Ellington, Duke - Volume 2 1929-1940 : The Cotton Club to Sweden 4 x CDs (due to weight, this price for the USA only. Outside of the USA, the price will be adjusted as needed) (Mega Blowout Sale)
SKU
23-JSP 936
“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."
In February 1931, Ellington left the Cotton Club. No longer restricted to serving the club's floorshows, Ellington could explore wider musical horizons, some aspects of which are featured here in this exploration of Duke’s early/middle period.”