#2: Ellington at Newport - Duke Ellington (1956)

I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals. I think I was traumatized in junior high band. I vividly remember that stupid assembly at Dunson Elementary in the 6th grade when some guy was there peddling musical instruments to unsuspecting pre-teens. (Wasn't that the plot of Music Man?) Anyway, I begged my mom to let me get the trombone because you could make this really cool slide noise with it. Well, let me tell you, that got really old really fast. Just ask my mom. She made me practice outside. It never caught on and I quit on the first day of Band Camp in 9th grade, so I don't have any awesome Band Camp stories.

As I was saying, I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals, but I definitely found myself tapping my foot to this record. I pictured myself in a crisp black suit, smoking a cigarette and downing my 3rd martini... before noon... and I don't smoke or drink martinis. This concert was recorded in 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and let me tell you, those folks got pretty rowdy. The concert started off calmly enough, but after Duke & his orchestra performed "Crescendo In Blue," featuring trumpeter Cat Anderson, the crowd began to come unglued! Duke tried to calm them by introducing a couple of saxophone pieces, but they wouldn't disperse. It was quite fascinating. There's a track actually called "Riot Prevention." The band finally ended the show with a drum solo and Duke thanking everyone while the band played "Mood Indigo."

As I was saying, I've never been the biggest fan of jazz instrumentals, but I definitely found myself tapping my foot to this record. I pictured myself in a crisp black suit, smoking a cigarette and downing my 3rd martini... before noon... and I don't smoke or drink martinis. This concert was recorded in 1956 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and let me tell you, those folks got pretty rowdy. The concert started off calmly enough, but after Duke & his orchestra performed "Crescendo In Blue," featuring trumpeter Cat Anderson, the crowd began to come unglued! Duke tried to calm them by introducing a couple of saxophone pieces, but they wouldn't disperse. It was quite fascinating. There's a track actually called "Riot Prevention." The band finally ended the show with a drum solo and Duke thanking everyone while the band played "Mood Indigo."

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