Artist: Duke Ellington
Album: Duke Ellington Presents…
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: 1956/2014
Audio Format:: FLAC (tracks) 24 bit, 96 kHz
Duration: 42:59
Total Tracks: 11
Total Size: 615 MB

Tracklist:

01. Duke Ellington – Summertime (02:12)
02. Duke Ellington – Laura (04:12)
03. Duke Ellington – I Can’t Get Started (04:26)
04. Duke Ellington – My Funny Valentine (04:50)
05. Duke Ellington – Everything But You (02:59)
06. Duke Ellington – Frustration (03:51)
07. Duke Ellington – Cotton Tail (02:54)
08. Duke Ellington – Day Dream (03:41)
09. Duke Ellington – Deep Purple (03:39)
10. Duke Ellington – Indian Summer (03:03)
11. Duke Ellington – Blues (07:08)

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Duke Ellington And His Orchestra recorded this album in Chicago, IL on 7 & 8 February 1956 for the Bethlehem label. Ray Nance has vocals on I Can’t Get Started, Jimmy Grissom sings on Everything But You. The Polydor reissues have slightly more adventurous titles, as well as the track listing changed. At the same session, the orchestra recorded another 12 tracks, released as “Historically Speaking – The Duke.”

This unusual set only has four Duke Ellington compositions among the 11 songs. He features a different soloist on most of the songs (which include seven standards not associated with Ellington’s music). There are showcases for trumpeter Cat Anderson, Ray Nance (who sings and plays violin on “I Can’t Get Started”), singer Jimmy Grissom, baritonist Harry Carney, and the altos of Johnny Hodges and Russell Procope, as well as two apiece for clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton and tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves. The closing “Blues” gives many of the players an additional opportunity to be heard. Although this set is not essential, the music is quite enjoyable and it is interesting to hear Duke Ellington playing such tunes as “Laura,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Indian Summer.” –AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow