Far East Suite

[rhythmaning]

Apropos of nothing other than the fact that I am going through a really big Duke Ellington phase at the moment - I was listening to the Vaughn Williams' prom but the beat just wasn't there (so I'm recording for when I am in a more classical frame of mind) - and I just had to listen to the rhythms in Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "The Far East Suite" - well, fuck it, such a brilliant piece of music. Jeez - search out Bluebird of Delhi, Isfahan, Mount Harissa, Depk, Amad, and the pure jazz-rock (not an Ellington speciality) of Blue Pepper.

Jeez, it has me dancing.

Comments

[nimoloth.livejournal.com]

I don't know that one - I'll have to look it up. I love his Such Sweet Thunder suite, and the New Orleans suite, especially the tribute in the latter to Wellman Braud.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Far East Suite is very similar to Such Sweet Thunder - some of the tunes are almost the same - but it has a livelier feel than Such Sweet Thunder, which can be a little melancholy. Although I think the Such Sweet Thunder is probably my favourite Ellington record. Although Newport 1956 is pretty tremendous, too...