CD REVIEW

ARTIST: DUKE ELLINGTON LEGACYTITLE: SINGLE PETAL OF A ROSELABEL: RENMA 6403

TUNES: Dedication by Norman Simmons / Single Petal Of A Rose / Happy Go Lucky Local / In My Solitude / Johnny Come Latel y / Home Grown / Blood Count / In A Mellow Tone / Upper Manhattan Medical Group / Squeeze Me / Lush Life / After Hours / Love You Madly / Lotus Blossom . 72:11.

PERSONNEL: Edward Kennedy Ellington II, g; Norman Simmons, p; Virginia Mayhew, ts, cl; Noah Bless, tb; Jami Dauber, tpt; Tom DiCarlo, b; Paul Wells, d; Sheila Earley, perc; Nancy Reed, vcl; Houston Person, ts. 9/21-22/11, New Jersey.

2) is by a medium sized band investigating the work of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. This band has a more direct claim on the Ellington legacy that most because it’s led by Duke’s grandson, guitarist Edward Kennedy Ellington II. Ellington’s rhythm playing is often more felt than heard but the other players come through strongly, particularly the two contrasting tenor saxophonists present, Houston Person and Virginia Mayhew. Person’s old school, soul-drenched sound is very effective romping through the strong rhythms of “Happy Go Lucky Local” and “In A Mellow Tone” while Mayhew’s cooler, more modern style accents the more sophisticated “Johnny Come Lately” and “Upper Manhattan Medical Group.” Jami Dauber pleasantly approximates the growl trumpeters of the Ellington orchestras and trombonist Noah Bless has a warm grace in his solos particularly on the Strayhorn masterpiece, “Blood Count.” Nancy Reed sings well on some familiar Ellington vocal numbers and the rhythm section of Tom DiCarlo, Paul Wells and Sheila Earley is consistently solid. There are a few surprises in the set. Mayhew brings an unconventional but lively Latin arrangement to “Johnny Come Lately” and a couple of non-Ellington blues numbers feature pianist Norman Simmons, his own “Home Grown” and the old Avery Parrish chestnut, “After Hours”. Simmons also shines on delicate solo piano versions of “Single Petal Of A Rose” and “Lotus Blossom” that open and close the CD. This band does a fine job exploring the Ellington canon and related topics.

Jason Bivins

CD review from Volume 38, No. 4: October issueFor more information, go to www.cadencemagazine.com

Copyright 2012 Cadence Media, LCCAll rights reserved