Ellington '55 Explained

Ellington '55
Type:	Album
Artist:	Duke Ellington
Cover:	Ellington '55.jpg
Released:	1955
Recorded:	Dec 21, 28 & 29, 1953 and January 1, 2 & 17, 1954
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Capitol
Chronology:	Duke Ellington
Prev Title:	The Duke Plays Ellington
Prev Year:	1953
Next Title:	Dance to the Duke!
Next Year:	1954

Ellington '55 is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Capitol label in 1953 and 1954 and released in 1955. The album features the Ellington Orchestra's performances of popular big band compositions and was reissued on CD with two bonus tracks in 1999.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Bruce Eder awarded the album 3 stars and stated: "The tunes represented on this album were precisely what the band was playing at its dance dates... and it was material like this that was keeping the band going, filling those dates. So it is hard to argue with the album's programming, which reflected the taste of the most visible part of Ellington's audience. Additionally, what's here is quite fine in the playing".

Track listing

All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated

1. "Rockin' in Rhythm" (Ellington, Harry Carney, Irving Mills) – 4:30
2. "Black and Tan Fantasy" (Ellington, James "Bubber" Miley) – 5:10
3. "Stompin' at the Savoy" (Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb) – 5:04
4. "In the Mood" (Joe Garland, Razaf) – 5:59
5. "One O'Clock Jump" (Count Basie, Eddie Durham) – 5:12
6. "Honeysuckle Rose" (Razaf, Fats Waller) – 4:17
7. "Happy Go Lucky Local" – 5:33
8. "Flying Home" (Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Eddie Delange) – 6:08
9. "Body and Soul" (Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green) – 4:47 Bonus track on CD reissue
10. "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" – 10:17 Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York on December 21, 1953 (tracks 6 & 8), December 28, 1953 (track 3), December 29, 1953 (track 2) and at Universal Studios, Chicago on January 1, 1954 (track 4), January 2, 1954 (track 5), January 17, 1954 (tracks 1 & 7), June 17, 1954 (track 10) and May 18, 1955 (track 9).

Personnel

• Duke Ellington – piano
• Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpet
• Alfred Cobbs (tracks 6 & 8), Quentin Jackson, George Jean (tracks 1–5 & 7), Britt Woodman – trombone
• John Sanders – valve trombone (tracks 9 & 10)
• Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
• Rick Henderson – alto saxophone
• Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
• Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
• Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Wendell Marshall – bass Dave Black – drums
• Jimmy Grissom – vocal (track 3)
• Billy Strayhorn – celeste (track 2)