Plays Duke Ellington cover

Plays Duke Ellington

Released

The title about says it all, doesn’t it? This 1986 release found the group celebrating a decade of existence by embracing the lush arrangements and brilliant melodies of one of the greatest of all jazz composers. Other than a version of “Take the ‘A’ Train” that opens and closes the disc, they focus more on Ellington’s softer material, performing “Lush Life,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” “Sophisticated Lady,” “In a Sentimental Mood” and “Come Sunday.” The four players — Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, David Murray, and Hamiet Bluiett — seem to sway together as they play, harmonizing as tightly as a street-corner doo-wop group and executing Ellington’s melodies with effortless precision and a love for the material that comes through in every note. There’s no attempt at rebellion or subversion here; this is some of the most heartfelt, reverential jazz ever recorded, and it’s all the more beautiful for it.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Artist cover

The Artist

Jeremy Pelt
The Magic Triangle cover

The Magic Triangle

Famoudou Don Moye, Joseph Jarman, Don Pullen
Human Dust Suite cover

Human Dust Suite

Miki Yamanaka
Lord of Lords cover

Lord of Lords

Alice Coltrane
Live in Vilnius cover

Live in Vilnius

David S. Ware Quartet
Rembrandt Pussyhorse cover

Rembrandt Pussyhorse

Butthole Surfers
Bitches Brew cover

Bitches Brew

Miles Davis
Last Exit cover

Last Exit

Last Exit
Elastic Wave cover

Elastic Wave

Gard Nilssen’s Acoustic Unity
The Quartet cover

The Quartet

George Coleman
Speaking in Tongues cover

Speaking in Tongues

David Murray, Fontella Bass