Newport 1958

AMG Review of Newport 1958

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Two years after his major success at the Newport Jazz Festival, Duke Ellington returned for another excellent if somewhat overlooked performance. The set is highlighted by an exciting trumpet feature ("El Gato"), "Jazz Festival Jazz" (which has cool and hot sections with impressions of both modern and New Orleans jazz), "Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool," and a showcase for Clark Terry on flugelhorn ("Juniflip"). A special treat is baritonist Gerry Mulligan's only recording with Ellington, "Prima Bara Dubla," in which he duets with the other great master of the baritone sax, Harry Carney.