Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. If You Can't Hold the Man You Love (Don't Cry When He's Gone)
2. Washington Wabble - Take 1
3. Washington Wabble - Take 2
4. Black and Tan Fantasy
5. Washington Wabble
6. Creole Love Call
7. Blues I Love to Sing - Take 1
8. Blues I Love to Sing - Take 2
9. Harlem River Quiver - Take 1
10. Harlem River Quiver - Take 2
11. Harlem River Quiver - Take 3
12. East St. Louis Toodle-o
13. Blue Bubbles - Take 1
14. Blue Bubbles - Take 2
15. Black Beauty
16. Solitude - Take 1
17. Got Everything But You
18. Santa Claus, Bring My Man Back to Me
19. I Done Caught You Blues
20. The Mooche

Disc 2:

1. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
2. No Papa No
3. No Papa No
4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
5. Bandanna Babies
6. Diga Diga Do
7. I Must Have That Man
8. St. Louis Blues - Take 1
9. St. Louis Blues - Take 2
10. St. Louis Blues - Take 3 (previously unreleased)
11. Flaming Youth - Take 1
12. Flaming Youth - Take 2
13. Saturday Night Function
14. High Life
15. Doin' the Voom Voom - Take 1 (previously unreleased)
16. Doin' the Voom Voom - Take 2
17. Japanese Dream
18. Harlemania
19. I Can't Give You Anything But Love [Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
20. No, Papa, No - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
21. No, Papa, No [Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
22. I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
23. Bandanna Babies - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
24. Diga Diga Doo - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
25. I Must Have That Man! - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
26. St. Louis Blues [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
27. St. Louis Blues [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
28. St. Louis Blues [Take 3][#] - Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
29. Flaming Youth [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
30. Flaming Youth [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
31. Saturday Night Function - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
32. High Life - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
33. Doin' the Voom Voom [Take 1][#] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
34. Doin' the Voom Voom [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
35. Japanese Dream - Duke Ellington
36. Harlemania - Duke Ellington

Disc 3:

1. The Dicty Glide - Take 1
2. The Dicty Glide - Take 2
3. Hot Feet
4. Sloppy Joe - Take 1
5. Sloppy Joe - Take 2
6. Stevedore Stomp
7. A Night at the Cotton Club, Part 1/Cotton Club Stomp/Misty Mornin'
8. A Night at the Cotton Club, Part 2/Goin' to Town/Untitled Interlude/Freeze and Melt
9. Cotton Club Stomp
10. Misty Mornin'
11. Arabian Lover
12. Saratoga Swing
13. Mississippi
14. The Duke Steps Out
15. Haunted Nights
16. Swanee Shuffle
17. Breakfast Dance
18. Jazz Lips
19. March of the Hoodlums
20. Dicty Glide [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
21. Dicty Glide [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
22. Hot Feet - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
23. Sloppy Joe [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
24. Sloppy Joe [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
25. Stevedore Stomp - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
26. Night at the Cotton Club, Pt 1/Cotton Club Stomp/Misty Mornin' - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Irving Mills
27. Cotton Club Stomp - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
28. Misty Mornin' - Duke Ellington
29. Arabian Lover - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
30. Saratoga Swing - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
31. Mississippi - Duke Ellington
32. Duke Steps Out - Duke Ellington
33. Haunted Nights - Duke Ellington
34. Swanee Shuffle - Duke Ellington
35. Breakfast Dance - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
36. Jazz Lips - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
37. March of the Hoodlums - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra

Disc 4:

1. Double Check Stomp
2. My Gal Is Good for Nothing But Love
3. I Was Made to Love You
4. Sweet Dreams Of Love - Take 1
5. Sweet Dreams of Love - Take 2
6. Jungle Nights in Harlem
7. Sweet Jazz o' Mine - Take 1
8. Sweet Jazz o' Mine - Take 2
9. Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie
10. Ring Dem Bells - Take 2
11. Ring Dem Bells - Take 3
12. Old Man Blues - Take 1
13. Old Man Blues - Take 2
14. Old Man Blues - Take 3
15. Three Little Words (previously unreleased)
16. Three Little Words
17. Ring Dem Bells
18. Old Man Blues - Take 4
19. Old Man Blues - Take 6
20. Hittin' the Bottle - Take 1
21. Hittin' the Bottle - Take 2
22. That Lindy Hop
23. Double Check Stomp - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
24. My Gal Is Good for Nothing But Love - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
25. I Was Made to Love You - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
26. Sweet Dreams of Love [Take 1] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
27. Sweet Dreams of Love [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
28. Jungle Nights in Harlem - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
29. Sweet Jazz O' Mine [Take 1] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
30. Sweet Jazz O' Mine [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
31. Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
32. Ring Dem Bells [Take 2][Alternate Take]
33. Ring Dem Bells [Take 3]
34. Old Man Blues [Take 1][Alternate Take]
35. Old Man Blues [Take 2][Alternate Take]
36. Old Man Blues [Take 3][Alternate Take]
37. Three Little Words [#]
38. Three Little Words
39. Ring Dem Bells
40. Old Man Blues [Take 4][Alternate Take]
41. Old Man Blues [Take 6]
42. Hittin' the Bottle [Take 1] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
43. Hittin' the Bottle [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
44. That Lindy Hop - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra

Disc 5:

1. You're Lucky to Me
2. Memories of You
3. Nine Little Miles from Ten-Ten-Tennessee - Take 1
4. Nine Little Miles from Ten-Ten-Tennessee - Take 2
5. I'm So in Love with You - Take 1 (previously unreleased)
6. I'm So in Love with You - Take 2
7. What Good Am I Without You?
8. Blue Again
9. When a Black Man's Blue
10. Mood Indigo
11. What Good Am I Without You?
12. When a Black Man's Blue
13. The River and Me
14. Keep a Song in Your Soul
15. Sam and Delilah
16. Rockin' in Rhythm - Take 1
17. Rockin' in Rhythm - Take 2
18. Creole Rhapsody, Part 1
19. Creole Rhapsody, Part 2
20. Creole Rhapsody, Part 2 - Take 2 (previously unreleased)
21. You're Lucky to Me - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
22. Memories of You - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
23. Nine Little Miles from Ten-Ten-Tennessee [Take 1] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
24. Nine Little Miles from Ten-Ten-Tennessee [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
25. I'm So in Love With You [Take 1][#] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
26. I'm So in Love With You [Take 2] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
27. What Good Am I Without You? [Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
28. Blue Again - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
29. When a Black Man's Blue [Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
30. Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
31. What Good Am I Without You? - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
32. When a Black Man's Blue - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
33. River and Me - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
34. Keep a Song in Your Soul - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
35. Sam and Delilah - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
36. Rockin' in Rhythm [Take 1] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
37. Rockin' in Rhythm [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
38. Creole Rhapsody, Pt. 1
39. Creole Rhapsody, Pt. 2 [Take 3]
40. Creole Rhapsody, Pt. 2 [Take 2][#]

Disc 6:

1. Limehouse Blues
2. Echoes of the Jungle
3. It's Glory
4. The Mystery Song
5. The Mystery Song
6. Mood Indigo/Hot and Bothered/Creole Love Call
7. Mood Indigo/Hot and Bothered/Creole Love Call (Stereo Version)
8. East St. Louis Toodle-O/Lots O' Fingers/Black and Tan Fantasy
9. Dinah
10. Bugle Call Rag
11. Maori
12. Rude Interlude - Take 1
13. Rude Interlude - Take 2
14. Dallas Doings - Take 1
15. Dallas Doings - Take 2
16. Limehouse Blues - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
17. Echoes of the Jungle - Duke Ellington & His Cotton Club Orchestra
18. It's Glory
19. Mystery Song
20. Mystery Song [Alternate Take]
21. Mood Indigo/Hot and Bothered/Creole Love Call
22. Mood Indigo/Hot and Bothered/Creole Love Call [Stereo Version]
23. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo/Lot O' Fingers/Black and Tan Fantasy [Stereo][
24. Dinah
25. Bugle Call Rag
26. Maori (A Samoan Dance)
27. Rude Interlude [Take 1]
28. Rude Interlude [Take 2][Alternate Take]
29. Dallas Doings [Take 1][Alternate Take]
30. Dallas Doings [Take 2]

Disc 7:

1. Dear Old Southland - Take 1
2. Dear Old Southland - Take 2
3. Daybreak Express - Take 1
4. Daybreak Express - Take 2
5. Delta Serenade - Take 1
6. Delta Serenade - Take 2
7. Stompy Jones
8. Solitude
9. Blue Feeling
10. Ebony Rhapsody
11. Cocktails for Two - Take 1
12. Cocktails for Two - Take 2
13. Live and Love Tonight
14. I Met My Waterloo
15. Troubled Waters - Take 1 (previously unreleased)
16. Troubled Waters - Take 2
17. My Old Flame
18. Dear Old Southland [Take 1]
19. Dear Old Southland [Take 2][Alternate Take]
20. Daybreak Express [Take 1]
21. Daybreak Express [Take 2][Alternate Take]
22. Delta Serenade [Take 1][Alternate Take]
23. Delta Serenade [Take 2]
24. Stompy Jones - Duke Ellington
25. Solitude
26. Blue Feeling
27. Ebony Rhapsody
28. Cocktails for Two [Take 1]
29. Cocktails for Two [Take 2][Alternate Take]
30. Live and Love Tonight
31. I Met My Waterloo
32. Troubled Waters [Take 1][#]
33. Troubled Waters [Take 2]
34. My Old Flame

Disc 8:

1. You, You Darlin'
2. Jack the Bear
3. Ko-Ko - Take 1
4. Ko-Ko - Take 2
5. Morning Glory
6. So Far, So Good
7. Conga Brava
8. Concerto for Cootie
9. Me and You
10. Bojangles
11. Cotton Tail
12. Never No Lament
13. Blue Goose
14. Dusk - Take 1
15. Dusk - Take 2
16. Bojangles
17. A Portrait of Bert Williams
18. Blue Goose
19. Harlem Air-Shaft
20. At a Dixie Roadside Diner
21. All Too Soon
22. Rumpus in Richmond
23. My Greatest Mistake
24. You, You Darlin'
25. Jack the Bear
26. Ko Ko [Take 1][Alternate Take]
27. Ko Ko [Take 2]
28. Morning Glory
29. So Far, So Good
30. Conga Brava
31. Concerto for Cootie
32. Me and You
33. Bojangles [Alternate Take]
34. Cotton Tail
35. Never No Lament (Don't Get Around Much Anymore)
36. Blue Goose
37. Dusk [Take 1]
38. Dusk [Take 2][Alternate Take]
39. Bojangles
40. Portrait of Bert Williams
41. Blue Goose
42. Harlem Air Shaft
43. At a Dixie Roadside Diner
44. All Too Soon
45. Rumpus in Richmond
46. My Greatest Mistake

Disc 9:

1. Sepia Panorama - Take 1
2. Sepia Panorama - Take 2
3. There Shall Be No Night
4. In a Mellotone
5. Five O'Clock Whistle
6. Warm Valley
7. Pitter Panther Patter - Take 1
8. Pitter Panther Patter - Take 2
9. Body and Soul - Take 1
10. Body and Soul - Take 2
11. Body and Soul - Take 3
12. Sophisticated Lady
13. Sophisticated Lady
14. Mr. J. B. Blues - Take 1
15. Mr. J. B. Blues - Take 2
16. The Flaming Sword - Take 1
17. The Flaming Sword - Take 2
18. The Flaming Sword - Take 3
19. Warm Valley - Take 2
20. Warm Valley - Take 3
21. Across the Track Blues
22. Across the Track Blues
23. Chloe (Song of the Swamp)
24. Sepia Panorama [Take 1]
25. Sepia Panorama [Take 2][Alternate Take]
26. There Shall Be No Night
27. In a Mellow Tone
28. Five O'Clock Whistle
29. Warm Valley
30. Pitter Panther Patter [Take 1] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
31. Pitter Panther Patter [Take 2] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
32. Body and Soul [Take 1] - Duke Ellington
33. Body and Soul [Take 2] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
34. Body and Soul [Take 3] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
35. Sophisticated Lady - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
36. Sophisticated Lady - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
37. Mr. J.B. Blues [Take 1] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
38. Mr. J.B. Blues [Take 2] - Jimmy Blanton, Duke Ellington
39. Flaming Sword [Take 1]
40. Flaming Sword [Take 2]
41. Flaming Sword [Take 3]
42. Warm Valley [Take 2]
43. Warm Valley [Take 3]
44. Across the Track Blues
45. Across the Track Blues
46. Chloe

Disc 10:

1. I Never Felt This Way Before - Take 1
2. I Never Felt This Way Before - Take 2
3. Day Dream
4. Good Queen Bess
5. Good Queen Bess
6. That's the Blues, Old Man
7. Junior Hop - Take 1
8. Junior Hop - Take 2
9. Without a Song - Take 1
10. Without a Song - Take 2
11. My Sunday Gal
12. Mobile Bay - Take 1
13. Mobile Bay - Take 2
14. Linger Awhile - Take 1
15. Linger Awhile - Take 2
16. Charlie the Chulo - Take 2
17. Charlie the Chulo
18. Charlie the Chulo - Take 1
19. Lament for Javanette
20. Lament for Javanette - Take 1a
21. A Lull at Dawn
22. A Lull at Dawn
23. A Lull at Dawn - Take 1a
24. Ready Eddy - Take 1
25. I Never Felt This Way Before [Take 1]
26. I Never Felt This Way Before [Take 2]
27. Day Dream - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
28. Good Queen Bess [Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
29. Good Queen Bess - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
30. That's the Blues, Old Man - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
31. Junior Hop [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
32. Junior Hop [Take 2] - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
33. Without a Song [Take 1] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
34. Without a Song [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
35. My Sunday Gal - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
36. Mobile Bay [Take 1] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
37. Mobile Bay [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
38. Linger Awhile [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
39. Linger Awhile [Take 2] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
40. Charlie the Chulo [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
41. Charlie the Chulo [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
42. Charlie the Chulo [Take 1] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
43. Lament for Javanette [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
44. Lament for Javanette [Take 1A] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
45. Lull at Dawn [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
46. Lull at Dawn [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
47. Lull at Dawn [Take 1A] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
48. Ready Eddy [Take 1] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington

Disc 11:

1. Ready Eddy
2. Ready Eddy
3. Ready Eddy - Take 2
4. The Sidewalks of New York
5. Flamingo
6. The Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You - Take 1
7. The Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You - Take 2
8. Take the "A" Train
9. Jumpin' Punkins - Take 1
10. Jumpin' Punkins - Take 2
11. John Hardy's Wife
12. Blue Serge
13. After All
14. Dear Old Southland - Take 1
15. Dear Old Southland - Take 2
16. Solitude - Take 1
17. Solitude - Take 2
18. Bakiff
19. Are You Sticking? - Take 1
20. Are You Sticking? - Take 2
21. Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
22. The Giddybug Gallop
23. Chocolate Shake
24. Ready Eddy [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
25. Ready Eddy [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
26. Ready Eddy [Take 2][Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
27. Sidewalks of New York
28. Flamingo
29. Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You [Take 1]
30. Girl in My Dreams Tries to Look Like You [Take 2][Alternate Take]
31. Take the "A" Train
32. Jumpin' Punkins [Take 1]
33. Jumpin' Punkins [Take 2]
34. John Hardy's Wife
35. Blue Serge
36. After All
37. Dear Old Southland [Take 1] - Duke Ellington
38. Dear Old Southland [Take 2] - Duke Ellington
39. Solitude [Take 1] - Duke Ellington
40. Solitude [Take 2] - Duke Ellington
41. Bakiff
42. Are You Sticking? [Take 1]
43. Are You Sticking? [Take 2][Alternate Take]
44. Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'
45. Giddybug Gallop
46. Chocolate Shake

Disc 12:

1. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Take 1
2. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) - Take 2
3. Clementine
4. The Brown-skin Gal (in the Calico Gown)
5. Jump for Joy - Take 1
6. Jump for Joy - Take 2
7. Moon Over Cuba
8. Some Saturday
9. Subtle Slough
10. Menelik - The Lion of Judah - Take 1
11. Menelik - The Lion of Judah - Take 2 (previously unreleased)
12. Poor Bubber
13. Squaty Roo
14. Passion Flower
15. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
16. Goin' Out the Back Way
17. Five O'Clock Drag
18. Rocks in My Bed
19. Bli-Blip
20. Chelsea Bridge
21. Brown Suede
22. Noir Bleu
23. "C" Blues
24. June
25. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) [Take 1]
26. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) [Take 2][Alternate Take]
27. Clementine
28. Brown-Skin Gal (In the Calico Gown) - Duke Ellington
29. Jump for Joy [Take 1]
30. Jump for Joy [Take 2]
31. Moon Over Cuba
32. Some Saturday - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
33. Subtle Slough - Duke Ellington
34. Menelik: The Lion of Judah [Take 1][Alternate Take] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
35. Menelik: The Lion of Judah [Take 2][#] - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
36. Poor Bubber - Duke Ellington, Rex Stewart & His Orchestra, Rex Stewart
37. Squatty Roo - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges
38. Passion Flower - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges
39. Things Ain't What They Used to Be - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges
40. Goin' Out the Back Way - Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges
41. Five O'Clock Drag
42. Rocks in My Bed
43. Bli-Blip
44. Chelsea Bridge [Alternate Take]
45. Brown Suede - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
46. Noir Bleu [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
47. C Jam Blues - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
48. June [Alternate Take] - Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington

Disc 13:

1. Raincheck
2. What Good Would It Do?
3. I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got - Take 1
4. I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got - Take 2 (previously unreleased)
5. Chelsea Bridge
6. Perdido - Take 1
7. Perdido - Take 2
8. The "C" Jam Blues
9. Moon Mist - Take 1
10. Moon Mist - Take 2
11. What Am I Here For?
12. I Don't Mind - Take 1 (previously unreleased)
13. I Don't Mind - Take 2
14. Someone
15. My Little Brown Book
16. Main Stem
17. Johnny Come Lately
18. Hayfoot, Strawfoot - Take 1
19. Hayfoot, Strawfoot - Take 2
20. Sentimental Lady - Take 1
21. Sentimental Lady - Take 2
22. A Slip of the Lip
23. Sherman Shuffle
24. Rain Check
25. What Good Would It Do?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #233821 in Music
• Released on: 1999-04-27
• Number of discs: 24
• Formats: Box set, Explicit Lyrics, Limited Edition

Amazon.com
Close your eyes, dip your hand into this treasure chest, and play any of the 462 tracks contained within: you are guaranteed to hear something magnificent. It may be a stunning composition, an innovative arrangement, or an astonishing improvisational passage, but the brilliance is there.

It is only fitting that the greatest figure in 20th-century popular music is the subject of this most wondrous box set. Across 24 discs, the majesty and unparalleled genius of Duke Ellington is on vivid display. Listening to the box from start to finish in chronological order, you discover a composer, bandleader, and pianist who consistently and daringly pushed his music ever forward. As fascinating as it is to hear his artistic progression as it unfolds, it is even more remarkable to digest these CDs out of order. During the course of 50 years, Ellington's creative wellspring gushed an amazing variety of music delivered in a multitude of different styles and settings; yet somehow, someway, it all sounds like Ellington. Whereas some artists find the blues idiom constricting, Duke saw it as a highly malleable and versatile foundation.

The first seven CDs chronicle the maestro's Cotton Club days and his theatrical, visceral "jungle music," which was created as part of the club's African-themed stage shows and "tribal" dances. Even at this early stage, Ellington showed a tremendous ability to create expressive moods and keen imagery through his compositions as well as an uncanny understanding of his players' strengths. Six discs are dedicated to the early 1940s, when tenor sax player Ben Webster and bassist Jimmy Blanton elevated the band to new heights. The next three CDs cover the mid-1940s, when the Duke began experimenting with longer pieces. Another combines mid-1940s all-star jams with a full 1952 Seattle concert. All three of Ellington's Sacred Concerts follow, a bold, pioneering fusion of jazz and church, complete with choir and dance, that used the language of music to eloquently sermonize on the subjects of personal freedom, spirituality, and communication with God. The collection wraps up with four discs' worth of late-period magic, including the exotic and dramatic Far East Suite and an homage to recently departed Billy Strayhorn.

This stunning package also serves as a tribute to all of the superior musicians that found a home in the Ellington Orchestra. Special mention must be made of altoist Johnny Hodges, who first recorded with Ellington in 1928 and stayed with him (except for a brief respite in the 1950s) until his death in 1970. Throughout, his sublime tone and fertile imagination epitomize the beauty, inventiveness, and dignity that is the essence of jazz. Also of note are the many superb compositions and arrangements from Strayhorn, who managed to carve a vital niche for himself while remaining true to the sound of Ellingtonia.

The accompanying 128-page full-color book overflows with wonderful photos and insightful essays that explore Ellington from every possible angle. The discographical information is delivered with excruciating detail and the package as a whole exudes love, devotion, and respect.

Somewhere deep inside the book, producer Orrin Keepnews writes, "When dealing with the music of Edward Kennedy Ellington, there is no excuse for stopping anywhere short of perfection." Mission accomplished. --Marc Greilsamer

(Casual listeners might prefer the single-CD sampler.)

From Jazziz
Images of trains are recurrent in Ellington's work. Ellington was said to have composed Daybreak Express by putting notes to paper as he bounced and swayed along in between stops in an effort to capture the rhythm of a train and its metallic variations of sound. To complete the image, the reed section produces a dead-on "train whistle" effect - no small feat. Soloists include alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges and trumpeters Cootie Williams and Louis Bacon.

--- JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

An outstanding set!
Congratulations are in order for producers Keepnews and Lasker, and for BMG. If only Sony would issue it's Ellington holdings (Columbia, Brunswick, Okeh, etc.) in such a comprehensive and intelligent fashion! The remastering is fantastic. The digital transfers are wonderfully clear and full-bodied (for a sample of other work by Steven Lasker check out reissues of Ellington's 1920s Brunswick recordings on the GRP/Decca Jazz label), and easily superior to any previous issues of these recordings. The music, whether from the 1920s, 30s, 40s or 60s is some of the best in the Ellington catalog. The annotations are meticulous and the 124 page book is beautifully illustrated.

REVISED - 2006 - O.K., I was a little excited when I wrote my earlier review. I still stand by everything I wrote, though with a few qualifications. First, the other reviewers here are correct about the packaging. I replaced the cardboard sleeves with jewel cases. Second, the content of the book is excellent. However, it is not bound well. I've been extremely careful with mine, but a few pages are coming loose. Third, I think the remastering on the first thirteen discs is excellent. I've been listening to 78-era recordings for many years. The background hiss is inevitable. To remove all of the hiss would leave a boxy and compressed sound, and that's as grating to me as the hiss seems to be for others. Unfortunately, I don't think discs 14 through 16 in this set meet the same high standards of the first thirteen. To my ears, they have some of that dreadful compressed quality. They are much better than previous issues, but not as good as the first thirteen discs (a different engineer performed the CEDAR noise reduction on discs 14-16). Finally, discs 17 through 24 are a mixed bag. Some of the music is not as essential as the earlier material (e.g. the Tanglewood concert). Also, the remastering on the last four discs is a little thin and abrasive (compare to the excellent work on the "Far East Suite" portion of the set - again, a different engineer is at work here).

That said, I do not regret buying this set. I bought it mainly for the first sixteen discs (though the Far East Suite and Strayhorn tribute are highlights of Ellington's late period). The music is always more important to me than the packaging, and for the most part the sound is stunning.

A stunning tribute to the man and his music.
Very few mammoth box sets are worth the money, simply because very few artists are worth the attention. Duke Ellington's music is dirt-cheap even at these prices. These recordings are, of course, part of our everyday musical language -- but in RCA's remastered sound, it's like meeting old friends for the first time. Ellington's practical knowledge of recording technology and techniques was ahead of its time, and RCA-Victor always had the best recording engineers and equipment. Even the earliest recordings are amazing for the brightness of their treble and the heft in their bass register. No longer do you feel as though you're listening to the Blanton-Webster band through a wall of mud -- this music comes across as fresh and newly-minted as the day it was played.

BMG's oversized accompanying book is a virtual Ellington encyclopedia, with complete track-by-track information down to the approximate times of day the sides were recorded and lists of soloists. An essential document which one hopes will be eventually reprinted in a more "user friendly" size for those who like to flip for information while they listen.

Of course, no one need talk much about the music itself. Suffice to say it is among the best the 20th century had to offer, and will still have a lot to say to us in the 21st. Few bands played such divine compositions with as much sophistication, creativity, emotion, and sheer unbridled energy as Ellington's band.

All in all, a stunning tribute to a man whose Pulitzer Prize came over a quarter of a century too late. Fortunately the music, thanks to BMG's labor of love (and, admittedly, commerce), is the only prize that really matters. Thank you, BMG, and thank you, Mr. Ellington!

Unparalleled music - cheap packaging
You can't go wrong with the man who was truly 'Beyond Category' - the greatest musician in American history, and, very likely, the greatest artist in American history -period - the great Duke Ellington.

RCA got a lot right with this set: the music - all 24 cds worth - is amazing, the remastering of the recordings from the 30s and40s is astonishing, and the lavishly illustrated booklet provides a comprehensive overview of the Duke's career.

The one thing that RCA got wrong, however, was the packaging of the individual cds. Each disc is enclosed in a cheap, flimsy, cardboard sleeve instead of in a jewel box. You can't get a disc out of its cardboard prison without reaching in and getting your fingerprints all over it . You can't store your new Ellington cds with the rest of your collection, because the sleeves won't fit in your cd shelf, nor will they stand up straight like a jewel box will. Even if you do stack them at the end of your row of normal cds, you still have to sort through them to find the disc you want, because you can't read the spine like you can on a normal jewel box. If you are spending this kind of money to buy a box set, I suspect that your interest in the Duke will last for a lifetime. I guarantee that the cheap cardboard sleeves in this set won't. If you are spending this kind of money to buy a box set, you shouldn't have to buy 24 empty jewel boxes to preserve your investment. That's what I plan to do, however. I suspect that many others will do the same.