Artist: Duke Ellington
Album: The Essential Recordings (1940-1942)
Genre: Swing, Big Band
Label: Charly Records
Released: 1993
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
- Ko-Ko (2:44)
- Jack the Bear (3:16)
- Conga Brava (2:56)
- Concerto for Cootie (3:17)
- Cotton Tail (3:11)
- Never No Lament (3:20)
- Bojangles (A Portrait of Bill Robinson) (2:53)
- Harlem Air Shaft (3:00)
- All Too Soon (3:31)
- In a Mellotone (3:19)
- Warm Valley (3:21)
- Flamingo (3:23)
- Take the "A" Train (2:54)
- Jumpin' Punkins (3:43)
- I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (3:19)
- Chelsea Bridge (2:54)
- Raincheck (2:31)
- Perdido (3:11)
- Moon Mist (2:59)
- What Am I Here For? (3:26)
- Main Stem (2:51)
- Johnny Come Lately (2:40)
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This budget-priced import set collects studio recordings by what many jazz-heads on this planet to be Ellington's BEST band ever: the unit in the late '30s/early '40s that featured Ben Webster (one of the best tenor sax players ever) and the died-young bass ace Jimmy Blanton. This mixes hits like "Take The 'A' Train" and "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" with thoughtful masterpieces like "Main Stem" and Billy Strayhorn's (Ellington's right-hand man) lovely "Chelsea Bridge." This is some of the best Duke available: the pinnacle of elegance, swing, immortal distinctive soloists (Rex Stewart, Juan Tizol, Johnny Hodges, etc.) and unique compositions, many of which became standards--and the standard by which many jazz orchestras would be measured.