1969: All-Star White House Tribute
1969: All-Star White House Tribute
ASIN: B00005UOKQ
Editorial Reviews
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Released for the first time on CD, this recording chronicles Duke Ellington's historic 70th-birthday tribute, held at the White House on April 29, 1969. Willis Conover of the Voice of America organized the event at which President Richard Nixon awarded Ellington with the Medal of Freedom. But the main course of the evening was the music of the Duke. With Ellington at the keyboard, the evening featured a who's who of the best of jazz: pianists Billy Taylor, Hank Jones, and Dave Brubeck; alto and baritone saxophonists Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan; trumpeters Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie; and vocalist Joe Williams. They pay homage to Ellington through a series of medleys that include "Take the A Train," "Satin Doll," and "In a Sentimental Mood." Duke Ellington concludes the star-studded celebration with a moving and impressionistic piece dedicated to Mr. Nixon's wife, entitled "Pat." It ends a beautiful evening where art and politics come together. --Eugene Holley Jr.
Product Description
Recorded Live at the White House in 1969 in Front of President Richard Nixon.
1969: All-Star White House Tribute,Duke Ellington,Blue Note Records,Big Band,Classic Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Swing
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1969: All-Star White House Tribute
Duke Ellington Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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Swing General
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Classic Big Band
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ASIN: B00005UOKQ Release Date: 2002-08-27 |
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Amazon.com
Released for the first time on CD, this recording chronicles Duke Ellington's historic 70th-birthday tribute, held at the White House on April 29, 1969. Willis Conover of the Voice of America organized the event at which President Richard Nixon awarded Ellington with the Medal of Freedom. But the main course of the evening was the music of the Duke. With Ellington at the keyboard, the evening featured a who's who of the best of jazz: pianists Billy Taylor, Hank Jones, and Dave Brubeck; alto and baritone saxophonists Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan; trumpeters Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie; and vocalist Joe Williams. They pay homage to Ellington through a series of medleys that include "Take the A Train," "Satin Doll," and "In a Sentimental Mood." Duke Ellington concludes the star-studded celebration with a moving and impressionistic piece dedicated to Mr. Nixon's wife, entitled "Pat." It ends a beautiful evening where art and politics come together. --Eugene Holley Jr.Album Details
Recorded Live at the White House in 1969 in Front of President Richard Nixon.Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable.......2006-01-20
Duke and Dick.......2002-09-15
The proceedings, for the most part, have the feel of a jam session, with the instrumentalists taking turns playing songs from the Ellington universe in a number of medleys. At times the transitions are a bit rough, as the rhythm section has to work to find not just the right key but tempo as well. The only number that evidences any rehearsal is Gerry Mulligan's unusual, up-tempo arrangement of the complex harmonies of "Prelude to a Kiss."
Some highlights and low-lights. Paul Desmond is as close to perfection as you can get--maintaining his musical composure even when the Hank Jones/Milt Hinton accompaniment can't find the chords to the bridge of "Chelsea Bridge." Each of his solo turns is an inventive gem, and at one point he surprises with an unexpected Johnny Hodges imitation. The same could be said of trombonist J.J. Johnson, whose every note brings life to the occasion, whether he's soloing or providing fills. And of course, Clark Terry is his exhuberant, colorful self, making his horn provide the personable vocal effects that are the essence of the Ellington style.
The set by pianist Billy Taylor represents the best piano playing of the evening (what an underrated giant he is--let's hope some of his out-of-print trio recordings are soon made available). Dave Brubeck has only one opportunity, and appears to be cut off at mid-solo by Mulligan's baritone. Fatha Hines 2-minute solo is a virtuosic dazzler, but too short to produce the electrifying effect on record that it apparently had the night of the concert.
Not all of the material is top-shelf Ellington, as the music from the "Second Sacred Concert" and the 4 songs featuring vocalist Mary Mayo definitely represent a musical let-down (while setting up Joe Williams to even greater dramatic effect).
There are absolutely no announcements on the record. Understandably the producers were more interested in capturing the 75 minutes of music, but the presentation by Nixon, the announcements by Willis Connover, and the verbal remarks by Ellington himself would have added a far greater sense of the moment.
As for guitarist Jim Hall, who refused to sign the release required to make the recording available, one wonders if his reasons were not merely political but musical, given the negligible amount of solo space he was afforded that evening. Thank goodness he finally came around or, like Nixon and Rosemary Woods, he would be remembered primarily as the man who lost some potentially valuable tapes.
Buy it. Listen. Learn........2002-09-10
Singers Mayo and (especially) Williams end the evening with some touching vocal work. Everyone on this disc, and just check out that lineup again, is at the top of his (or her) game, in some of the greatest American music ever written.
So why was this concert not released domestically until now? Seems guitarist Jim Hall had a thing about Nixon (it was 1969, after all) and wouldn't sign the release until recently. Go figure.
Ah, but if only the tapes could have recorded the jam session following the concert, which went on until 3 am. Marion McPartland, Willie the Lion and a host of jazz greats were in the audience and each took a turn, or played duets with the Duke. Even the Marine Band joined in. Too bad it wasn't recorded.
But hold on, this was the NIXON White House. You don't suppose . . . .
ONCE IN THE LIFETIME.......2002-09-06
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1969: All Star White House Tribute
Duke Ellington Manufacturer: Toshiba Emi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Swing General
| Swing Jazz
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ASIN: B00005Y150 Release Date: 2002-06-26 |
Customer Reviews:
Wait! Don't pay 33 bucks!!!.......2002-09-06
You must hear this disc. The band is not All-Star, it's All-Legend, and they're unbelievably hot. Listen to trumpeters Berry and Terry go after each other, or saxes Mulligan and Desmond. Earl Hines is amazing in "Perdido". But to single out one performance or another is churlish; everything on this disc has been kissed by the gods of jazz. Go buy it.
Ah, but one can only wish that the recording had captured the after-concert jam session, featuring audience members Willie "The Lion" Smith, Marian McPartland,and others (including the Marine Corps Band!). Wait a minute - this was the Nixon White House! You don't suppose . . . .
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