Caravan Ellington

Tapping into the deep vaults of Blue Note and Capitol Records, the compilers of this Duke Ellington tribute deliver both classic vocal sides and hard bop instrumentals. Kicked off, appropriately enough, with Ellington's own version of "Rockin' in Rhythm," the mix includes the A-list likes of Nat King Cole ("Mood Indigo"), Kenny Burrell ("Caravan"), Nina Simone ("It Don't Mean a Thing"), and Clifford Jordan ("Sophisticated Lady"). Shifting between vintage tracks from the '50s and '60s and more modern turns cut during the '80s, the disc also features big band favorite Stan Kenton; Ellington's writing partner, Billy Strayhorn; Hammond B-3 great Jimmy McGriff; and multi-style singer Lou Rawls. A well-balanced and fetching compilation.

This is an eight-CD set more for Duke Ellington fanatics than for general listeners. Originally, some of the music came out as a two-LP set (Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur) and a single album (Ellington's Soul Call), but the great majority of the material was previously unreleased when this box came out in 1998.

Duke Ellington was at the height of his popularity during the 1940s; at the same time, he was enjoying a creative peak and fronting one of the finest organizations he'd ever assembled, including trumpeters Cootie Williams, Ray Nance, and later Rex Stewart and Harold "Shorty" Baker, trombonists Lawrence Brown, Tricky Sam Nanton, and Tommy Dorsey, saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster, Jimmy Blanton and Oscar Pettiford on bass, and drummers Sonny Greer and Sid Catlett. The material here includes Ellington's famous versions of "Take the 'A' Train," "Caravan," "The 'C' Jam Blues," "Mood Indigo," and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)."

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life…

Duke Ellington is a monolith in the history of jazz. No other musician has created more standarts, was as adventurous and deeply influential. Jazz Inspiration concentrates on brilliant classics such as "Caravan", "Satin Doll", and the gorgeous "Black and Tan Fantasy", and reminds us of the encounter with Louis Armstrong ("Mood Indigo") as well as of the legendary trio-album "Money Jungle", which he recorded in the year 1962 with Max Roach and Crarles Mingus.

A superb selection of material here from another jazz icon: 'Back to Back' (1959) is the famous collaboration between Ellington and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges; 'Live at The Whitney' (Recorded 1972) is a rare piano-trio date recorded at New York's Whitney School Of American Art; and 'Soul Call' (1967) is a classic big-band album recorded live at the Antibes Jazz Festival, featuring barnstorming versions of 'Caravan' and 'Skin Deep'.

This CD reissue features Duke Ellington and His Orchestra running through 11 of the leader's hits (+ 3 Bonus tracks) and a lesser-known blues tune, "The Twitch." The 1966 version of his big band still had all of its main stars, including such major voices as trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson, trombonists Lawrence Brown and Buster Cooper, altoist Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, and clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton. All are featured on The Popular Duke Ellington. Since the material is all very familiar, and mostly quite concise (nothing over six minutes long, and a version of "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" that is under two minutes), few surprises occur. But Ellington fans will enjoy this well-played effort.