Duke 1940

This 13-song, mid-priced compilation covers material dating from "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me," cut on March 8, 1935 to "Mood Indigo" from March 31, 1964. The contents include concert versions of "Take the 'A' Train" and "Satin Doll" from the All-Star Road Band releases; the 1940-vintage "Stormy Weather" (previously in print on the double-album Duke Ellington Presents Ivie Anderson); "Autumn Leaves" with Ozzie Bailey on vocals; a pair of cuts ("St. Louis Blues," "Body and Soul") off the otherwise unavailable Cosmic Scene LP, and "I Can't Get Started" from the until-recently unavailable Piano in the Foreground album…

Duke Ellington - The Duke at Fargo 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition (2000) {2CD Set, Storyville 84385-38932 1}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 557 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 367 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1940, 2000 Storyville | 84385-38932 1
Jazz / Big Band / Swing / Early Jazz

The widely heralded recordings made of Duke Ellington & His Orchestra during a 1940 concert in Fargo, ND, have been justifiably praised for their historic value as well as for the surprisingly good sound obtained by a pair of young amateur engineers with a portable disc cutter. Both the soloists and Ellington's unique-sounding blend of reeds and brass are very distinct. Some of these tracks previously appeared on the Jazz Society label, followed by a Book-of-the Month Club set, and all of them appeared on the now-defunct Vintage Jazz Classics, but this latest version tops them all for sound quality.

The Erskine Hawkins Orchestra was riding high during the era covered by this Classics CD, and their recording of "After Hours" (included among this reissue's highlights), which features pianist Avery Parrish, would keep the momentum going. Such numbers as "Satan Does the Rhumba," "Uptown Shuffle," "Gabriel Meets the Duke" and "Junction Blues" show why the Hawkins band was one of the most popular in Harlem during the 1930s and '40s.

Duke Ellington - The Great 1963 Paris Concert - Unissued Material (2016) {La Maison du Duke MDD 009}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 457 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 182 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 19 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1963, 2016 La Maison du Duke | MDD 009
Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Progressive Jazz

La Maison du Duke is proud to present a collection of unpublished recordings of Duke Ellington, which come from an important stock of Ellington archives (Clavié collection), acquired by the association, which only a few collectors had access to today . The CDs are reserved for members of the Maison du Duke association and are not intended to be marketed.

Charlie Parker - Retrospective 1940-1953 (2005) {3CDs Set Saga}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 724 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 599 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 370 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1940-53, 2005 Saga Jazz | 982 765-6
Jazz / Bebop / Classic Big Band / Swing / Bop / Saxopohone

Excellent French three CD compilation from the Jazz legend. This is a set that any self-respecting Jazz fans will want to own. They may already have all of these recordings on other releases, but never have they been put together before in such luxurious packaging. Of all the Parker sets on the market, this is definitely one to be put at the top of the list. Disc One features 24 tracks spanning the years 1940-47. Disc Two also features 24 tracks that cover the 1947-51 time period. Disc Three contains an additional 14 tracks that were recorded between the years 1947 and 1953. Includes tracks recorded for the Decca, Savoy, Dial, Comet, Musicraft and Guild labels. Also included in this package is a beautifully illustrated 80 page plus booklet with tons of archival photos. 62 tracks total. Saga Jazz.