Welcome ( Register)
Putting the DEEP Back in DeepDiscount.com!

The Cosmic Scene: Duke Ellington's Spacemen

Duke Ellington - CD

The Cosmic Scene: Duke Ellington's Spacemen Duke Ellington CD
Zoom More Images
  • Artist: Duke Ellington
  • Format: CD
  • Year: 2007
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • UPC: 079892729924
  • Item Number: MOS272992
  • Release date: 11/20/2007
  • 1. Avalon
  • 2. Body and Soul
  • 3. Bass-Ment
  • 4. Early Autumn
  • 5. Jones
  • 6. Perdido
  • 7. St. Louis Blues
  • 8. Spacemen
  • 9. Midnight Sun
  • 10. Take the 'A' Train
  • 11. Body and Soul [Alternate Take][Previously Unreleased][Bonus Track]
  • 12. Jones [Alternate Take][Bonus Track]
List Price: $18.97
Price: $11.36
You Save: $7.61 (40%)
You Save: $7.61 (40%)
Free Shipping
on Orders Over $25
Unavailable

Sorry, this item is currently unavailable

Print Page

The Cosmic Scene: Duke Ellington's Spacemen by Duke Ellington on CD


Still riding the success of his triumphant concert at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, Duke Ellington in 1958 decided to reduce his touring orchestra to a nonet dubbed "the Spacemen," and recorded this lone project with them for the Columbia label, here reissued by Mosaic Singles and heard in stereo for the first time. Perhaps inspired by the first orbiting satellites, Ellington is not taking cues from George Russell or Sun Ra, whose extraterrestrial inspirations led them to even more progressive paths. This large ensemble is playing mostly standards, but the arrangements and solos carve an integrated yet elasticized concept that allows for a more expanded role for the ensemble's trombonists Quentin "Butter" Jackson, John Sanders, and Britt Woodman, and select soloists. One in the solo spotlight is Clark Terry on flugelhorn exclusively, putting his fabled trumpet aside. The classic material presented includes clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton's features "Avalon" and "Early Autumn," the slinky stripper pole blues version of "St. Louis Blues" with Ellington's piano taking the lead, and two versions of "Body & Soul," with tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves completely extrapolating and re-harmonizing the main take, while faithfully playing the original melody on the alternate selection. There's a modified "Perdido," an animated and perky "Midnight Sun" that deviates from any other slow and lugubrious version of the ballad, and two attempts of "Jones" -- the first a real good swinger, the second with a more unified horn chart accented by a New Orleans shuffle provided by drummer Sam Woodyard. There are two originals; the blues bass of Jimmy Woode and the 'bones with plentiful piano from Duke infusing "Bass-Ment," and one of the more delightful of all of Ellington's book, the poppin' and boppin' "Spacemen," a bright happy horn chart led by Terry that is one of the more distinctive Ellington numbers of this time period. Perhaps in many ways a neglected recording in the vast annals of Ellingtonia, fans will certainly welcome this long out of print re-addition to the master's CD discography. It comes highly recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi
  • Artist: Duke Ellington
  • Format: CD
  • Year: 2007
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • UPC: 079892729924
  • Item Number: MOS272992
  • Release date: 11/20/2007
  • Label: Mosaic Select
  • Genre: Jazz
  • Style: Mainstream Jazz

Click image to view larger

  • The Cosmic Scene: Duke Ellington's Spacemen Duke Ellington CD
The Cosmic Scene: Duke Ellington's Spacemen Duke Ellington CD