The Carnegie Hall Concerts (January 1943) (1943)

About this title: This two-CD set captures one of the milestones in Duke Ellington's long and extremely productive career, highlighted by his monumental suite "Black, Brown and Beige" in the only full-length version ever recorded by his orchestra; soon it was only performed as excerpts. In addition, Ellington's all-star orchestra (including such stylists as trumpeters Rex Stewart, Ray Nance, and Shorty Baker; trombonists Tricky Sam Nanton and Lawrence Brown; and a saxophone section boasting Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, and Harry Carney) excels on the shorter pieces, a mixture of older and recent compositions. ... read more

Tracks:

1. The Star Spangled Banner [Key/Smith]
2. Black and Tan Fantasy [Ellington/Miley]
3. Rockin' in Rhythm [Carney/Ellington/Mi]
4. Moon Mist [Ellington]
5. Jumpin' Punkins [Ellington]
6. A Portrait of Bert Williams [Ellington]
7. Bojangles [Ellington]
8. Portrait of Florence Mills (Black Beauty) [Ellington]
9. Ko Ko [Ellington]
10. Dirge [Strayhorn]
11. Stomp (Johnny Come Lately) [Strayhorn]
12. Are You Sticking? [Ellington]
13. Black [First Movement of Black, Brown and Beige] [Ellington]
14. Brown [Second Movement of Black Brown and Beige] [Ellington]
15. Beige [Third Movement of Black, Brown and Beige] [Ellington]
16. Bakiff [Tizol]
17. Jack the Bear [Ellington]
18. Blue Belles of Harlem [Ellington]
19. Cotton Tail [Ellington]
20. Day Dream [Ellington/Latouche/]
21. Boy Meets Horn [Ellington/Stewart]
22. Rose of the Rio Grande [Gorman/Leslie/Warre]
23. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [Ellington/Russell]
24. Going Up [Ellington]
25. Mood Indigo [Bigard/Ellington/Mi]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.