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
Ka cover

Ka

Excepter
Ask the Ages cover

Ask the Ages

Sonny Sharrock
Tenor Madness cover

Tenor Madness

Sonny Rollins
Weird Nightmare (Meditations On Mingus) cover

Weird Nightmare (Meditations On Mingus)

Various Artists, Hal Willner
Swirling cover

Swirling

Sun Ra Arkestra
Compassion cover

Compassion

Linda Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Vijay Iyer
Sahara cover

Sahara

McCoy Tyner
lena cover

lena

Anna Högberg Attack
1961 cover

1961

Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Steve Swallow
Halber Mensch cover

Halber Mensch

Einstürzende Neubauten