Plays Duke Ellington

Plays Duke Ellington

Plays Duke Ellington

ASIN: B000005IXZ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Duke Ellington's work has always appealed to innovative musicians, from Thelonious Monk to Cecil Taylor to Don Byron. That dynamic, decades-long tradition is apparent on this CD, with the World Saxophone Quartet finding ways to adapt Ellington and Strayhorn classics to its four-saxophone format and free vocabulary. From the early '30s, the Ellington Orchestra always possessed a great reed section, and Duke excelled at wringing lush and varied textures from it. Those reed sections clearly inspired this project, with the sounds of Ellingtonians like Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, and Russell Procope echoing here in the work of Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, David Murray, and Hamiet Bluiett. The gorgeous melody of "Come Sunday" inspires a superb solo from Murray, who reaches back through a tradition of radical tenor saxophonists to touch on the lyric wellspring of Ben Webster. Similarly, altoist Oliver Lake seems to use the leaping style of Eric Dolphy to reinvent "Prelude to a Kiss." The results are always intriguing, and this is among the WSQ's most durable recordings. --Stuart Broomer

Plays Duke Ellington,World Saxophone Quartet,Nonesuch,Avant-Garde,Avant-Garde Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop
Plays Duke Ellington
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Conservative Monk
  • A Landmark Testimony Of Jazz.
 Plays Duke Ellington
Thelonious Monk
Manufacturer: Riverside
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000NDEXQG
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Tracks:

  1. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  2. Sophisticated Lady
  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
  4. Black and Tan Fantasy
  5. Mood Indigo
  6. I Let a Song Go out of My Heart
  7. Solitude
  8. Caravan

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Conservative Monk.......2007-05-25

This is a clear effort at making Monk more palatable to a wider audience at the time. The pairing of Monk and Ellington's tunes is certainly a natural, but these are conservative, occasionally even boring (Don't Mean A Thing...zzzz) renditions that sound like the the "Monk" knob in the recording studio was turned down very, very low.

Most of the playing is charming and enjoyable, and fans of Monk and Ellington both will certainly enjoy this. Just don't expect to be "Wowed" by it.

5 out of 5 stars A Landmark Testimony Of Jazz........2007-03-29

(Adapted from an older article, copyright 1984, 2007 Michael F. Hopkins)

Listen. This album is a masterpiece of charm and daring, ringing
tonal joy and hard-dancing rhythmic flight. It has withstood the test
of time for over 50 years, and continues to call fresh audiences to
witness. It was the debut of one of the most versatile record labels
in all of Jazz, Riverside Records' resounding gauntlet to the world
on the power, precision, and passion of this African American-rooted
world forum. Most of all, it stands as a showcase of aesthetic nobility,
the compositional finese of Duke Ellington paid conceptual homage by
one of the few pianists who understood the impact of the Duke's many
efforts, matching it with a fierce originality all his own.
THELONIOUS MONK PLAYS DUKE ELLINGTON is a delightful portrait
of swing and intrigue, Monk crossing the tonal and atonal to deftly
weave chromatic splendor which tickles and tugs on the ear and the
mind, fingers pouring an uncanny balladry to win the soul. An
impeccable trio recording displaying the kindred wares of bassist
Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke, Monk spins enchanting
harmonic tapestries which beckon each listener's attention.

You will never hear "It Don't Mean A Swing (If It Ain't
Got That Swing)" played with such an ironically delicious sense of
freedom and groove as the High Priest delivers in the sure-rolling
scenic cruise holding court here. "Solitude", in a captivating solo
performance, conveys the significance of both loneliness and fortitude
from one who defines the meaning of marching to the beat of a different
drum.In each of the album's eight performances, we are treated to
sterlingeloquence,earthy testimony, and a winning humility which caps
theregal heart of this epic portrait.
Given a long-overdue 24-bit remastering by Joe Tartantino, THELONIOUS
MONK PLAYS DUKE ELLINGTON has never sounded clearer,
or more intimate, than it does in this current release. The classic
1955 session kicks off the Orrin Keepenews collection; an ongoing
monument to the producer who has contributed so much to this Music.
No better place to begin than with the Beginning, where a fledging
entrepreneur stretched a hand to aid one of the most misunderstood
geniuses in the annals of Music.

With this recording, the overdue appreciation -and lasting
triumph- of Thelonious Monk began.

A half-century later, there's no end in sight.
Definitive Collection
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Comedian Harmonists
 Definitive Collection

Manufacturer: Arena Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000648OR
Release Date: 2001-11-02

Tracks:

  1. Wenn Ich Vergnn
  2. Uch Wollt' Ich W Ein Huhn
  3. Veronika, Der Lenz Ist Da
  4. Bin Kein Hauptmann, Bin Kein Gros Tier
  5. Ein Freund, Ein Guter Freund
  6. Creol Love Call
  7. Bist Nicht Die Erste
  8. Baccarole
  9. Der Sch Blauen Donau
  10. Quant il Pleut
  11. Ein Bisschen Leichtsinn Kann Nicht Schaden
  12. Ich Hab' Fh 'Nen Blumentopf Bestellt
  13. Jetzt Trinken Wir Noch Eins
  14. Ist Die Liebe Der Matrosen
  15. Liebling, Mein Herz L Dich Gr
  16. Irgendwo Auf Der Welt
  17. Ali Baba
  18. Maria Marie
  19. Auf Dem Heuboden
  20. Liebesleid
  21. Tout le Jour
  22. Wir Sind Von Kopf Bis FuAuf Liebe Eingestellt
  23. So Ein KuKommt Von Allein
  24. Musketier Marsch
  25. Mein Kleiner, Graktus

Tracks:

  1. Hoppla, Jetzt Komm'ich
  2. Kannst du Pfeifen, Johanna
  3. Tea for Two
  4. In Der Bar Zum Krokodil
  5. Eine Kleine Frsweise
  6. Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier Glh Bin Ich Nur Mit Dir
  7. Die Liebe Kommt, Die Liebe Geht
  8. Heute Nacht Oder Nie
  9. Hallo, Was Machst du Heut' Daisy
  10. Ich Khre Hand Madame
  11. Auf Wiedersehen Mein Frein, Auf Wiedersehen Mein Herr
  12. Kleiner Mann, Was Nun
  13. Hein Spielt Abends So Schuf Dem Schifferklavier
  14. Mein Lieber Schatz Bist du Aus Spanien
  15. Onkel Bumba Aus Kalumba
  16. Perpetuum Mobile
  17. Leb' Wohl Gute Reise [Farewell, Have a Good Journey]
  18. Wenn Die Sonja Russisch Tanzt
  19. Morgen MuIch Fort Von Hier
  20. Wenn Der Wind Weht er das Meer
  21. Puppenhochzeit
  22. Was Dein Roter Mund Im Fr Sagt
  23. Es Fein Anderer Weg Zur Seligkeit
  24. SchLisa, Ssa
  25. Wochenend und Sonnenschein
  26. Auf Wiedersch'n My Dear

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Comedian Harmonists.......2003-05-23

A wonderful Selection of great Harmonies and Novelty Tunes by this Relatively Unknown Group in America , This terrific German Group is a must for anyone that enjoys Good Harmony and just Plain Vocal Fun with Sounds and Lyrics. Highly Recommended and Enjoyable.
Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great, brilliant music. Noisy - but you can fix it if you want to.
  • Jazz Student
  • Poor sound quality but there is a solution
  • Poor sound quality
  • A great Album- Amazon's Tracklisting wrong
 Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book
Oscar Peterson
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000HYIB
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

  1. John Hardy's Wife
  2. Sophisticated Lady
  3. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
  4. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
  5. In A Mellow Tone
  6. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
  7. Prelude To A Kiss
  8. Cotton Tail
  9. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  10. Take The 'A' Train
  11. Rockin' In Rhythm
  12. Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me
  13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  14. Sophisticated Lady
  15. Rockin' In Rhythm
  16. Prelude To A Kiss
  17. In A Mellow Tone
  18. Cotton Tail
  19. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
  20. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
  21. Take The 'A' Train
  22. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
  23. Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me
  24. John Hardy's Wife

Amazon.com

This CD combines two LPs devoted to the same Duke Ellington material recorded by different versions of the Oscar Peterson trio. The first is of particular interest. Dating from 1952, it was a special event, exploiting the then-new LP format to include a dozen of Ellington's most familiar tunes and featuring a superb band. The young Peterson could generate the swing of a big band, while the similarly virtuosic bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Barney Kessel complement him brilliantly. Together they combine boppish approaches and inspired interplay (and a kinetic energy that you would never expect from a trio without drums) to staples like "In a Mellow Tone," "Take the 'A' Train," and "Rockin' in Rhythm." The second half of the CD is a 1959 stereo remake of the original 1952 session, but with drummer Ed Thigpen taking Kessel's place. Despite the similarity in the material, it's an utterly different session, typical of the masterful manner that Peterson gradually developed. It's well-made music, played with consummate polish and ease and clear regard for the material, though without the inventive edges of the earlier group. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great, brilliant music. Noisy - but you can fix it if you want to........2007-03-25

Thank heavens for all concerned who got this record made. Oscar Peterson is at his absolute, towering best on these tracks, playing with such energy and expression you sit back and open your eyes, your jaw drops, and then you smile. Then you start tapping your foot and rocking your head, or taking a slow breath on the softer songs. Music on this level is rare indeed. I have nearly all of OP's records, and I'll say that these cuts reside at the top of his works. Oh so wonderful to hear, especially the first twelve tracks.

Unfortunately, those first twelve tracks are quite noisy. The original tapes were lost, and these cuts were transcribed from vinyl. As they are, there's nothing wrong with listening to some scratchy records. I've done it a thousand times over the years, and the music is still there. But since this is the digital era, there are options. I record all my music on my hard disk, and if you do too it means you can edit the tracks.

Don't be afraid; it's easy. All you need is a sound editing program. I use Adobe Audition, which is expensive, but you can use Audacity, which a terrific program for the right price: free. First rip the CD onto the hard disc, then open the song files in the sound editor. These programs have noise reduction functions that are extremely sophisticated and powerful built into them, as good as most professional studios. Play with the settings until you get the noise down to where you find it acceptable or inoffensive, but not so much that you blunt the music. The programs really work; you'll have MUCH less noise, and the recordings will sound terrific. Then save the file, and you're set. Play like any other record. A tip: rip the CD as WAV files to do the editing. You can always convert to MP3 if you want, but your results won't be as good if you try to edit compressed files.

The noisiest track is #12, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, which Oscar tranforms into something living and breathing. Just uncanny music. I'm listening to it as I type this, and there still is some noise, but it's A LOT less, not enough to get in the way of enjoying the artistry. His genius and skills all came together here, so it was worth touching up. He does a second version on track 23, and it's wonderful, but the first one is a true standout among jazz performances. What's a little noise when the music's this superb?

The whole process took me about 25 minutes, a bit of a nuisance but so what. I probably would have goofed off if I hadn't sat down and done it. Now I've got these phenomenal tracks that I'm certain to play again and again.

There is a different edition of these recordings available, with some noise reduction already done, as mentioned by another reviewer, but I'd rather do my own. A heavy hand dilutes the energy of the music, but if you do it yourself you'll get it just how you like it. And it's fun! Editing your records is one of the kicks of digital music. You can easily trim unwanted applause, talking between tracks, overlong tracks, do fade-ins, fade-outs, make soft parts louder or loud parts softer, repeat choruses, get rid of draggy sections and lots more, just like the pros. Plus you can record old vinyl records, and get rid of the scratches! How cool is that? Even if you don't feel like editing this disk, get ahold of a sound editing program. You'll have a blast.

To sum up after all that long-winded rambling: Buy this CD! It's awesome. It's got some of the best jazz by the best artists ever recorded.

Enjoy,

Tom B

4 out of 5 stars Jazz Student.......2007-01-09

As a beginning student of jazz piano, I bought Oscar Peterson's book of Duke Ellington jazz transcripts. Many of the pieces were from this particular album, which was extremely difficult to locate until I discovered Amazon.com. I think the pieces are brilliantly rendered by Peterson. They are not overstated with endless riffs and pyrotechnics. The improvisations fit the tunes without straying. The pieces aren't lenthy, but they are real jazz to me.

3 out of 5 stars Poor sound quality but there is a solution.......2006-02-21

This album was recorded at Radio Recorders in December 1952. Radio Recorders was among the best studios in the country at that time. Fred Astaire recorded a two disc album with Oscar Peterson that same month and it is crystal clean. Also Ben Webster recorded there with the Ravens in December 1952 as did Anita O'Day - all with good clean results. Clearly the Peterson tapes are missing and noisy discs were all that was available for the making of the Peterson cd.

Normaly I don't like noise reduction but... the 4 CD set Piano Power (available at Amazon) includes all the cuts on this Duke CD and are much, much quieter. Good use of noise reduction.

1 out of 5 stars Poor sound quality.......2005-04-19

The transfer to digital format from the analog source includes all of the tape hiss on this disc. The content is great, but the background noise is too much on my system. I'd look for another title from OP and pass on this one.

5 out of 5 stars A great Album- Amazon's Tracklisting wrong.......2005-01-13

This is a killer album. Peterson's trio is always unbelievably tight and polished, and playing the music of Duke Ellington... fugettaboutit!

However, Amazon's tracklisting does not include tracks 13-24. A different trio, it features Ray Brown on Bass(same as on tracks 1-12), but instead of the great Barney Kessel on Guitar, it has Ed "Pigpen" Thigpen on drums (Actually, that's not his nickname, I just like to call him that!) Although some of the tracks have a bit of high-end hiss, this is overall an amazing group. Highly recommended!
Reflections On Duke - Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Ellington would have loved this....
  • better and better
  • First-class performances of terrific music
  • THIBAUDET'S ELLINGTON is as good as THIBAUDET'S RAVEL.
 Reflections On Duke - Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays The Music Of Duke Ellington
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000IIZT
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

  1. Jubilee Stomp
  2. In A Sentimental Mood
  3. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
  4. Prelude To A Kiss
  5. Sophisticated Lady
  6. The Clothed Woman
  7. Day Dream
  8. Tonk
  9. Beggar's Holiday Suite
  10. Lush Life
  11. Fantasy On Caravan
  12. Come Sunday
  13. A Single Petal Of A Rose
  14. Solitude

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Ellington would have loved this...........2006-08-19

Reflections On Duke is pure taste. The choice of Ellington pieces is perfect and Thibaudet is so very accomplished on piano that sometimes a listener gets wrapped-up in "where's he going with this." Then more identifiable Duke melody line emerges and we're off and running again. A tip of the hat to Jean-Yves. Never heard anything like it.

5 out of 5 stars better and better.......2006-07-25

Every time I listen to this CD, I love it more. Lovers of great piano playing, of jazz, of Duke Ellington, of classical music will all enjoy this CD. The creativity and originality of the musical ideas are a joy to hear.

5 out of 5 stars First-class performances of terrific music.......2002-09-22

This CD is so much better than the pretty good Conversations with Bill Evans CD Thibaudet also recorded. The other set has some beautiful playing, but it lacks the variety of this one.

While the Bill Evans CD is mainly performances of Jed Distler arrangements and transcriptions, the Ellington CD also includes arrangements by Dick Hyman, and three others.

Also, the Evans CD has a lot of moody tracks and few up-tempo ones. But the Ellington CD has a good mixture and "works" much more satisfyingly as a program.

Standout tracks include:
Jubilee Stomp [the opening track]
I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good [a Bill Evans performance, transcribed by Distler]
Sophisticated Lady
Beggar's Holiday Suite
and
Fantasy on Caravan

Highly recommended

5 out of 5 stars THIBAUDET'S ELLINGTON is as good as THIBAUDET'S RAVEL........1999-06-09

Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a master of French pianism: the playing on his Debussy and Ravel discs is hard to beat by anyone, living or dead. In fact, his 2 cd disc of the complete piano pieces of Ravel is one of my favorites ever. This new cd of arragements of the music of Duke Ellington is at once hot and cool and contemplative and exciting and absolutely splendid. There are well known songs like "Sophisticated Lady" and "Lush Life" but also some esoteric stuff like a suite from Ellington's Broadway show, "Beggar's Holiday." The arrangements were made for Thibaudet by masters like Dick Hyman and the liner notes are very informative.
Plays Duke Ellington
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • all ellington
  • Unique
  • Great intro to the inimitable WSQ
 Plays Duke Ellington
World Saxophone Quartet
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free JazzAvant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000005IXZ
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

  1. Take The 'A' Train
  2. Lush Life
  3. Prelude To A Kiss
  4. Sophisticated Lady
  5. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
  6. Come Sunday
  7. In A Sentimental Mood
  8. Take The 'A' Train

Amazon.com

Duke Ellington's work has always appealed to innovative musicians, from Thelonious Monk to Cecil Taylor to Don Byron. That dynamic, decades-long tradition is apparent on this CD, with the World Saxophone Quartet finding ways to adapt Ellington and Strayhorn classics to its four-saxophone format and free vocabulary. From the early '30s, the Ellington Orchestra always possessed a great reed section, and Duke excelled at wringing lush and varied textures from it. Those reed sections clearly inspired this project, with the sounds of Ellingtonians like Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, and Russell Procope echoing here in the work of Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, David Murray, and Hamiet Bluiett. The gorgeous melody of "Come Sunday" inspires a superb solo from Murray, who reaches back through a tradition of radical tenor saxophonists to touch on the lyric wellspring of Ben Webster. Similarly, altoist Oliver Lake seems to use the leaping style of Eric Dolphy to reinvent "Prelude to a Kiss." The results are always intriguing, and this is among the WSQ's most durable recordings. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars all ellington.......2006-08-30

the music of duke ellington was a great choice for the world saxophone quartet. when you think big band you think horns. the quartet manages to fill in all the spaces other instruments would occupy without losing sight and sound of the melodies. duke ellington's music lingers long after listening, songs at any given moment i catch myself humming, particularly come sunday. the version by the world saxophone quartet i listen to again and again. the recording is all ellington, certainly the best interpretation of his music i've heard.

4 out of 5 stars Unique.......2006-07-04

Typically the WSQ begin each track with a recognizable statement of a Duke Ellingon theme, and they're really good. The harmonies are mostly traditional but maybe a little edgy. By the middle of the track they are off on their own trip. You will not hear such sounds elsewhere. Repeated squeaks, pained ululations, unidentifiable low frequency boops, triple-time runs that sound like a waltzing mouse looks. It isn't "easy listening" music. I don't know how often you would want to play this CD. I would suggest longish intervals. And a drink or a Xanax before listening wouldn't hurt either because the normal human must consider his nerves. But it's unique. Both bluesy and insane. It will leave you with a fresh impression of the things that can be done with four simple saxophones.

5 out of 5 stars Great intro to the inimitable WSQ.......2000-08-12

This was the first WSQ album I ever heard and it was accessible enough for me to appreciate it at first hearing, yet challenging enough to make me want to listen again. Duke's standards obviously help make this their most accessible album, but the arrangements and solos are as free as ever. My favorite track is "I Let a Song Go Out of my Heart", which is essentially a 5-minute long free jam, with the melody being touched on at the end. The last chord is incredible- a major chord with one note played out of tune, creating this extraordinary, gritty sound. And check out Hamiett Bluiett on "Sophisicated Lady"!
Plays Duke Ellington
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fiesta in Black and Tan
  • Jump right in! The Jazz is fine.
  • monk minus monk
  • The Monk plays the Duke.
  • stunning
 Plays Duke Ellington
Thelonious Monk
Manufacturer: Ojc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000Y1B
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

  1. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  2. Sophisticated Lady
  3. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
  4. Black And Tan Fantasy
  5. Mood Indigo
  6. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
  7. Solitude
  8. Caravan

Amazon.com

Like Money Jungle, the later collaboration between Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach, this collection of Ellingtonia showed how much a modernist the Duke really was. Without a doubt, Ellington is more clearly recalled as an architect of the Swing Era, but in Monk's hands, Ellington's tunes sound as pregnant with post-swing potential as anything in the bebop canal. Monk recorded these tunes at the request of Riverside Records founder Orrin Keepnews, who knew how idiosyncratic the pianist was, and rather than produce literal transcriptions, Monk went all over the map. Stride shades drop in amid the off-center melody statements. And shot throughout all the tunes is Monk's persistently interstitial approach, whereby he spots seams and creases in every phrase and then fills, comments on, and dances around them. As the first chapter, if you will, in the Complete Riverside box set, this makes a great platform for viewing Monk's ascent into unbridled genius. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fiesta in Black and Tan.......2006-09-20

Monk's "Plays Duke Ellington" album is a well known beginning of a fruitfull attachment to Riverside label; the producer thought it would be wise to present his quirky star in a less strange setting, playing the music of another great artist; both pianist and composer.
Frankly, I agree with people who say this is not true and complete Thelonious experience but, although I love and respect true and complete Thelonious, this is still great jazz.
For, Ellington was a great composer and these performances are nice, modernist and moderately monkish readings of some of his greatest tunes.
Highly recomendable both to Ellington fans and to modern jazz fans, althoug not all of the Monk fans will be thrilled.

5 out of 5 stars Jump right in! The Jazz is fine........2004-06-29

So you're hearing all the jazzers in the peripherals of your life raving on and on about these seemingly inaccessible figures (Miles, Trane, Monk).

So you want to dip a tentative toe into the vast Ocean of Jazz.

So start right here.

"Plays Ellington'' is a great way to get acquainted with Monk. Listen for a bit and you'll find that there's nothing scary or "difficult' about his music.

Quite simply, Monk is fun.

Trust me, friend.

Jump right in! The Jazz is fine.


Kaz 6.29.04

3 out of 5 stars monk minus monk.......2004-04-07

There has probably never been a musician as uncompromising as Thelonious Monk. He did it his way to an extent that Frank Sinatra could never have dreamed of. However, after some personal problems and a stint with the less than supportive Prestige records, Monk's career was at a low ebb, so when Riverside producer Orrin Keepnews suggested that he do a couple albums of other people's tunes as a kind of icebreaker, Monk agreed.

Ellington was one of the most obvious of Monk's influences- ("Sounds like he's stealing some of my stuff" Ellington is supposed to have said on first hearing a Monk record)- and a set of Ellington' greatest hits would seem like a natural way to let Monk be Monk while playing a set of jazz standards.

Unfortunately, whether out of respect for the material, some degree of tentativeness with a new producer and record label, or from a conscious effort to smooth off some of Monk's more controversial characteristics, the playing on this first Riverside LP seems a little like Smooth Monk. You can tell it's Monk, but kind of generi-sized, as if to convince Erroll Garner fans that Thelonious was their friend, and really wouldn't hurt them. The result is a nice average kind of album: has its moments ("Solitude"), but a little dull in spots ("It Don't Mean A Thing...").

On the next Riverside LP, a collection of standards called "The Unique Thelonious Monk", the arrangements and playing are much more angular and Monk-like, and by the third LP, "Brilliant Corners" no holds are barred, no compromises made. The rest of the Monk Riverside catalog is Monk his way: "Monk's Music", "Thelonious Himself", "Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall", "5xMonkx5"- all examples of one of the most sharply etched, self-aware musical visions ever.

As phase one of a marketing strategy, "Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington" was fine, but as a Monk album it's just okay.

5 out of 5 stars The Monk plays the Duke........2003-08-22

With this recording, Monk began his tenure at Riverside Records, which was very fruitful and lasted till around the early sixties when Columbia stole him away. The idea was that Monk was gaining popularity, but he was still a tough act to get used to for a lot of people because of the idiosyncratic compositions and piano style. So they suggested an album of someone else's material, to let those less familiar with Monk get used to his playing before confronting the genius of his writing. And who better than Duke to supply the material--Duke, whose playing, along with James P. Johnson and some of the other stride players, influenced Monk a great deal. The result is--surprise, surprise--an absolutely brilliant record. Ellington is reinvented, as is anyone lucky enough to be filtered through Monk's genius. The most wonderful thing is that there is no conflict of musical personalities, no struggle between the old and the new. There is more than enough room for both, and these recordings turn out to be at once purely Ellington and purely Monk. And Thelonious is helped in no small part by drummer Kenny Clarke and bassist Oscar Pettiford, two of the best players of their time. The highlights are every song.

5 out of 5 stars stunning.......2002-07-02

Quite different versions of some classic Duke Ellington songs, quieter, but with a stunning effect. In My Solitude is nothing short of a miracle! Don't Mean A Thing is full of surprises, and as Don Cherry once said, Jazz is the sound of surprise.
Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Passion Flower: Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington
    Zoot Sims
    Manufacturer: Ojc
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. The Swinger
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    ASIN: B000000Z3O
    Release Date: 1997-06-24

    Tracks:

    1. It Don't Mean A Thing
    2. In A Mellow Tone
    3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
    4. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
    5. Black Butterfly
    6. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
    7. Your Love Has Faded
    8. Bojangles
    9. Passion Flower

    Amazon.com

    From his 1940s work with Benny Goodman and Woody Herman until his death in 1985, tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims was the quintessential jazz musician. He always kept an enthusiastic commitment to improvising and a profound allegiance to the rhythmic art of swing. On this 1979 date he and a big band play distinctive Ellington orchestrations written by Benny Carter, who, like Ellington, helped architect the Swing Era. Here Sims's melodic and evocative tenor mingles the lightness of Lester Young with some of the richly grained sound of Ben Webster, and his performances of Billy Strayhorn's lush "Passion Flower" and Duke's "I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" are especially moving. The band is sprinkled with outstanding veterans, including saxophonists Buddy Collette and Marshall Royal, trombonists J.J. Johnson and Grover Mitchell, and the superb pianist Jimmy Rowles. Together they pump fresh and distinctive life into a vision of Ellington's music that includes the spontaneous, the romantic, and the orchestral. --Stuart Broomer
    Mancini Plays Mancini & Other Composers
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • It should get a 5 star rating, but..
    		 Mancini Plays Mancini & Other Composers

    Manufacturer: Delta Camden
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00003L9HZ
    Release Date: 1999-12-21

    Tracks:

    1. Till There Was You
    2. Bluesy
    3. Tender Is The Night
    4. In A Mellow Tone
    5. A Shot In The Dark
    6. Fluters' Ball
    7. Kelley's Tune
    8. White On White
    9. A Mild Blast
    10. The Shadow Of Paris

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars It should get a 5 star rating, but.........2005-07-18

    It is a chopped and patched cd! It has two selections among others that were only available from a very obscure LP called 3 Great Bands, with Prado and Hirt. "Bluesy" features a smooth solo by the ever grand soloist for Mancini, Jack Sheldon, who also puts a very catchy "Lawrence of Arabia" theme ending. This is almost surely worth the price, but then listen to the Ellington tune "In A Mellow Mood" and you'll be blown away. Where these tunes come from is an even greater mystery to me...the # GB I told you about was only an RCA promo thing, and not a Mancini effort. So take this one and run because you'l not find these selections anywhere else! It is reminiscent of "Uniquely" and "Big Band'67" and as jazzy as Gunn and others of the early RCA genre. You'll love it, and the prices it is being offerred at is a bargain.
    Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • One of my Desert Island Discs!!
    • Extraordinary Performance by an Extrarodinary Artist
    • Exellent tribute to the real king of jazz...
    		 Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington
    Dick Hyman
    Manufacturer: Reference Recordings
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000001597
    Release Date: 1993-08-27

    Tracks:

    1. Jubilee Stomp
    2. Drop Me Off At Harlem
    3. The Clothed Woman
    4. Sophisticated Lady
    5. Doin' The Voom Voom
    6. On A Turquoise Cloud
    7. All Too Soon
    8. Tonk
    9. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
    10. Echoes Of Harlem
    11. Prelude To A Kiss
    12. The Gal From Joe's
    13. Day Dream
    14. Come Sunday

    Amazon.com

    In his extraordinary career, Duke Ellington explored many musical forms, from the hot jazz tunes and exoticism of his early years to the grandeur of his later orchestral suites. Few Ellington tributes are able to bring a sense of that long and varied career as this one does, with both famous and little-known tunes included. Hyman reaches back to the '20s for the animated swing of "Jubilee Stomp" and "Doin' the Voom Voom," then forges ahead to the daring harmonies of "The Clothed Woman" and the serene majesty of "Come Sunday." He is able to bring a rare range of piano techniques to this project, from classic stride to the subtle voicings and impressionist shimmer that are heard in "On a Turquoise Cloud." --Stuart Broomer

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars One of my Desert Island Discs!!.......2003-10-23

    Simply put, this is just a stellar CD, from beginning to end. There is not a track on here that disappoints. Every jazz pianist should listen to Hyman as he develops his thematic material, particularly on "Sophisticated Lady," "All Too Soon," "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," "Echoes of Harlem," and "Day Dream." If you want dazzling piano technique, then check out Hyman's dexterity on "Jubilee Stomp" and especially "Tonk." Ellington & Strayhorn used to perform "Tonk" as a duo, and Hyman does it here single-handed...absolutely marvelous.

    I can't even begin to understand the technology that goes into the Bosendorger Reproducing Piano, but suffice it to say that the sound quality on this CD is as good as it gets.

    I have had this CD for 10 years and never get tired of it. It just is one the best CDs I have ever come across. I can't believe so few people have written reviews for it; it is a true gem which deserves more attention.

    5 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Performance by an Extrarodinary Artist.......2001-12-30

    In his seventh decade, virtuoso pianist/composer Dick Hyman is at the top of his - or anyone's - game musically and technically in this exceptional tribute to Duke Ellington. Hyman is that rare phenomenon - a complete, intelligent, and technically astounding musician - who serves the composer first but never forgets that among the composer's interests was to evoke an emotional response from his listeners.

    This Hyman does, and how. If this were an LP, I would have already worn out "Tonk," originally written by Ellington and Strayhorn to feature themselves as duo-pianists at parties, and played here by Hyman live and ALONE. Then again, there's the wonderful quasi-medley of "Echos of Harlem" and "Prelude To A Kiss," where Hyman cleverly interweaves the distinctive driving motive from the first tune into the second. And there are definitive performances of "Sophisticated Lady," "Drop Me Off in Harlem," "I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart" - it's all wonderful.

    Finally, the recorded sound is absolutely superb. The performances were preserved on a recording Boesendorfer piano, and then played back in an acoustically ideal recording environment. The end result is the spontaneity of a live performance with the sonics of an Uber-Studio.

    Whether you're a musician or sometime listener, an Ellington fanatic or jazz novice, you will not go wrong with this recording. Buy it and enjoy it.

    5 out of 5 stars Exellent tribute to the real king of jazz..........2000-10-13

    If Paul Whiteman was really the king of jazz, who was Duke Ellington? Well here Dick Hyman(the Fats Waller of today) gives a tribute to the real king of jazz Duke Ellington, Hyman's tribute album shows just how much Hyman loves and respects ellington's music, without copying his style. This is a landmark album, on the same level as Hyman's exellent tribute to Fats Waller. Hyman covers here on this joyous CD such classics as Daydream and Prelide To A Kiss to lesser known gems like Echoes From Harlem & On A Turquoise Cloud. This CD is highly recomended to both Ellington & Hyman fans. Duke would be honored if he were alive to hear this.
    Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A grab bag? Maybe, but classical music nevertheless
    		 Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington
    Oscar Peterson
    Manufacturer: Pablo
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00002SWKB
    Release Date: 2000-01-11

    Tracks:

    1. Main Stem
    2. In A Sentimental Mood
    3. Lady Of The Lavender Mist
    4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
    5. Satin Doll
    6. Cotton Tail
    7. Perdido/Caravan
    8. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
    9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
    10. Take The 'A' Train

    Amazon.com

    This album features one of the jazz world's foremost piano virtuosos interpreting the music of the jazz world's greatest composer and bandleader. The recordings--all previously released--are taken from Peterson's Pablo albums of the 1970s and '80s. (An earlier reissue, Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Songbook, draws from two Verve albums recorded in the '50s.) The challenge of doing justice to Duke seems to bring out the best in Oscar. He picks up steam like a locomotive on "Main Stem" (with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes) and catches lightning in a bottle on "Cotton Tail" (with Joe Pass, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, and Martin Drew). Peterson's Tatumesque brilliance as a solo pianist is revealed on the rarely heard "Lady of the Lavender Mist" and "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," while his blues-leanings are in full show on "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" (with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis). Finally, Oscar takes a ride on the "'A' Train" next the Maestro himself. --Rick Mitchell

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A grab bag? Maybe, but classical music nevertheless.......2006-10-04

    Not an album of Ellington's music, this compilation of Peterson's unique interpretations will nevertheless please all fans of mainstream and swing;
    hardcore Peterson fans will probably go for widely available albums by this exciting pianist, but this CD will give a lot of pleasure to all the rest.
    It can also serve as an fine introduction to Peterson's work - we can hear him playing solo, in small rhythmic ensembles, with happy horns of Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie and, last but by no means least, as a special guest on a Duke Ellington orchestra concert.
    Great album; admittedly a sort of grab bag many companies compile to cash in on their artists, but that does not diminish listening pleasure...

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