CLEO LAINE with THE DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA — Solitude (1995) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Rather than being guests, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth have lent their names to the Duke Ellington Orchestra, giving them considerable control over the session; while Mercer Ellington is listed as leader, the conductor and principal arranger is Dankworth. One unfortunate result of this arrangement is that some of the offerings are "based on variations or adaptations" of the original Ellington and/or Billy Strayhorn compositions. Thus, "Chelsea Bridge" comes out "September Rain," and "Take the 'A' Train" is "Cleo's 'A' Train." Neither come off well -- and the latter title is presumptuous. "We're Rockin' in Rhythm" has its moments, especially Dankworth's clarinet solo in the style of Jimmy Hamilton. The best "variation" is "Love Call," based on "Creole Love Call." Laine's version in no way replaces the 1927 Adelaide Hall recording with Ellington, but her voice is well-suited to this early Duke classic. The dubbing of Ellington's piano on "Solitude" (through the wonders of technology) is just grotesque. Fortunately, Laine and Dankworth stick to the real thing for most of the cuts, putting their interpretative imprimatur on Ellington and/or Strayhorn masterpieces. Laine's reading of "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" is one the better renderings of this tune. She seems to have an affection for this song, having recorded it at least twice before. "All Too Soon," with Barry Lee Hall's trumpet and Shelley Paul's tenor playing behind Laine, is another highlight of this session. As long as Laine and Dankworth stick to the Ellington musical script, this album is a welcome addition to the "...With the Duke Ellington Orchestra" catalog. Dave Nathan

Tracklist :
1 Don't Get Around Much Anymore 5:12
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell 
2 Sophisticated Lady 5:52
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish 
3 I'm Beginning to See the Light 3:05
Duke Ellington / Don George / Johnny Hodges / Harry James 
4 All Too Soon 4:19
Duke Ellington / Carl Sigman 
5 Take My Loves 3:12
John Dankworth / Duke Ellington / William Shakespeare / Billy Strayhorn 
6 I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 6:14
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster 
7 Love Call 5:25
Duke Ellington / Lorraine Feather 
8 Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care to Know) 4:09
Mack David / Duke Ellington 
9 Solitude 4:21
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills 
Duke Ellington - Piano
10 Reflections 5:04
Duke Ellington / Milt Raskin 
11 We're Rockin' in Rhythm 3:18
Harry Carney / Duke Ellington / Lorraine Feather / Irving Mills 
12 Come Sunday 3:35
Duke Ellington 
13 September Rain 3:45
Lorraine Feather / Billy Strayhorn 
14 Cleo's 'A' Train (Incorporating "Take the 'A' Train") 6:38
John Dankworth / Cleo Laine / Billy Strayhorn 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Charlie Young, Patience Higgins (tracks: 1, 2, 4)
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Mark Gross (tracks: 3, 7, 9, 11, 14)
Baritone Saxophone – Jay Brandford (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14)
Bass – Hassan Ash-Shakur
Bass Trombone – Raymond Harris 
Clarinet – Charlie Young (tracks: 9, 14)
Conductor, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – John Dankworth
Directed By [Led By] – Mercer Ellington
Drums – Quinten "Rocky" White
Flugelhorn – Barry Lee Hall (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13)
Flute – Charlie Young (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 13), Jay Brandford (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 11), Shelley C. Paul (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 13)
Guitar – Stephen Fox (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14)
Piano – Duke Ellington (tracks: 9), Thomas "T.J." James
Tenor Saxophone – Shelley C. Paul
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Zane Paul Zacharoff (tracks: 9, 14)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Zane Zacharoff (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 11)
Trombone – Art Baron, Bradley Shigeta (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14), Gregory Royal (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14)
Trumpet – Barrie Lee Hall (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14), Barry Lee Hall (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13), John Longo (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14), Ron Tooley (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14), Tony Barrero (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 14)
Vocals – Cleo Laine 

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1217 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Eight of the selections on this interesting CD feature Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on pianos, with backup work by either Wendell Marshall or Joe Shulman on bass plus an unidentified drummer on a few numbers. Among the more notable selections are "Cotton Tail," "C Jam Blues," "Johnny Come Lately," and particularly a wild version of "Tonk." These performances are easily available on Prestige, while the other numbers have mostly been put out by Columbia. The latter's big-band selections include the initial studio recording of "The Tattooed Bride" and a lengthy exploration (utilizing Yvonne Lanauze's wordless vocals) of "Mood Indigo." This is rewarding music, but one might want to acquire these numbers through Prestige and Sony/Columbia instead, where they fit more into specific concepts. Scott Yanow  Tracklist + Credits :

CLARK TERRY - Duke With A Difference (1957-1990) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Trumpeter Clark Terry and some of the top Ellington sidemen of the period (trombonist Britt Woodman, altoist Johnny Hodges, tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, Tyree Glenn on vibes, bassist Jimmy Woode, and drummer Sam Woodyard) perform eight songs associated with Duke, but with fresh arrangements. There is plenty of solo space for Terry, Gonsalves, and Hodges, and the arrangements by Terry and Mercer Ellington cast a new light on some of the warhorses; highlights include "C Jam Blues," "Cotton Tail," "Mood Indigo," and "Come Sunday." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    C-Jam Blues    3:03
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington
2    In A Sentimental Mood    2:55
Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
3    Cottontail    6:54
Duke Ellington
4    Just Squeeze Me    6:15
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines / Fats Waller / Clarence Williams
5    Mood Indigo    6:55
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
6    Take The A Train    3:27
Billy Strayhorn
7    In A Mellotone    5:08
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler            
8    Come Sunday    3:32
Duke Ellington
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Arranged By – Clark Terry (tracks: 1, 3 to 7), Mercer Ellington (tracks: 2, 8)
Bass – Jimmy Woode
Celesta – Luther Henderson (tracks: 2)
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Piano – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 2, 8), Tyree Glenn (tracks: 1, 3 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Britt Woodman (tracks: 1, 3 to 7), Quentin Jackson (tracks: 2, 8)
Trumpet – Clark Terry
Vocals – Marian Bruce (tracks: 2)