1. Perdido
2. Pretty Woman
3. Caravan
4. Mainstem
5. Day Dream
6. Toe Tickler
7. Isfahan
8. Cottontail
9. Moon Mist
10. In a Sentimental Mood
11. Come Sunday
Edward Kennedy Ellington
II - Guitar
Norman Simmons - Piano
Virginia Mayhew - Tenor sax
Nancy Reed - Vocals
Joe Temperley - Bass clarinet, baritone sax
Wycliffe Gordon - Trombone
Mark McGowan - Trumpet
Tom Dicarlo - Bass
Paul Wells - Drums
Edward Kennedy Ellington
II is the grandson of Duke Ellington, even
though he called the Duke "Uncle" because
Duke felt too young to be described as a grandfather.
Anyway, the grandson/nephew is a guitarist
who wanted to pay tribute to his famous relative
and formed the Duke Ellington Legacy with
help from saxophonist Virginia Mayhew. Virginia
arranged some tunes on this album but the
main arranger is pianist Norman Simmons. The
arrangements are often imaginative, as in
the opening Perdido, where the phrasing
puts a new slant on the old tune. In a
Sentimental Mood is likewise given a new
mood with some Latin-American rhythms.
Edward stays mainly in the
background and only plays a short guitar solo
on Pretty Woman. The real stars are
bandleader Virginia Mayhew, who holds the
proceedings together with a firm hand while
contributing some memorable tenor-sax solos,
and pianist-arranger Norman Simmons. Joe Temperley
and Wycliffe Gordon are not regular members
of the group but they enhance the session
considerably. Wycliffe's trombone is as mischievous
and unpredictable as ever. Joe Temperley's
baritone sax is eloquent on such tunes as
Moon Mist and Come Sunday.
Paul Wells ups the excitement
with his drum solos on tracks like Perdido
and Toe Tickler (composed by Virginia
Mayhew - the only non-Ellingtonian tune on
the album). Virginia actually dedicated Toe
Tickler to one of her cats, who is named
Lester Young after the famous tenorist who
composed Tickle Toe for Count Basie's
band. Nancy Reed's vocals contain the occasional
echo of Annie Ross, especially in the vocalese
of Cottontail.
Some "tributes" to particular
musicians are hardly more than rip-offs, but
the performances here take a refreshing new
look at some Ellington tunes in the context
of a swinging small group.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Renma 6400CD
