This double gatefold album, recorded at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1969, demonstrates just how superlative the talent of Duke Ellington was and that of the band he created and directed. It acts almost as a ‘greatest hits’ featuring wonderful versions of his classics such as Take the ‘A’ Train, Rockin’ in Rhythm, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be and Perdido. Ellington was just as much of a musical powerhouse in his 70s as he had been throughout his career and this was by no means the last album release in his lifetime, it wasn’t even his last live recording. That accolade is also from a British tour, the seaside town of Eastbourne no less. I bought this record at a Dutch Record Fair for less than the price of a soggy bag of Vlaamse Frites. Having been introduced to Ellington at an early age through my grandfather’s record collection, I knew it would be a musical feast. What I was surprised by is the quality of the live recording. There’s audience appreciation, and Ellington takes to the mic occasionally, mainly with his birthday/thank you speech at the end, but mostly you feel as though you’re sitting at a small jazz club right in front of the band. There’s highlights throughout but Side Four offers us a medley of some of his best work: Mood Indigo, Caravan, Sophisticated Lady and Do Nothin’ Til You Hear From Me. Sometimes medleys end up mangling the originals and are merely a crowd-pleaser, but here it really works. Immerse yourself in the sound of the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of all time. #dukeellington #dukeellingtonorchestra #johnnyhodges #saxophone #jazz #swingmusic #jazzorchestra #vinyl #recordcollection #nowplaying #nowlistening #randomrecordreview https://www.instagram.com/p/CDy8MJ6p3_p/?igshid=1wy0wgjmhlqra
