
5 In a Sentimental Mood
6 Merry Go Round
7 Clarinet Lament (Barney's Concerto)
8 Echoes of Harlem (Cootie's Concerto)
9 Kissin' My Baby Goodnight
10 Oh Babe Maybe Someday
11 In a Jam
12 I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter
13 Caravan
14 All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
15 Diminuendo in Blue
16 Crescendo in Blue
17 Gal from Joe's
18 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
19 Braggin' in Brass
20 I'm Slappin' Seventh Avenue (With the Sole of My Shoe)
21 You Gave Me the Gate (And I'm Swingin')
22 Rose of the Rio Grande
23 When My Sugar Walks Down the Street
24 Gypsy Without a Song
25 Blues Serenade
- Disc 4 -
1 Old King Dooji
2 Pussy Willow
3 Subtle Lament
4 Smorgasbord and Schnapps
5 Portrait of the Lion
6 Solid Old Man
7 Cotton Club Stomp
8 Doin' the Voom Voom
9 Way Low
10 Serenade to Sweden
11 In a Mizz
12 I'm Checkin' Out Goo'm Bye
13 You Can Count on Me
14 Bouncin' Buoyancy
15 Sergeant Was Shy
16 Grievin'
17 Little Posey
18 I've Never Felt This Way Before
19 Grievin'
20 Tootin' Through the Root
21 Weely (A Portrait of Billy Strayhorn)
22 Killin' Myself
23 Your Love Has Faded
24 Country Girl
25 Solitude
As well as the Duke's skills as pianist, composer and arranger, key sidemen, such as 'Bubber' Miley, Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton and Johnny Hodges were recognised as major jazz soloists. This collection spans March 1929 to February 1940, a key period for jazz in general and Ellington in particular. We concentrate on the orchestra's performances, mainly instrumental, along with some featuring singer Ivie Anderson. In late 1929, there had been a major change: Bubber Miley had gone. In his place came 'Cootie' Williams, a powerful blues player in his own right. In July 1929, the Ellington Orchestra provided the music for a Ziegfeld revue, 'Showgirl', which featured the debut of George Gershwin's, An American In Paris. The revue quickly closed, panned by critics. Ziegfeld said of Duke's contribution, "... The finest exponents of syncopated music in existence. Irving Berlin went mad about them and some of the best exponents of modern music who have heard them almost jumped out of their seats with excitement over their extraordinary harmonies and exciting rhythms." Shortly after 'Showgirl' closed, the Ellington Orchestra made it's screen debut in 'Black And Tan Fantasy', a short film. A year later, the band spent their summer break in Hollywood, filming 'Check And Double Checks' featuring radio stars Amos 'n' Andy, character's played by two white actors who appeared in blackface. The best thing about the film was the number Double Check Stomps heard here in the studio version. In February 1931, Ellington left the Cotton Club. No longer restricted to serving the club's floorshows, Ellington could explore wider musical horizons. Recorded in two parts and released as a double-sided 12 inch 78 rpm disc, Creole Rhapsody, from June 1931, represented his most ambitious work to date. From 1943 until 1948, the Ellington Band performed annually at Carnegie Hall - confirmation, if any were needed, that the Duke and his band had reached the pinnacle of showbiz success