Ellington '66 Explained

Ellington '66
Type:	studio
Artist:	Duke Ellington
Cover:	Ellington '66.jpg
Released:	1965
Recorded:	January 19 & 21, 1965
Studio:	Fine Studios, New York City
Genre:	Jazz, big band
Label:	Reprise
Chronology:	Duke Ellington
Prev Title:	Joya Sherrill Sings Duke
Prev Year:	1965
Next Title:	Concert in the Virgin Islands
Next Year:	1965

Ellington '66 is an album by American pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington that was recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1965.^[1] The album won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Large Group or Soloist with Large Group.^[2]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Matt Collar awarded the album 3½ stars and stated "Ellington '66 is yet another example of how the change in popular music toward an all rock & roll format found jazz musicians attempting crossover material with varying degrees of success... While Ellington '66 isn't a bad recording and actually bests '65 for sheer listening pleasure, it is by no means required listening and will most likely appeal to die-hard Ellington completists".^[3]

Track listing

1. "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett) – 3:40
2. "Charade" (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) – 2:40
3. "People" (Jule Styne, Bob Merrill) – 3:22
4. "All My Loving" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:26
5. "A Beautiful Friendship" (Donald Kahn, Stanley Styne) – 2:47
6. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Lennon, McCartney) – 2:04
7. "Days of Wine and Roses" (Mancini, Mercer) – 3:23
8. "I Can't Stop Loving You" (Don Gibson) – 3:57
9. "The Good Life" (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) – 3:16
10. "Satin Doll" (Ellington, Mercer, Billy Strayhorn) – 2:31
11. "Moon River" (Mancini, Mercer) – 2:42
12. "Ellington '66" (Ellington) – 2:34

Personnel

• Duke Ellington – piano
• Cat Anderson, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams – trumpet
• Rolf Ericson – trumpet (tracks 2, 3, 8 & 9)
• Ray Nance – trumpet (tracks 1, 4–7 & 10–12)
• Mercer Ellington – trumpet (tracks 4, 7, 10 & 11)
• Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper – trombone
• Chuck Connors – bass trombone
• Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
• Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
• Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney – tenor saxophone
• Peck Morrison – double bass (tracks 2, 3, 8 & 9)
• John Lamb – bass (tracks 1, 4–7 & 10–12)
• Sam Woodyard – drums

Notes and References

1. http://www.depanorama.net/index.htm A Duke Ellington Panorama
2. http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=Duke+Ellington&x=8&y=6 Grammy Awards Database
3. Collar, M. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r732218|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review] accessed May 10, 2010