The Pianist (album)
Encyclopedia
The Pianist is a studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington
compiled from sessions in 1966 and 1970, and released on the Fantasy
label in 1974.
awarded the album 3 stars and states "Duke Ellington had so many talents (composer, arranger, bandleader, personality) that his skills as a pianist could easily be overlooked. Fortunately he did record a fair amount of trio albums through the years so there is plenty of evidence as to his unique style which was both modern and traditional at the same time".
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
compiled from sessions in 1966 and 1970, and released on the Fantasy
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
label in 1974.
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 "Duke Ellington had so many talents (composer, arranger, bandleader, personality) that his skills as a pianist could easily be overlooked. Fortunately he did record a fair amount of trio albums through the years so there is plenty of evidence as to his unique style which was both modern and traditional at the same time".
Track listing
- All compositions by Duke Ellington
- "Don Juan" - 2:36
- "Slow Blues" - 4:00
- "Looking Glass" - 2:55
- "The Shepherd" [Take 1] - 5:50
- "The Shepherd" [Take 2] - 6:35
- "Tap Dancer's Blues" - 2:53
- "Sam Woodyard's Blues" - 6:37
- "Duck Amok" - 3:43
- "Never Stop Remembering Bill" - 4:29
- "Fat Mess" - 2:58
- Recorded at RCA Studio A in New York, NY on July 18, 1966 (tracks 1-7), and in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 7, 1970 (tracks 8-10).
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... - John Lamb (tracks 1-7), Paul Kondziela (tracks 8-10), Victor GaskinVictor GaskinRoderick Victor Gaskin, born The Bronx, New York, November 23, 1934 is a jazz bassist.Gaskin moved to Los Angeles in 1962 and started playing with Paul Horn and Red Mitchell before going on to become one of many bass players for the Jazz Crusaders...
(tracks 8-10) - 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... - Sam WoodyardSam WoodyardSam Woodyard was an American jazz drummer.Woodyard was largely an autodidact on drums, and played locally in the Newark, New Jersey area in the 1940s. He gigged with Paul Gayten in an R&B group, and then played in the early 1950s with Joe Holiday, Roy Eldridge, and Milt Buckner...
(tracks 1-7), Rufus Jones (tracks 8-10) - 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 ....