Duke Ellington Blues In Orbit

180g Vinyl LP Pressed at Quality Record Pressings!
Remastered from the Original Analog Tapes by Bernie Grundman!
Duke Ellington did not refer to his music as jazz, but preferably as "American music". To this day, he is considered one of the most influential protagonists of the genre and this fame has only increased after his death. 13 Grammy Awards alone and admission to the French Legion of Honour speak for themselves. By the end of the 1950s, Ellington had long been a sought-after man with a tight schedule. For this reason, most of the songs on the album "Blues In Orbit", recorded between February 1958 and December 1959, were recorded during nighttime recordings.
The atmosphere was relaxed, more that of a jam than that of a formal studio appointment. Ellington's band presents itself in a relaxed way, moving between short arrangements, some of which were still worked on in the studio, and intensive free interpretations. Ellington was accompanied by Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Clark Terry, Jimmy Hamilton, Ray Nance and Russell Procope, among others.
It's tempting for Blues in Orbit to be overlooked when Duke Ellington's best albums are discussed, but truly it's an undisputed gem. There are 14 tracks, none of them is longer than 4:50 and it is all good stuff. There are some familiar favorites such as "In a Mellotone" and "C Jam Blues" as well as less often heard gems like "Blues in Blueprint and "Sweet and Pungent." It is also in stereo, and the arrangements are superb.
The featured performers include Ellington stalwarts Johnnie Hodges, Ray Nance, Harry Carney and Jimmy Hamilton, as well as the less familiar Booty Wood and Matthew Gee. Johnnie, in particular is well showcased here, taking the lead not only in slow pieces like "Brown Penny" and "Sentimental Lady", but also in the rousing, "Smada."
The full Analogue Productions reissue treatment is at work on this smashing LP - famed mastering engineer Bernie Grundman handled the remastering from the original analog tapes. The lacquers were plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, maker of the world's finest-sounding LPs. Lastly we've stashed each super-silent 180-gram disc in a premium Stoughton Printing gatefold jacket.
All of the takes were recorded during after midnight sessions recorded over two nights starting on December 2, 1959 in New York at Columbia Record's studio on East 30th Street. Each night Duke's late dinner arrived at 2 a.m. - a sizzling steak, a pot of coffee with lemons in it, portions of American cheese, and grapefruits. After dinner, and a breather for the band, the sessions finished around dawn in a swinging fashion.
If you're just getting into jazz, this album is highly recommended as a great way to initiate your collection. The sound is incredible, with packaging to match. Another audiophile home run.

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman, from the original master tapes
• Pressed & Plated at QRP
• "Old school" Stoughton tip-on jackets

Selections:

Side A
1. Three J's Blues
2. Smada
3. Pie Eye's Blues
4. Sweet and Pungent
5. C Jam Blues
Side B
1. In A Mellow Tone
2. Blues In Blueprint
3. The Swinger's Get The Blues Too
4. The Swinger's Jump
5. Blues In Orbit
6. Villes Ville Is The Place, Man