Austin Lindy Hop
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Austin Lindy Hop
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Duke Ellington: Historically Speaking(Bethelehem/Rhino1956/2001)
I came across this album as a part of my search for hi-fi versions of two of my favorite Ellington tunes: "Jack the Bear" and "Ko-Ko." Both songs have similar dissonant harmonies that oddly complimented the rhythm and melodies to make phenomenal songs, as only Ellington and Strayhorn seemed to be able to do. (Our Lindy I students will recognize "Jack the Bear" as the final, ultimate tune that brings together many different aspects of Swing music theory we discuss in our wrap-up musicality lesson.) The 1942 lo-fi recordings of both songs appear on the Blanton-Webster Era 3-CD set, as well as other compilations. Although Ellington re-recorded several versions of "A-Train," "Mellow Tone," and other standards from the Blanton-Webster era, no such updates on Jack the Bear existed. I gave up my search in 2000. Rayned Wiles (from D.C.) recently told me about this 2001 release of the 1956 "Historically Speaking" album, featuring hi-fi versions of both these songs. The tale has a bittersweet ending, because the recordings of "Jack" and "Ko-Ko" are rather sub-par, especially when compared to the originals. The drumline on "Jack" sets up a choppy rhythm with a distractingly syncopated emphasis on the high-hat, and Jimmy Woode on bass seems to be trying too hard in the virtually-impossible (and thankless) task of improving on Jimmy Blanton's original bass solos. They also needlessly stepped-up the tempo of Ko-Ko quite a bit, which would not be objectionable if it did not interfere with if not completely eliminate the natural, mid-tempo complexities and subtleties that make the original version of Ko-Ko so fabulous. However, several other recordings on this album more than justified this purchase. The versions of "Stompy Jones" and "This Jeep Is Jumpin'" are absolutely inspiring. The sound quality is as good as it gets for mid-50s recording. The clarity and depth of the sound production even puts to shame many big-band recordings from the 90s and 00s. It also features several stellar musicians in the back-up band, including Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, and Ray Nance on trumpet, Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonsalves on sax.
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