Track Listing

1. Black Brown And Beige
2. Black Brown And Beige
3. Black Brown And Beige
4. Black Brown And Beige
5. Black Brown And Beige
6. Black Brown And Beige
7. Track 360
8. Blues In Orbit
9. Black Brown And Beige
10. Black Brown And Beige
11. Black Brown And Beige
12. Black Brown And Beige
13. Black Brown And Beige
14. Black Brown And Beige
15. Studio Conversation
16. Come Sunday

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67192 in Music
• Released on: 1999-05-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Amazon.co.uk Review
As a composer and bandleader associated indelibly with the nightclub scenes of pre-Swing Era jazz, Duke Ellington would have a difficult time getting respect in the button-down world of concert music. And when Ellington premiered his first long- form piece, Black, Brown and Beige, in 1943 (available on the stunning Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943), he was considered a dilettante. He laid the work aside until this recording, which came in early 1958--with the added oomph of gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson on board for all the suite's vocal parts. On this expanded reissue, there's an alternate take of the entire piece as well as two unrelated tracks recorded during the Black, Brown sessions but never before released. The suite is an expansive look, from Ellington's vantage, of course, at the evolution of African American history and culture. So there are ripples of spirited tone poetry, soaring gospel vocals from Jackson (with spare, aching piano from Ellington in spots), thundering horn-fronted swing from the band, and a consistency and unity on par with any symphonic work of the modern era. Ellington was always sensitive about this piece. After all, it showed a lot of what he held in high esteem: history, musical meditations on culture, and a full, colourful use of a band that Ellington held together for an amazingly long time. If only for Mahalia Jackson's takes on "Come Sunday", by now an acknowledged standard, this set is awesome. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Black Brown and Beige
Superlative! Duke Ellingtons work is never less than magnificent. this CD is the equal of any of his other work, giving pure spine tingling enjoyment however many times it is played.