SMITHSONIAN JAZZ MASTERWORKS ORCHESTRA

ELLINGTON MASTERWORKS

MCG Jazz Label

The great Duke Ellington composed and produced awesome and significant music across every phase of his more than five-decades on the jazz scene. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has prepared a program of his amazing compositions written between 1940 and 1968. They looked for music outside of the familiar.

This marks the 125^th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth.  They looked for character-driven pieces outside Ellington’s most frequently heard compositions, beginning with “The Flaming Sword.” It’s a tune based on the chord changes of “Panama” with the orchestra using shifting rhythms.

This is followed by “Tattooed Bride” that quickly becomes one of my favorites on this album with its dramatic introduction. Written in 1948, the melody has charisma, even though it only uses four notes. The bass drum of Ken Kimery pulses like a heartbeat throughout this arrangement, as the melody swings with happy energy.

The orchestra rejuvenates a tune Ellington wrote in 1968 called “Race,” the title referring to Edgar Degas’ painting of horse racing and not the Black experience. I expected it to be an energy driven arrangement. Instead, It’s a bluesy ballad. Originally written to feature the great Johnny Hodges, the orchestra features Steve Williams on alto saxophone.

This album offers a surprise package of Ellington compositions you may not have heard before, but no less fabulous than Satin Doll and other familiar songs. The orchestra brings fresh arrangements to old songs in a wonderful way.

MUSICIANS IN SMITHSONIAN JAZZ MASTERWORKS ORCHESTRA: Charlie Young, conductor/artistic director. RHYTHM SECTION: Tony Nalker, piano; Amy Shook, bass; Ken Kimery, drums/executive producer.  SAXOPHONE SECTION: Steve Williams, lead alto saxophone; Bill Mulligan, Scott Silbert, Luis Hernandez & Leigh Pilzer.  TRUMPET SECTIONS: Josh Kauffman, lead trumpet; Barbara Laronga, Ally Hany Albrecht, & Kenny Rittenhouse. TROMBONE SECTION: Jennifer Krupa, lead trombone. Matt Niess & Bill Holmes.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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