The Ellington Suites
Encyclopedia
The Ellington Suites is a studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington
which collects three suites recorded in 1959, 1971 & 1972 released on the Pablo
label in 1976.. The album won a Grammy Award
for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band in 1976. Ellington wrote the "Queen's Suite" for Queen Elizabeth II who was presented with a single pressing of the recording which was not commercially issued during Ellington's lifetime.
awarded the album 3 stars and states "Although there are some good moments from Ellington's orchestras of 1959 and 1971-72, few of the themes (outside of "The Single Petal of a Rose" from "The Queen's Suite") are all that memorable. But even lesser Ellington is of great interest and veteran collectors may want to pick this up".
Despite Yanow's dissatisfaction with the Ellington Suites album, listeners who actually understand Ellington's music will most definitely get something out of it. Musician/composer EK states "There are many beautiful moments in this collection of suites and a lot of memorable themes. In the Queen's Suite, the Ellington band plays with a delicate yet fiery passion; in the Goutelas and Uwis Suites, the band sounds more raw and earthy. Duke explores the textural landscape in "Uwis", a cosmically humorous journey containing a jaw-dropping duet flute cadenza near the end. In "Apes and Peacocks", the ensemble shouts and sings out while the rhythm section dances hypnotically, feeding rhythmic energy into the heart-pounding drone of the band. On "Something", Ellington really lets you inside his head, revealing a wonderland of infinite love and compassion, while also revealing shades of humor, confusion, and anger. There is so much beauty that can be experienced when listening to this record, you just have to be willing to experience it."
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
which collects three suites recorded in 1959, 1971 & 1972 released on the Pablo
Pablo Records
Pablo Records was a record label founded by Norman Granz in 1972, some ten years after he had sold his jazz labels to MGM Records....
label in 1976.. The album won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band in 1976. Ellington wrote the "Queen's Suite" for Queen Elizabeth II who was presented with a single pressing of the recording which was not commercially issued during Ellington's lifetime.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott YanowScott Yanow
Scott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...
awarded the album 3 stars and states "Although there are some good moments from Ellington's orchestras of 1959 and 1971-72, few of the themes (outside of "The Single Petal of a Rose" from "The Queen's Suite") are all that memorable. But even lesser Ellington is of great interest and veteran collectors may want to pick this up".
Despite Yanow's dissatisfaction with the Ellington Suites album, listeners who actually understand Ellington's music will most definitely get something out of it. Musician/composer EK states "There are many beautiful moments in this collection of suites and a lot of memorable themes. In the Queen's Suite, the Ellington band plays with a delicate yet fiery passion; in the Goutelas and Uwis Suites, the band sounds more raw and earthy. Duke explores the textural landscape in "Uwis", a cosmically humorous journey containing a jaw-dropping duet flute cadenza near the end. In "Apes and Peacocks", the ensemble shouts and sings out while the rhythm section dances hypnotically, feeding rhythmic energy into the heart-pounding drone of the band. On "Something", Ellington really lets you inside his head, revealing a wonderland of infinite love and compassion, while also revealing shades of humor, confusion, and anger. There is so much beauty that can be experienced when listening to this record, you just have to be willing to experience it."
Track listing
- All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated
- "Queen's Suite: Sunset and the Mocking Bird" (Duke Ellington, Billy StrayhornBilly StrayhornWilliam Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn was an American composer, pianist and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington lasting nearly three decades. His compositions include "Chelsea Bridge", "Take the "A" Train" and "Lush Life".-Early...
) - 3:50 - "Queen's Suite: Lightning Bugs and Frogs" - 2:52
- "Queen's Suite: Le Sucrier Velours" - 2:46
- "Queen's Suite: Northern Lights" (Strayhorn) - 3:37
- "Queen's Suite: The Single Petal of a Rose" - 4:08
- "Queen's Suite: Apes and Peacocks" - 3:05
- "Goutelas Suite: Fanfare" - 0:31
- "Goutelas Suite: Goutelas" - 1:12
- "Goutelas Suite: Get-With-Itness" - 1:55
- "Goutelas Suite: Something" - 5:22
- "Goutelas Suite: Having at It" - 3:35
- "Goutelas Suite: Fanfare" - 0:34
- "Uwis Suite: Uwis" - 7:51
- "Uwis Suite: Klop" - 2:00
- "Uwis Suite: Loco Madi" - 5:52
- Recorded April 4, 1959 (#1-6), April 27, 1971 (#7-12) & October 5, 1972 (#13-15)
- "Queen's Suite: Sunset and the Mocking Bird" (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
Personnel
- Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Russell ProcopeRussell ProcopeRussell Procope , an American clarinettist and alto saxophonist, was known best for his long tenure in the reed section of Duke Ellington's orchestra, where he was one of its two signature clarinet soloists....
- alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... - Harry CarneyHarry CarneyHarry Howell Carney was an American swing baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist mainly known for his 45-year tenure in Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Carney started off as an alto player with Ellington, but soon switched to the baritone. His strong, steady saxophone often served as...
- baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece... - Cat Anderson, Shorty BakerShorty BakerHarold "Shorty" Baker was a jazz trumpeter.Baker started on drums, but switched to trumpet in his teens. He began on riverboats and played with Don Redman in the mid-1930s. He also worked with Teddy Wilson and Andy Kirk before his more noted association with Duke Ellington...
, Ray NanceRay NanceRay Willis Nance was a jazz trumpeter, violinist and singer.Nance is best known for his long association with Duke Ellington through most of the 1940s and 1950s, after he was hired to replace Cootie Williams in 1940...
, Clark TerryClark TerryClark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(tracks 1-6) - Quentin JacksonQuentin JacksonQuentin "Butter" Jackson was an American jazz trombonist. In the early stage of his career he worked with Cab Calloway and was in the Duke Ellington Orchestra...
, Britt WoodmanBritt WoodmanBritt Woodman was a jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known for his work with Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus....
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(tracks 1-6) - John Sanders - valve trombone (tracks 1-6)
- Jimmy HamiltonJimmy HamiltonJimmy Hamilton was an American jazz clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, arranger, composer, and music educator, best known for his twenty-five years with Duke Ellington....
- clarinet, tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
(tracks 1-12) - Johnny HodgesJohnny HodgesJohn Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
- alto saxophone (tracks 1-6) - Paul GonsalvesPaul GonsalvesPaul Gonsalves, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist best known for his association with Duke Ellington. At the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, Gonsalves played a 27-chorus solo in the middle of Ellington's "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"...
- tenor saxophone (tracks 1-12) - Jimmy WoodeJimmy WoodeJimmy Woode was a jazz bassist. His father, also named Jimmy Woode, was a music teacher and pianist who played with Hot Lips Page...
- bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
(tracks 1-6) - Jimmy Johnson - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(tracks 1-6) - Mercer EllingtonMercer EllingtonMercer Kennedy Ellington was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger.Ellington was born in Washington, DC, the son of famous composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington...
, Money JohnsonMoney JohnsonHarold "Money" Johnson was an American jazz trumpeter.Johnson first played trumpet at age 15. He moved to Oklahoma City in 1936 and played with Charlie Christian and Henry Bridges before joining Nat Towles's band...
, Cootie WilliamsCootie WilliamsCharles Melvin "Cootie" Williams was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter.-Biography:...
- trumpet (tracks 7-15) - Eddie PrestonEddie PrestonEddie Preston was an American jazz trumpeter.He was born in Dallas, Texas and died in Palm Coast, Florida.Preston began playing in big bands after World War II, and did stints with Lionel Hampton , Ray Charles , Louis Jordan , Duke Ellington , and Count Basie...
- trumpet (tracks 7-12) - Johnny ColesJohnny ColesJohnny Coles was an American jazz trumpeter.Coles spent his early career playing with R&B groups, including those of Eddie Vinson , Bull Moose Jackson , and Earl Bostic...
- trumpet (tracks 13-15) - Booty WoodBooty WoodMitchell W. Wood, better known as Booty Wood was an American jazz trombonist.Wood played professionally on trombone from the late 1930s. He worked with Tiny Bradshaw and Lionel Hampton in the 1940s before joining the Navy during World War II. While there he played in a band with Clark Terry,...
- trombone (tracks 7-15) - Malcolm Taylor - trombone (tracks 7-12)
- Chuck Connors - bass trombone (tracks 7-12)
- Norris TurneyNorris TurneyNorris Turney was an American jazz flautist and saxophonist.Turney began his career in the Midwest, playing in territory bands such as the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra. He played with Tiny Bradshaw in Chicago before moving to New York City, where he played with the Billy Eckstine Orchestra in 1945-46...
- alto saxophone (tracks 7-15) - Harold Minerve - alto saxophone, clarinet (tracks 7-12)
- Harold AshbyHarold AshbyHarold Ashby was a jazz tenor saxophonist. He is perhaps known for his work with Duke Ellington's band and stylistic similarities with Ben Webster.He worked as a freelance musician after leaving the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1975, and took part in various reunions of...
- tenor saxophone, clarinet (tracks 7-15) - Joe BenjaminJoe BenjaminJoseph Rupert "Joe" Benjamin was an American jazz bassist.Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin played with numerous high-profile jazz musicians in a variety of idioms...
- bass (tracks 7-15) - Rufus Jones - drums (tracks 7-15)
- Vince Prudente - trombone (tracks 13-15)
- Russ Andrews - tenor saxophone (tracks 13-15)
- Wulf Freedman - electric bassElectric BassElectric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
(track 15)