New Orleans Suite

Read About This Recording

Although Duke Ellington was not from New Orleans, being born in Washington, D.C. and making his first successes in New York, he appreciated New Orleans' legacy to jazz. A few of Duke's earlier sidemen, most notably clarinetist Barney Bigard, were from New Orleans, and Ellington always had some of the flavor of the Crescent City's music in his ensembles.

In 1970, after 43 years at the top, the 71-year-old Ellington wrote one of his last major extended works, the New Orleans Suite. Altoist Johnny Hodges, who died before the recording was completed, took his last solos on this album. Along the way there are tributes to Louis Armstrong (with trumpeter Cootie Williams in the spotlight), Sidney Bechet (saluted by tenor-saxophonist Paul Gonsalves), Duke's early bassist Wellman Braud, and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, plus such titles as Second Line, Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies and Blues for New Orleans.

Among the other key players are trombonist Booty Wood, clarinetist Russell Procope, baritonist Harry Carney and the pianist-leader. The orchestra hints at early jazz while playing modern jazz in the Ellington fashion. The arrangements are colorful and quite original, making this one of the last significant Duke Ellington suites.

With New Orleans currently getting a great deal of attention, the New Orleans Suite reminds one of how special the magical music city has always been.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

Blues for New Orleans; Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies; Portrait of Louis Armstrong; Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta; Portrait of Wellman Braud; Second Line; Portrait of Sidney Bechet; Aristocracy A La Jean Lafitte; Portrait of Mahalia Jackson.

Duke Ellington, Piano; Cootie Williams, Trumpet; Money Johnson, Mercer Ellington, Cat Anderson, Fred Stone, Al Rubin, Trumpets & Flugelhorns; Norris Turney, Alto Sax, Clarinet & Flute; Russell Procope, Alto Sax & Clarinet; Harry Carney, Baritone Sax, Clarinet & Bass Clarinet; Harold Ashby, Tenor Sax & Clarinet; Rufus Speedy Jones, Drums; Johnny Hodges, Alto Sax; Paul Gonsalves, Tenor Sax; Joe Benjamin, Bass; Wild Bill Davis, Organ; Booty Wood, Julian Priester, Trombones; David Taylor, Chuck Connors, Bass Trombones.