Ellington Uptown

Ellington Uptown
Studio album by Duke Ellington
Released	1952
Recorded	December 7 & 11, 1951, February 29, June 30 & July 1, 1952 Bonus tracks December 24, 1947
Genre	Jazz
Label	Columbia
Duke Ellington chronology
Masterpieces by Ellington (1951) Ellington Uptown (1952) Premiered by Ellington (1953)

Ellington Uptown (also released as Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown) is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1951 & 1952.^[1] The album was re-released on CD in 2004 with additional tracks recorded in 1947 and originally released as the Liberian Suite.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Although some historians have characterized the early '50s as Duke Ellington's "off period" (due to the defection of alto star Johnny Hodges), in reality, his 1951-1952 orchestra could hold its own against his best. This set has many classic moments... One of the great Duke Ellington sets".^[2] Three factors stand out in the interpretation of Ellington's music on this album: Betty Roche's vocal on a multi movement version of "Take The 'A' Train," the addition of Louis Bellson on drums (Skin Deep), and the updating of old Ellington material that is made new and fresh.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

Track listing

:All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated

1. "Skin Deep" (Louis Bellson) - 6:49
2. "The Mooche" (Ellington, Irving Mills) - 6:36
3. "Take the "A" Train" (Billy Strayhorn) - 8:02
4. "A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)" - 13:48 Previously released on Ellington Uptown only
5. "Perdido" (Juan Tizol) - 8:25
6. "Controversial Suite Part 1: Before My Time" - 6:09 Previously released on Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown only
7. "Controversial Suite Part 2: Later" - 4:14 Previously released on Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown only
8. "The Liberian Suite: I Like the Sunrise" - 4:28 Bonus track on CD reissue
9. "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 1" - 4:50 Bonus track on CD reissue
10. "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 2" - 3:26 Bonus track on CD reissue
11. "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 3" - 3:45 Bonus track on CD reissue
12. "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 4" - 3:04 Bonus track on CD reissue
13. "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 5" - 5:08 Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded in New York on December 24, 1947 (tracks 8-13), December 7, 1951 (track 4), December 11, 1951 (tracks 6 & 7), June 30, 1952 (track 3), July 1, 1952 (tracks 2 & 5) and in Fresno, California on February 29, 1952 (track 1)

Personnel

• Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano
• Cat Anderson (tracks 1-3 & 5), Shorty Baker, Willie Cook (tracks 1-7), Shelton Hemphill (tracks 8-13), Al Killian (tracks 8-13), Clark Terry (tracks 1-7), Francis Williams (tracks 4 & 6-13) - trumpet
• Ray Nance - trumpet, violin
• Lawrence Brown (tacks 8-13), Quentin Jackson (tracks 1-7), Britt Woodman (tracks 1-7) - trombone
• Tyree Glenn (track 8-13) - trombone, vibraphone
• Claude Jones (tracks 8-13), Juan Tizol (tracks 1-7) - valve trombone
• Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Willie Smith (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 7), Johnny Hodges (track 3 & 8-7), Hilton Jefferson (tracks 1-3 & 5) - alto saxophone
• Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
• Paul Gonsalves (tracks 1-7), Al Sears (tracks 8-13) - tenor saxophone
• Harry Carney - baritone saxophone
• Fred Guy - guitar (tracks 8-13)
• Wendell Marshall (tracks 1-7), Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin (tracks 8-13) - bass
• Louis Bellson (tracks 1-7), Sonny Greer (tracks 8-13) - drums
• Betty Roche (track 3), Al Hibbler (track 8) - vocal

References

1. A Duke Ellington Panorama accessed May 24, 2010
2. Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed May 24, 2010
3. Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 69. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.