Acrobat Music

Rare Live Recordings 1952-53
Rare Live Recordings 1952-53

Duke Ellington
Styles: Jazz
Catalogue Number: ACTRCD9033
The recordings in this collection come from the Ackerman tapes, an archive held in Stanford University in California comprising ‘live’ jazz recordings, many previously unreleased. The recordings come from four separate ‘live’ performances by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, with three from Jan.-Apr. 1952, including a concert at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, which is previously unreleased in any form, apart from one track. The other two 1952 performances are from an unknown venue in the US North-west, along with one from The Armory, Yakima, Washington State on the Duke’s birthday 29th April. Several tracks from these 1952 performances have never been released, while the remainder have only ever been on vinyl. The 1953 recordings are from a dance date at McElroys Ballroom in Portland Oregon, a favourite gig of Ellington’s during his regular tours of the north-west around his birthday. In all, of the 45 tracks, 20 are previously unreleased, 15 have only appeared on vinyl, while the other 10 have been on various CDs, now generally unavailable, we believe. Some of the recordings include Ellington’s characteristic and entertaining links and introductions which add a unique flavour and atmosphere to the collection. It is a snapshot of a great orchestra under an iconic leader during a period when the big band market had been hit by post-war austerity and the emergence of bebop and R&B small groups, and one-night stands like these were its bread-and-butter work. We are sure that it will provide a welcome addition to the collections of Duke Ellington and big band enthusiasts.

Disk 1:
Track Title Artist
1 The Hawk Talks The Duke Ellington Orchestra
2 Frustration The Duke Ellington Orchestra
3 Sultry Serenade The Duke Ellington Orchestra
4 Sophisticated Lady The Duke Ellington Orchestra
5 Perdido The Duke Ellington Orchestra
6 I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good The Duke Ellington Orchestra
7 A Tone Parallel To Harlem The Duke Ellington Orchestra
8 Take the 'A' Train The Duke Ellington Orchestra
9 Medley: VIP's Boogie, Jam With Sam The Duke Ellington Orchestra
10 Monologue The Duke Ellington Orchestra
11 Blues At Sundown The Duke Ellington Orchestra
12 Skin Deep The Duke Ellington Orchestra
13 Medley: Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Mood Indigo, I'm Beginnin The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Disk 2:
Track Title Artist
1 Tulip or Turnip The Duke Ellington Orchestra
2 Basin Street Blues The Duke Ellington Orchestra
3 Primping At The Prom The Duke Ellington Orchestra
4 Johnny Come Lately The Duke Ellington Orchestra
5 Moonstone The Duke Ellington Orchestra
6 Time On My hands The Duke Ellington Orchestra
7 Margie The Duke Ellington Orchestra
8 Chelsea Bridge The Duke Ellington Orchestra
9 Midriff The Duke Ellington Orchestra
10 Phalanges The Duke Ellington Orchestra
11 VIP's Boogie The Duke Ellington Orchestra
12 Solitude The Duke Ellington Orchestra
13 Summertime The Duke Ellington Orchestra
14 My Little Brown Book The Duke Ellington Orchestra
15 Good Girl Blues The Duke Ellington Orchestra
16 The Hawk Talks The Duke Ellington Orchestra
17 Take the 'A' Train The Duke Ellington Orchestra
18 Happy Birthday To You The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Disk 3:
Track Title Artist
1 Ting-a-ling The Duke Ellington Orchestra
2 Sophisticated Lady The Duke Ellington Orchestra
3 C Jam Blues The Duke Ellington Orchestra
4 Passion Flower The Duke Ellington Orchestra
5 Happy Go Lucky Local The Duke Ellington Orchestra
6 Summertime The Duke Ellington Orchestra
7 Warm Valley The Duke Ellington Orchestra
8 Sultry Serenade The Duke Ellington Orchestra
9 Hi Ya Sue The Duke Ellington Orchestra
10 Sophisticated Lady The Duke Ellington Orchestra
11 Things Ain't What They used To Be The Duke Ellington Orchestra
12 The Hawk Talks The Duke Ellington Orchestra
13 C Jam Blues The Duke Ellington Orchestra
14 Tenderly The Duke Ellington Orchestra
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