Duke Ellington
The Symphonic Ellington
Play The Symphonic Ellington
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AMG Review of The Symphonic Ellington
Scott Yanow
All Music GuideIn 1963 Duke Ellington realized a longtime goal, to record some of his extended works using both a symphony orchestra and his regular ig band. Included on this fine CD are the three movements of "Night Creature," the relatively brief "Non-Violent Integration," "La Scala," and an adaptation of Ellington's "Harlem Air Shaft." With most of his all-star soloists heard from in this program and a complete avoidance of trying to make his music sound so-called "respectable" or self-consciously hird stream, Ellington's arrangements keep the strings from weighing down the proceedings and the music is actually quite successful.



