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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
As a composer and bandleader associated indelibly with the nightclub scenes of pre-Swing Era jazz, Duke Ellington would have a difficult time getting respect in the button-down world of concert music. And when Ellington premiered his first long- form piece, Black, Brown and Beige, in 1943 (available on the stunning Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943), he was considered a dilettante. He laid the work aside until this recording, which came in early 1958--with the added oomph of gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson on board for all the suite's vocal parts. On this expanded reissue, there's an alternate take of the entire piece as well as two unrelated tracks recorded during the Black, Brown sessions but never before released. The suite is an expansive look, from Ellington's vantage, of course, at the evolution of African American history and culture. So there are ripples of spirited tone poetry, soaring gospel vocals from Jackson (with spare, aching piano from Ellington in spots), thundering horn-fronted swing from the band, and a consistency and unity on par with any symphonic work of the modern era. Ellington was always sensitive about this piece. After all, it showed a lot of what he held in high esteem: history, musical meditations on culture, and a full, colourful use of a band that Ellington held together for an amazingly long time. If only for Mahalia Jackson's takes on "Come Sunday", by now an acknowledged standard, this set is awesome. --Andrew Bartlett
Product Description
Cd > Popular Music > JazzCD > POPULAR MUSIC > JAZZ
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Mahalia, generally speaking DIDN'T record (or sing for that matter) jazz, soul, r&b and other genres;
but she had a high opinion of Duke's work and Duke's orchestra (not a huge surprise there) and he did give her a role that goes well with her religious convictions: she was to sing the religious segment of the African American historical experience... Something she was famous for...
So, this is not a typical Ellington orchestra album, but it's a great album nevertheless, with LOVELY and emotional contributions by Ray Nance, Harry Carney, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson, Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (...) and the Duke himself.
Additional tracks (two of which I already have on "Blues in Orbit" album - Duke Ellington: Blues in Orbit (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces))
are welcome even if they sometimes dilute the sheer beauty of the core performances of the album, the selected parts from "Black, Brown and Beige" suite. For me, Ellington's music shows continuous development from the late 1920s until the 1960s (I haven't yet listened to the last few years of his orchestrations) so, this peculiar album is something that will repeatedly find its way to my CD player.
but she had a high opinion of Duke's work and Duke's orchestra (not a huge surprise there) and he did give her a role that goes well with her religious convictions: she was to sing the religious segment of the African American historical experience... Something she was famous for...
So, this is not a typical Ellington orchestra album, but it's a great album nevertheless, with LOVELY and emotional contributions by Ray Nance, Harry Carney, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson, Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (...) and the Duke himself.
Additional tracks (two of which I already have on "Blues in Orbit" album - Duke Ellington: Blues in Orbit (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces))
are welcome even if they sometimes dilute the sheer beauty of the core performances of the album, the selected parts from "Black, Brown and Beige" suite. For me, Ellington's music shows continuous development from the late 1920s until the 1960s (I haven't yet listened to the last few years of his orchestrations) so, this peculiar album is something that will repeatedly find its way to my CD player.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Superlative! Duke Ellingtons work is never less than magnificent. this CD is the equal of any of his other work, giving pure spine tingling enjoyment however many times it is played.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Lovely, lovely, lovely!
4 Nov 2009
Format:Audio CD
Mahalia, generally speaking DIDN'T record (or sing for that matter) jazz, soul, r&b and other genres;
but she had a high opinion of Duke's work and Duke's orchestra (not a huge surprise there) and he did give her a role that goes well with her religious convictions: she was to sing the religious segment of the African American historical experience... Something she was famous for...
So, this is not a typical Ellington orchestra album, but it's a great album nevertheless, with LOVELY and emotional contributions by Ray Nance, Harry Carney, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson, Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (...) and the Duke himself.
Additional tracks (two of which I already have on my CBS Jazz Masterpieces "Blues in Orbit" CD - Duke Ellington: Blues in Orbit (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces))
are very, very welcome, even if they sometimes dilute the sheer beauty of the core performances of the album, the selected parts from "Black, Brown and Beige" suite. For me, Ellington's music shows continuous development from the late 1920s until the 1960s (I haven't yet listened to the last few years of his orchestrations) so, this peculiar album is something that will repeatedly find its way to my CD player.
but she had a high opinion of Duke's work and Duke's orchestra (not a huge surprise there) and he did give her a role that goes well with her religious convictions: she was to sing the religious segment of the African American historical experience... Something she was famous for...
So, this is not a typical Ellington orchestra album, but it's a great album nevertheless, with LOVELY and emotional contributions by Ray Nance, Harry Carney, John Sanders, Quentin Jackson, Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (...) and the Duke himself.
Additional tracks (two of which I already have on my CBS Jazz Masterpieces "Blues in Orbit" CD - Duke Ellington: Blues in Orbit (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces))
are very, very welcome, even if they sometimes dilute the sheer beauty of the core performances of the album, the selected parts from "Black, Brown and Beige" suite. For me, Ellington's music shows continuous development from the late 1920s until the 1960s (I haven't yet listened to the last few years of his orchestrations) so, this peculiar album is something that will repeatedly find its way to my CD player.
Excellent Ellington CD
29 April 2012
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Black, Brown And Beige
this Cd, featuring Mahalia Jackson, is a must-have in any jazz or Ellington collection. I'm partial to Ellington's sacred works and this one's a winner.
this Cd, featuring Mahalia Jackson, is a must-have in any jazz or Ellington collection. I'm partial to Ellington's sacred works and this one's a winner.
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