Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session

by Svend Asmussen, Duke Ellington, Stephane Grappelli

Overview

This small group session was recorded in 1963 for Atlantic, and originally issued in 1976, two years after Duke Ellington's death. It showcases a small group that features string players in the front line. Ray Nance, the Duke's own violinist, is here as is the legendary Stephane Grappelli and violist Svend Asmussen. The rest of the players include tenor man Paul Gonsalves, drummer Sam Woodyard, bassist Ernie Shepard, alto saxist Russell Procope, and trombonist Buster Cooper. Ellington plays piano no all but two tunes where Billy Strayhorn replaced him. The program is a collection of Ellington and Strayhorn standards from "Blues in C" and "Take the 'A' Train," to "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Cotton Tail," and the wonderful "Limbo Jazz." The soloist and group interplay are gentle, swinging, and utterly and completely graceful and elegant. There is a lighthearted tenderness in this set that borders on sentimentality without ever going there. And the feeling is loose, relaxed, and full of warmth throughout. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	09/03/2021
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140168824
Rank:	42212

Tracks

1. Take the "A" Train
2. In a Sentimental Mood
3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
4. Day Dream
5. Cotton Tail
6. Pretty Little One
7. Tricky's Licks
8. Blues in C
9. String Along With Strings
10. Limbo Jazz
11. The Feeling of Jazz

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duke Ellington   Primary Artist,Piano
Svend Asmussen   Primary Artist,Violin,Viola
Stephane Grappelli   Primary Artist,Violin
Russell Procope   Saxophone,Sax (Alto)
Sam Woodyard   Drums
Billy Strayhorn   Piano
Ray Nance   Violin
Ernie Shepard   Bass
Buster Cooper   Trombone
Paul Gonsalves   Sax (Tenor)

Technical Credits

Bobby Troup   Composer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Manny Kurtz   Composer
George T. Simon   Composer
Stanley Dance   Liner Notes
Duke Ellington   Producer,Composer
Irving Mills   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer