Search - Duke Ellington :: Verve Jazz Masters 4

Impeccable sample of the Duke

Rino Breebaart | Brisbane | 01/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album has some classic performances, some amazing writing from an amazing composer... I won't bring out the hyperboles when others have written with greater knowledge and style on the Duke, but I do want to focus on one of the exemplary tracks on the disc: 'Going Up', which is a real beauty, a shimmeringly clear classic of progressive jazz movement. From this tiny claw one could hypothetically infer the lion (that is the Duke). The recording has a great wide sound, simple stereo; great virtuoso flute riff-tripping and striding buoyant bass. The track has got it all, simple structure hiding a nicely complex call and response, subtle behind-the-scenes leadership with a dexterous piano lead: very active and involved (even by Duke's standards), very on top of it knowing everyone is "on", and almost every other solo ends on a refrain. Real working-band stuff, intimate yet professional. Great interplay with a slightly tensed-chorus and relaxed and loosed-up solos. And plenty of space in the middle of the mix to lend it all an air of clean abstraction - just the ride cymbal with the bass below it, and all them horns in wide stereo, an exercise in group swing genius.There is so much familiarity and bright ease in the whole movement that you get a taste of the power of the Duke at work."