Rare Live Recordings 1952 - 53

This is a 2013 Acrobat records release consisting of three CDs containing 45 live concert tracks. The music was recorded in four separate venues between Jan. 1952 through April 1953. The music's recording source is the legendary Ackerman tapes currently stored at Stanford University. Twenty tracks are previously unreleased and fifteen tracks have been previously available on vinyl only. The remaining material has been included on various compilation releases. The audio quality is surprising sharp. It seems the band was adequately recorded to take full advantage of the entire orchestra sound. There's audience applause between numbers but no audience noise distractions are apparent. Certainly, the excellent effort by Dave Radlauer in transferring the original tapes to a digital media has added to the audio quality.The early fifties proved challenging for the Ellington organization. The sun had set on big band popularity. Individual singers were the popular fashion and it was these artists who dominated the best seller charts and in turn, were headlining sellout performances.Duke Ellington's orchestra was experiencing just the opposite. TV and radio appearance had dried up, record sales were dismal and the big concert venues were few and far between. Duke could have chosen to fold the band and create a smaller musical entity. He also could have opted to strictly concentrate on composing. His soundtrack work was in high demand for films and TV productions.However, Duke appreciated the value of performing his work through an orchestra format. He also respected and appreciated the individual artists who were members of his band. No one could interpret his material better then these legendary musicians and Duke was determined to keep the group working.This commitment was fulfilled by endless dates of venues consisting primarily of auditoriums, clubs, dance halls and ballrooms. The material contained within this box set is drawn from these locations. It should be noted that several of his key artists departed from the band within a year of these recordings. These performers included Louie Bellson, Betty Roche, Jaun Tizol and Willie Smith.One could argue that Dukes tenacity in keeping the band active throughout the first half of the fifties paid a major dividend by 1956. Their performance chops, highly polished throughout this period, culminated in the breakthrough 1956 Newport jazz concert. That show and the related concert album put Duke back in the major league of music for the remainder of his career.The music contained on these three CDs is some of the best live Ellington material captured on tape. Louie Belson contributes several originals including,"Ting a Ling". "Phalanges"," The Hawk Talks' and "Skin Deep". His drum solos, particularly on "Skin Deep" is remarkable.Billy Strayhorn compositions are well represented and meticulously played. These numbers include "Johnny Come Lately", "Chelsea Bridge", "Midriff", "Passion Flower" and, of coarse, "Take The A Train".Jim Garrison, a talented but somewhat under appreciated blues singer, provides some soulful vocals including "Solitude", " Summertime"," Strayhorn's"My Little Brown Book" and a belting R&B version of Ellington's "Good Girl Blues".Duke leaves plenty of room to feature his most popular musicians. Ray Nance brings the house down with his vocal on "Basin Street Blues". His violin solos are also captured on" Sophisticated Lady" and"C Jam Blues". Paul Gonsalves, Cat Anderson, Harry Carney and Clark Terry, among others, are left plenty of space to offer their winning solos.Last but not least, is the Duke himself. He can be heard throughout introducing the songs and offering generous praise for all his performing artists. His humor is infectious and his keyboard playing is flawless.The enclosed fourteen page booklet, authored by Paul Watts, captures the background of each of the ballroom concerts and provides detailed listings of each play list and performer.This box set is highly recommended to all Ellington fans.

First of all, please ignore the review that says the liner notes are wrong. One reading would show you that while the notes aren't written by a prose stylist, they are very detailed and well researched. The idea that the first disc was really recorded not at the Metropolitan Opera House but at Carnegie Hall is ludicrous. One search on Google will show Duke played the Opera House in 1951 and 52, the latter year's performance being the recording here. The Opera House material comprises the first CD here, and while it is fairly solid set (though not as strong as the Carnegie shows of the '40s) the very very weak recording level diminishes its appeal. It sounds at times like there was one mike, so the orchestra is 1/3 the volume of the lead horn. The rest of the 3 disc set is better recorded. The best of it can be heard on the "Happy Birthday Duke" CDs recorded in the early 50s. on the west coast. I think the early '50s period of Duke's music is under-rated. (It's when the orchestra didn't have Johnny Hodges.) But a better live version of the '50s gang (with Louie Bellson on drums) is the Crystall Gardens double CD, a truly exciting night. The price is right for this triple-CD set, but not top-flight Duke. Little of the 3 disc-set has a sound quality that is even up to radio-broadcast standards. Some great reeds and horn work, though.

Great recordings from a great Ellington era; the early 1950's. Often overlooked compared to the 30's and 40's of the Ellington reign. The commercial recordings of this time were were for Columbia Records and the small group recordings for the Mercer label.But this 3 disc set has many errors in the liner notes. If they had checked with the Ellington authority; Ellingtonia: The Recorded Music of Duke Ellington by W.E. Timner they would see that the correct location for the 1/5/1952 recordings is Carnegie Hall not the Metropolitan Opera, as listed in these notes. It figures because Duke did an annual concert at Carnegie Hall each year in January from 1943 onwards. He was the only recording artist to do an annual concert there. Plus the liner notes to this Acrobat set show a picture of Carnegie Hall not the Metro. The Metro is a good is a good 7 blocks north of Carnegie Hall.Ellington fans (everyone on planet Earth?) get the Timner book!

The music is very good, but very poor recording equipment was used at each of the live performances. I don't think there was a plan to release the recordings. Duke Ellington would have never approved of the poor recording quality. You have to consistently adjust the volume setting, and turn the treble "off". It hurts the ear drums.

the period when i first saw the band live, i later (1961 to 64) photographed the band

What a bargin! This two CD set provides a great selection of live recordings of the Ellington orchestra. Lots of commentary and introductions, great solos by many of the members of the orchestra. The acoustics vary but over all the collection is worth the bargin price. Any fan and collector of Ellington will enjoy this collection.

definitely one for the completist" nothing new about the music but these are rare concert recordings from the San francisco jazz society. the sound s a little harsh espesially with the trumpet section...

A Very Welcome CD addition to Duke Ellington Collectors highly recomended

Wonderful but take the heading into consideration.Some marvelous performances as to be expected even those that are less than great are still better than almost anything else from other players of that era or much later.