Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Rare 'Live' Recordings 1952-53 (2013)

Just about anything that is released by Duke Ellington is worth hearing, but this 3 disc set is important in that it covers a period of Ellingtonia that is rarely heard; when Hodges and others left the venerable band to pursue solo careers, leaving the leader to gather new artists and new sounds. Big Band jazz was no longer the “thing” as bebop and Rhythm and Blues were the big money makers. Still The Duke kept moving forward, bringing in Clarke Terry/tp, Paul Gonsalves/ts and Louie Bellson with his double bass drums to create some new sparks.

The shows are from January, March and April of 1952 and April of 1953, with one of the recordings from an unknown show and the others from NYC and those jazz centers Yakima, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Paul Gonsalves gets featured on some of the material here, with a gorgeous “Warm Valley,” while Jimmy Hamilton growls on the tenor on “Hi Ya Sue.” Bellson gets to hit the sticks on “Skin Deep” and “The Hawk Talks” while Cat Anderson hits the ozone layer with his trumpet on “Summertime.” Ray Nance’s violin and Harry Carney’s bass clarinet make a rich “Sophisticated Lady” while the former gets some opportunities to mug with the mic on “Tulip or Turnip” and “Basin Street Blues.”

More singing is presented by deep voice Jimmy Grissom on ”Blues at Sundown” and “Solitude” and operatic Betty Roche glows on “I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good.” Nothing for Duke to be ashamed of here, with the band sounding alive and well.