Essence Of Ellington: Live In Milano
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2012-12-08
Reviewed 2012-12-08
WILLIAM PARKER ORCHESTRA: Essence of Ellington
AUM Fidelity, 2012
AVANT-GARDE – The great improvising bassist leads an all-star big band through interpretations of Duke Ellington works and new pieces inspired by Ellington. Recorded at the premiere, live in Milan earlier this year. As you would expect, the results are loud, bold, raucous, very challenging… but also rich, earthy, and deeply soulful. Impressive!
Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 3, 4 Disc II – 1, 3, 4
DISC ONE
1. 3:12 – spoken introduction
2. 20:15 – scattered sax/drum intro; slips into brisk swing with wild sax solos and horn cacophony; opens to free improv in final third, abrupt end
3. 26:38 – abstract horn/piano; elastic reading of metaphysical poem; melody starts after 7:00; slow & gently warping w/big vocal, inside-out solos
4. 21:09 – fast swing: sax goes “out” in a mad squeal; trombone & bass burn; wild vocal ululation… this just keeps going and never lets up!
DISC TWO
1. 07:28 – ballad: solo piano intro; adds screaming alto sax & acrobatic vocal
2. 16:35 – repeated five-note riff builds into strong groove abstraction of “A Train”… damn! Eventually switches to an open clarinet/bass duet
3. 23:16 – very long alto sax intro (5 mins); then vibrant ensemble; bright solos jab and roll over heavy, chugging groove, expands in final 6 mins.
4. 14:13 – cool walking rhythm and great song-poem; the ending is just nuts!
[ Fo ] - 8 December 2012
AUM Fidelity, 2012
AVANT-GARDE – The great improvising bassist leads an all-star big band through interpretations of Duke Ellington works and new pieces inspired by Ellington. Recorded at the premiere, live in Milan earlier this year. As you would expect, the results are loud, bold, raucous, very challenging… but also rich, earthy, and deeply soulful. Impressive!
Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 3, 4 Disc II – 1, 3, 4
DISC ONE
1. 3:12 – spoken introduction
2. 20:15 – scattered sax/drum intro; slips into brisk swing with wild sax solos and horn cacophony; opens to free improv in final third, abrupt end
3. 26:38 – abstract horn/piano; elastic reading of metaphysical poem; melody starts after 7:00; slow & gently warping w/big vocal, inside-out solos
4. 21:09 – fast swing: sax goes “out” in a mad squeal; trombone & bass burn; wild vocal ululation… this just keeps going and never lets up!
DISC TWO
1. 07:28 – ballad: solo piano intro; adds screaming alto sax & acrobatic vocal
2. 16:35 – repeated five-note riff builds into strong groove abstraction of “A Train”… damn! Eventually switches to an open clarinet/bass duet
3. 23:16 – very long alto sax intro (5 mins); then vibrant ensemble; bright solos jab and roll over heavy, chugging groove, expands in final 6 mins.
4. 14:13 – cool walking rhythm and great song-poem; the ending is just nuts!
[ Fo ] - 8 December 2012
Recent airplay
Caravan
Some Songs Without Words — Aug 05, 2020
The Essence Of Ellington
No Cover, No Minimum — Mar 07, 2013
Essence Of A Train / Take The A Train / Ebony Interlude
Oh Messy Life — Feb 20, 2013
Caravan
Pumping Iron — Feb 05, 2013
The Essence Of Ellington
Music Casserole — Feb 02, 2013
In A Sentimental Mood
Rebop — Feb 01, 2013
Charting
2012-12-08 — 2013-02-10
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Feb 10 | 1 |
| Feb 3 | 2 |
| Jan 27 | 1 |
| Jan 13 | 1 |
| Dec 23 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Introduction | ||
| 2. | Portrait Of Louisiana | ||
| 3. | Essence Of Sophisticated Lady / Sophisticated Lady | ||
| 4. | Take The Coltrane | ||
| 5. | In A Sentimental Mood | ||
| 6. | Essence Of A Train / Take The A Train / Ebony Interlude | ||
| 7. | Caravan | ||
| 8. | The Essence Of Ellington |