Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

ASIN: B00008J2IX

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This 75-track, three-CD set from Duke Ellington's RCA dates from 1940 to 1942, was culled from the massive, 1999 Bluebird mega-set. It's named for bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Blanton's astonishing technique made him one of the greatest bass players of all time, and Webster's warm, raw-boned tenor tones inspired future saxophonists. Along with the famous Ellingtonians, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, trumpeter Cootie Williams, violinist Ray Nance, and trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton, the addition of Blanton and Webster, along with the arrival of composer/arranger/pianist Billy Strayhorn, make this aggregation Ellington's first "superband."

All the vivid and varied dimensions of Ellingtonia are included in this digitally remastered set, with songs written by his son, Mercer. There's Ellington's silky blues numbers such as "Jack the Bear" and "C-Jam Blues." The Puerto Rican valve trombonist Juan Tizol's "Conga Brava," "Moon Over Cuba," and "Bakiff" contribute Latin and Middle Eastern colors. "Harlem Airshaft" and "Sepia Panorama" are but two examples of Ellington's tonal portraits. The legendary Ellington/Blanton duets, with the bouncy "Pitter Panther Patter" and the emotive "Sophisticated Lady" still sound modern. Webster's surging, pre-bop solos drive the George Gershwin-based "Cottontail," and soulfully signature Strayhorn's ballad "Chelsea Bridge." This set also marks the introduction of other Strayhorn's classics, including "Take the 'A' Train" and "Johnny Come Lately." All told, these World War II-era sides are essential for the Ellington canon. Eugene Holley, Jr.

Tracks:

You, You Darlin'
Jack The Bear
Ko-Ko
Morning Glory
So Far, So Good
Conga Brava
Concerto For Cootie
Me And You
Cotton Tail
Never No Lament
Dusk
Bojangles
A Portrait Of Bert Williams
Blue Goose
Harlem Air-Shaft
At A Dixie Roadside Diner
All Too Soon
Rumpus In Richmond
My Greatest Mistake
Sepia Panorama
There Shall Be No Night
In A Mellotone
Five O'Clock Whistle
The Flaming Sword
Warm Valley

Tracks:

Across The Track Blues
Chloe (Song Of The Swamp)
I Never Felt This Way Before
The Sidewalks Of New York
Flamingo
The Girl In My Dreams Tries To Look Like You
Take The 'A' Train
Jumpin' Punkins
John Hardy's Wife
Blue Serge
After All
Bakiff
Are You Sticking?
Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
The Giddybug Gallup
Pitter Panther Patter
Body And Soul
Sophisticated Lady
Mr. J.B. Blues
Ko-Ko
Bojangles
Sepia Panorama
Jumpin' Punkins
Jump For Joy

Tracks:

Chocolate Shake
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
Clementine
The Brown-Skin Gal (In The Calico Gown)
Jump For Joy
Moon Over Cuba
Five O'Clock Drag
Rocks In My Bed
Bli-Blip
Raincheck
What Good Would It Do?
I Don't Know What Kind Of Blues I Got
Chelsea Bridge
Perdido
The 'C' Jam Blues
Moon Mist
What Am I Here For?
I Don't Mind
Someone
My Little Brown Book
Main Stem
Johnny Come Lately
Hayfoot, Strawfoot
Sentimental Lady
A Slip Of The Lip (Can Sink A Ship)
Sherman Shuffle

Amazon.com

This 75-track, three-CD set from Duke Ellington's RCA dates from 1940 to 1942, was culled from the massive, 1999 Bluebird mega-set. It's named for bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Blanton's astonishing technique made him one of the greatest bass players of all time, and Webster's warm, raw-boned tenor tones inspired future saxophonists. Along with the famous Ellingtonians, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, trumpeter Cootie Williams, violinist Ray Nance, and trombonist Tricky Sam Nanton, the addition of Blanton and Webster, along with the arrival of composer/arranger/pianist Billy Strayhorn, make this aggregation Ellington's first "superband."

Customer Reviews:

This is Good Stuff.......2006-07-23

I think this was the best band Duke ever had, and the best CD's available by Duke. I also think the restoration and remastering are superb. While the sound quality of the first disc isn't as good as the other two, it's still very good. The claims of harshness and of being unlistenable are ridiculous. Yes, there is hiss, but that situation is better than sucking the life out it by using excessive noise reduction. The sound quality of the second and third discs are the best I've heard from the early forties. They are incredible.

If you agree that leaving some hiss is preferable to killing the high end and the ambiance of a recording, then you'll appreciate what they did here. Personally, I wish all the reissues of old recordings such as these, were of this calibre.

Packaging and sound are unworthy of the music........2006-04-20

I'll just endorse what other reviewers have said about the cheap,shoddy cardboard packaging of these disks. As for the sound quality,I've only listened to the first CD,and other reviewers suggest that the sound on the remaining two is much superior. I hope so! On my equipment,at least, the first CD is flat-out unlistenable; the distortion whenever the decibel level jumps sounds like gale-force sleet being blown against the speakers. I don't think it's a problem with my system; I have quite a few CDs of remastered 78s from before the hi-fi era,and have never had any of them sound even remotely this bad. I can't believe Bluebird/RCA would allow even one of these disks to go out sounding like this; is there perhaps some sort of quality-control issue here?

Greatest Duke; Spotty Remastering.......2006-01-06

I suppose if I had to pick one Ellington "era" to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be the superb 1940-1942 band featured on this set. Classic follows classic; impeccable swing, spectacular ensemble scoring and great solo work abound.

As for the sound quality....

Yes, some of the acoustical warmth and depth lost on the dreadful "Blanton-Webster Band" set have been restored here - you can actually HEAR the bass this time around! But on some tracks - mostly on disc one - there are obvious and annoying digital "artifacts" that make the high-end almost unlistenable. ??!! How could BMG get so close and then blow it by not re-doing the first, obviously inferior disc? Still worth it for the sonic upgrades of 2/3 of the material.

Essential Ellingtonia.......2005-10-04

Some of the most important Ellington recordings issued. I have the RCA-Victor release and this release is far superior in sound quality. Like other reviewers have stated there is some high-end "hiss" but for recordings from this time period that is to be expected. For the material, my favorites are: On Disc 1: Me and You, Cottontail, Dusk, Sepia Panorama and In a Mellotone. On Disc 2: The Sidewalks of New York, Flamingo, Ko-Ko, Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin' and Mr. J.B. Blues. On Disc 3: Raincheck, The "C" Jam Blues, Perdido, Moon Mist and Sherman Shuffle. These are the ones I like the most, but that in no way reflects on the other tracks, there are just too many. I could add them all! If you are looking to round out your collection, or even start one I can't think of a better jumping-off point.

Docked One Star for Shoddy Packaging.......2005-07-23

I won't echo what's been said about how great this stuff is- it's just great, some of the best jazz ever recorded. That said, I can't easily abide by music of this caliber being packaged in a cheap, flimsy cardboard contraption that doesn't even list all the tracks on the back. Just taking a disc out to listen to it is an exercise in delicacy and restraint, lest you accidentally tear the thing apart.

Still, this is worth purchasing if you're an Ellington fan. I haven't heard the 1980's CD release of this collection, but I had a Glenn Miller one from the same era and label, and the music sounded like it had been filed down with sandpaper- no body, no depth. The distortion on some of disc one's tunes in this set is annoying, but the rest of it sounds great. The exceptions are probably due to poor source recordings, so what can you do? I'd much prefer a few crackles than hear music that's been compressed down to nothing.

In short, I'd say this is worth the money, but look for it used first. I'm sure Bluebird will be reissuing it for a third time in the not-too-distant future, so why pay full price now?

Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

Average customer rating:

Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
Duke Ellington
Manufacturer: Bmg Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000QWXDQ
Release Date: 2003-12-08

Tracks:

You, You Darlin'
Jack the Bear
Ko Ko
Morning Glory
So Far, So Good
Conga Brava
Concerto for Cootie
Me and You
Cotton Tail
Never No Lament (Don't Get Around Much Anymore)
Dusk
Bojangles
Portrait of Bert Williams
Blue Goose
Harlem Air Shaft
At a Dixie Roadside Diner
All Too Soon
Rumpus in Richmond
My Greatest Mistake
Sepia Panorama
There Shall Be No Night
In a Mellow Tone
Five O'Clock Whistle
Flaming Sword
Warm Valley

Tracks:

Across the Track Blues
Chloe
I Never Felt This Way Before
Sidewalks of New York
Flamingo
Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You
Take the "A" Train
Jumpin' Punkins
John Hardy's Wife
Blue Serge
After All
Bakiff
Are You Sticking?
Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
Giddybug Gallop
Pitter Panther Patter
Body and Soul
Sophisticated Lady
Mr. J.B. Blues
Ko Ko [Alternate Take]
Bojangles [Alternate Take]
Sepia Panorama [Alternate Take]
Jumpin' Punkins [Alternate Take]
Jump for Joy [Alternate Take]

Tracks:

Chocolate Shake
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
Clementine
Brown-Skin Gal (In the Calico Gown) - Duke Ellington
Jump for Joy
Moon Over Cuba
Five O'Clock Drag
Rocks in My Bed
Bli-Blip
Rain Check
What Good Would It Do? - Duke Ellington
I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got
Chelsea Bridge
Perdido
C Jam Blues
Moon Mist
What Am I Here For?
I Don't Mind
Someone
My Little Brown Book
Main Stem
Johnny Come Lately
Hayfoot, Strawfoot
Sentimental Lady
Slip of the Lip (Can Sink a Ship)
Sherman Shuffle

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