Duke Ellington - Live at the Cave

Duke Ellington – Live at the Cave

$7.00 – $8.00

It is 1969, and the great pianist/composer Duke Ellington was on one of his many arduous European tours. However for the first time we are afforded a snapshot of one of his most intimate club performances ever recorded. The place is Cabaret L’Alcazar in Paris, France, and Ellington and his “instrument”, the Famous Orchestra are in rare form, bringing forth a funky, soulful energy sparked of course by his assistant arranger at the time, Hammond Organ pioneer Wild Bill Davis. The great Johnny Hodges, still within a year of his life’s ending, is playing excellently still, showing no signs of slowing down here. The famous celebrity Maurice Chevalier was in the house, even gifting the Duke one of his famous hats. It’s a party atmosphere entirely but the music is as consistent and swinging as ever. Luminaries such as Hodges, Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, and Lawrence Brown are all cooking here. This is truly a night to remember, and needs to be heard by Ellington aficionados and music lovers alike.

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Back in 1970, Duke Ellington was at the threshold of a new sound. Yet again like so many times before, he was to take in his surroundings, musically and otherwise, and bring forth a new style for his musical instrument, his Famous Orchestra. Billy Strayhorn, his writing and arranging companion was now dead, and the bulk of the writing was once again falling on Ellington’s shoulders. Hammond Organ pioneer Wild Bill Davis took up some of the slack, as he became Duke’s assistant arranger, but Ellington seems to know at this point, that pushing his own limits was needed. This outing documents the final days of star saxophonist Johnny Hodges. The setting is the Cave Theatre Restaurant in Vancouver, B.C. in Canada, and the feeling is warm and intimate, but there is a decided edge to the feel of the music. Something is about to happen creatively and it can be felt. The near future would hold several extended Suites, a Ballet, an Opera, and various “rock and roll” music Ellington was about to experiment with, all within what would be the last 3 and a half years of his life. The Hammond Organ of Wild Bill Davis is present, the exotic power of drummer Rufus Jones is making a mark, and Ellington is about to bring us on his final journey through “The Jungle” once again.

Personnel trumpet: Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Fred Stone, Al Rubin trombones: Booty Wood, Chuck Connors, Julian Priester saxophones: Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Norris Turney, Harold Ashby, Harry Carney piano: Duke Ellington organ: Wild Bill Davis bass: Joe Benjamin drums: Rufus Jones vocals: Toney Watkins

Recorded Live at The Cave Theatre Restaurant April 2, 1970, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
1. C-Jam Blues

2. Kinda Dukish / Rockin in Rhythm (incomplete)

3. 4:30 Blues

4. Fife

5. Black Power

6. Take the “A” Train

7. Up Jump

8. Birth of the Blues

9. Passion Flower

10. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

11. Come off the Veldt (Drum Solo)

12. Medley: (Fanfare, Don’t You Know I Care, In a Sentimental Mood, Prelude to a Kiss)

13. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me

14. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

15. Mood Indigo

16. I’m Beginning to See the Light

17. It Don’t Mean a Thing

18. I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good

19. Be Cool

20. Sophisticated Lady

21. Caravan

22. Happy Birthday

23. Take the “A” Train

24. I Can’t Get Started

25. Stone Soul Jones

26. April in Paris

27. Come off the Veldt (Drum Solo)

Weight .25 oz
Dimensions 5 × 6 × .5 in
Media Type

mp3, CD

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