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Featured Jazz Artist - Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington's fifty year career was full of accomplishments as a highly original pianist, arranger, prolific composer and leader of a timeless orchestra.

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Item# FA21

$17.95

Duke Ellington - The Big Band Feeling

This 1952 recording includes 2 performances of Duke and his Orchestra, one on Jan. 7, 1952 and one on Aug. 12, 1942.

43 minutes

Selections:

1952:
Sophisticated Lady, Caravan, The Mooche, VIP's Boogie, Solitude, Mood Indigo, The Hawk Talks, I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good

1942:
Bli-Blip, Flamingo, Cottontail, C Jam Blues (Hot Chocolate).

$19.95

Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald - COTE D'AZUR 1966 & Duke Ellington Last Jam Session 1973

This 2 DVD set, the latest addition to the Norman Granz collection, brings together two of the greatest names in jazz.

The first DVD sees Duke Ellington and his Orchestra in 1966, performing live in the south of France at the Cote d'Azur, with Ella Fitzgerald as his special guest.

The second DVD contains previously unseen footage of Duke in one of his last ever live performances in 1973.
102 minutes

Duke Ellington / Bobby Hackett / Mike Bryan

In the early 1960s, the Goodyear Tire Company commissioned short jazz films. It was part promotional device, part good will gesture. The programs were originally filmed on 35mm negative. The sound was recorded in professional stereo. The films have been restored. See the gorgeous details and hear the excellent sound that was captured in the early 60s. These films now stand as some of the most technically advanced of jazz films, featuring some irreplaceable music. Included 1962 performances by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, The Mike Bryan Sextet, and The Bobby Hackett Sextet.

Item# FA23

$21.95

Duke Ellington in Hollywood: Swing Era

This video compiles the following different short and medium-length films starring the great Duke Ellington and his orchestra:

Black And Tan (1929), Symphony in Black (1935 - featuring the famous sequence with Billie Holiday), plus assorted different musical sequences from other motion pictures, including the three scenes starring Mae West in the 1934 movie Belle of the Nineties.

Item# FA12

$19.95

The Intimate Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington's fifty year career was full of accomplishments as a highly original pianist, arranger, prolific composer and leader of a timeless orchestra. On occasion he recorded with a small group from his orchestra or as a piano soloist, but Duke was rarely filmed in that capacity... with a few exceptions. On January 23, 1967, Ellington filmed two programs for Danish television. The first has him jamming with an octet taken from his orchestra, including such greats as altoist Johnny Hodges, tenor-saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, baritonist Harry Carney and trumpeter Cat Anderson. Highlights include "The Jeep Is Jumpin'," "Sophisticated Lady" and "Jam with Sam." The second program puts the focus on Ellington's piano, in solo and trio performances that include "Lotus Blossom," "Mood Indigo," and a definitive version of "Take the 'A' Train." Always a modern and distinctive soloist, Ellington is seen creating brilliant improvisations full of strong melodies, subtle surprises and sly wit.

Performances with Octet: Take the "A" Train, Passion Flower, The Jeep Is Jumpin', Sophisticated Lady, Tippin' and Whisperin', Happy Reunion, Satin Doll, Jam With Sam, Things Ain't What They Used to Be

Performances with Trio/Solo: Le Sucrier Velours, Lotus Blossom, The Second Portrait of the Lion, Meditation, On the Fringe of the Jungle, Mood Indigo, Take the "A" Train

Item# FA17

$24.95

Duke Ellington Copenhagen 1965 parts 1 & 2

As a composer, bandleader, and pianist, Duke Ellington is one of the most remarkable men who ever lived. At the peak of his powers, he was filmed at the Falkoner Center in Copenhagen for two TV specials now presented on DVD for fans of this remarkable jazz legend.

Selections: Take the "A" Train, Midriff, Afro Bossa, Ad Lib on Nippon, The Opener, Chelsea Bridge, Blow by Blow - Excerpts from Black, Brown & Beige, Work Song, Come Sunday, Montage, Take the "A" Train, Medley: Satin Doll/Sophisticated Lady], Meow, Passion Flower, Things Ain't What They Used to Be, Jeep Blues, Perdido, Tootie for Cootie, Kinda Dukish/Rockin' in Rhythm, Take the "A" Train, He Huffed and He Puffed and Blew That Horn

Item# FA11

$27.95

Duke Ellington - Live in '58

Reeds: Johnny Hodges (Alto Sax) Russell Procope (Alto Sax, Clarinet) Paul Gonsalves (Tenor Sax) Jimmy Hamilton (Tenor Sax, Clarinet) Harry Carney (Baritone Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet) Trumpets: Cat Anderson, Harold “Shorty” Baker, Ray Nance (Trumpet, Violin, Vocal) Clark Terry Trombones: Quentin Jackson, John Sanders (Valve Trombone) Britt Woodman Rhythm section: Duke Ellington (Piano Jimmy Woode (Bass) Sam Woodyard (Drums) Ozzie Bailey (Vocal) Liner notes by Patricia Willard

Item# IC12

$21.95

Duke Ellington - Love You Madly / Sacred Concert

From the Ralph J. Gleason archives come 2 significant Ellington programs available on DVD for the first time ever. (1) Love You Madly is an Emmy-nominated behind-the-scenes profile of Ellington including performances and interviews. The performance footage was recorded in a number of places, from The Basin St. West Jazz Club, 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival. (2) A Concert of Sacred Music At Grace Cathedral, also Emmy-nominated, is a rare piece of history. Filmed on location at the premier performance on Sept. 16, 1965, it is the first of what would be 3 Concerts of Sacred Music composed by Ellington from 1965-1973. Featured soloists are Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Louie Bellson, with Jon Hendricks & Bunny Briggs on vocals.

Item# FA15

$19.95

Memories of Duke

'Memories of Duke' is a loving homage to Duke Ellington, shot in 1968 as the bandleader and his musicians play their way through a Mexican tour. In addition to the concert performance, are interviews with Russel Procope and Cootie Williams, plus historic scenes from early films in which Ellington and his band performs.

Selections: Satin Doll, Black and Tan Fantasy, Creole Love Call, The Mooch, Happy-Go-Lucky Local, Mexican Suite, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good, Things Ain't What They Used to Be, Mood Indigo, Take the 'A' Train, Sophisticated Lady, Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me

Item# FA16

$19.95

Duke Ellington - Montreal 1964

When legendary jazz outfit Duke Ellington and his Orchestra kicked off a one-week engagement at Le Jazz Hot Room in Montreal's famed Casa Loma Club on April 20, 1964, the cameras of Radio-Canada were rolling to catch all the action and innovation fans had come to expect from the popular bandleader. Now, decades after the fact, fans can get a rare look at a master in action with this release featuring a kinescope of that famed broadcast and offering such beloved compositions as "Prowling Cat", "Boo-Dah", "Happy Reunion", and "Sophisticated Lady". 64 minutes b/w

Duke Ellington - Piano, Cootie Williams - Trumpet, Cat Anderson - Trumpet, Rolf Ericson - Trumpet (Flugelhorn), Herbie Jones - Trumpet, Chuck Conners - Trombone, Buster Cooper - Trombone, Lawrence Brown - Trombone, Harry Carney - Baritone Saxophone, Paul Gonsalves - Tenor Saxophone, Jimmy Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone/Clarinet, Russell Proscope - Alto Saxophone/Clarinet, Johnny Hodges - Alto saophone, Major Holley - Bass, Sam Woodyard - Drums

Item# FA14

$33.95

On the Road with Duke

Filmed in 1967 just six years before Duke Ellington's death, this program serves as perhaps the most revealing and intimate portrait of the artist ever recorded. Legendary filmmaker Robert Drew offers audiences a unique and unobtrusive look inside the colorful world of this American Jazz legend, capturing the artist performing, composing, and ruminating about his life and career. Includes concert footage of Duke playing "Take the 'A' Train" and "Satin Doll."

Item# FA18

$27.95

Royal Ellington - Concert With Bob Wilber Big Band

Duke Ellington, one of Jazz's most prolific composers, was inspired to write The Queens Suite after meeting Queen Elizabeth in 1957. It wasn't until the 1970s that the public would hear this masterpiece for the first time. In 1989 this would become the first public performance of Duke Ellington's masterpiece. Starring The Bob Wilber Big Band, Joanne Horton, and Adelaide Hall.

64 minutes

Item# FA19

$21.95

Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts

A musical event recorded in Lugano Cathedral in honor of the 100th anniversary of Duke Ellington's birth. Ellington's instrument was his orchestra, a unique tonal palette, thanks to the presence of soloists with strongly individual voices like the saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney, the trombonist Lawrence Brown and trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson. Apart from his popular reputation as a bon vivant, Ellington was a deeply religious man. Among his body of work, a special space is occupied by his religious music, including three Sacred Concerts he wrote between 1965 and 1973. Now some of Ellington's most powerful and contemplative music is performed by many of the world's finest musicians in this soaring musical celebration.

Swiss Big Band & Choir. Soloists: Jon Faddis - trumpet; Adam Nussbaum - drums; Allen Harris & Michelle Hendricks - vocals.

Item# FA20

$27.95

Duke Ellington - Live at the Tivoli Gardens 1971 parts 1 & 2

During 1925-74, Duke Ellington led a pacesetting orchestra full of unique individuals who came together to play the leader's innovative music. Although many of Ellington's songs became standards, no other orchestra sounded like his. Dating from 1971, these two concert performances feature the Duke Ellington Orchestra still in prime form, alternating such old favorites as "Take The 'A' Train," "Rockin' In Rhythm" and a hits medley with newer material. At 72, Ellington proves to still be a masterful pianist and a genial host to an enthusiastic European audience. The 1971 Duke Ellington big band features such classic players as trumpeter Cootie Williams, clarinetist Russell Procope, baritonists Harry Carney and Paul Gonsalves, and Harold Ashby and Norris Turney on tenors. In addition, the legendary tenor Ben Webster, one of the stars of Duke's orchestra in the early 1940s, sits in with the orchestra and is showcased on "Cotton Tail", "All Too Soon!", and "I Got It Bad."

Item# FA13

$27.95

Duke Ellington Tivoli 1969

Duke Ellington may have turned 70 in 1969, but he was never short of energy, creativity and innovations. At the time of this Nov. 2, 1969 concert in Copenhagen, Ellington had been leading his orchestra for 44 years, but he still never really looked back in time or sought to recreate the past. Even when he performed older favorites, they were rearranged and full of surprises, and Duke's own piano playing was modern, percussive and unpredictable. Twelve soloists are heard from during this 83-minute set including such veterans as trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson, trombonist Lawrence Brown, altoist Harry Carney and Paul Gonsalves on tenor. Along with exciting versions of "C Jam Blues," "Rockin' In Rhythm" and "Take The 'A' Train," the highlights include a three-song Johnny Hodges medley, a haunting "La Plus Belle Africaine," and a tenor battle among Gonsalves, Harold Ashby and Norris Turney on "Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue."

Item# FA22

$27.95

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