Duke Ellington - Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival 1969-1973

2022 release

Since it's inception in 1964, the Berlin Jazz Fest had been thought of as a festival that, if not avant-garde, welcomed the most progressive and experimental forms of music of a period rich in all types of modernistic trends, from radical free jazz to a multitude of fusions of pop, rock, soul and jazz. But in 1969, as if swimming against the tide of the revolutions that swept the West, the organizers took an audacious stand: it was Duke Ellington's 70th birthday and not only did they welcome him at the head of his big band for the first time, but part of the program focused on his heritage; as a bonus and birthday gift, Ellington was featured on the publicity poster of the festival's sixth edition.

Never before released Duke Ellington concerts recorded in 1969 and 1973 at the Berlin Jazz Festival. All tracks have been remastered from the original Berlin radio tapes using Phoenix Mastering TM - a unique restoration process developed over two years by The Lost Recordings and Devialet teams.

the first half of the album was recorded with Duke and his band: Duke Ellington (piano), Joe Benjamin (bass), Quinten 'Rocky' White jr (drums), Harold 'Money' Johnson (trumpet), Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone) and Harry Carney (clarinet). The second half of the album was recorded with the famous Duke Ellington Orchestra

TRACKS:

• 01. Piano Improvisation No. 1
• 02. Take the 'A' Train
• 03. Pitter Panther Patter
• 04. Sophisticated Lady
• 05. Introduction by Baby Laurence
• 06. Tap Dance
• 07. La plus Belle Africaine
• 08. 'El Gato'
• 09. I Can't Get Started
• 10. Caravan
• 11. Mood Indigo
• 12. Satin Doll
• 13. Meditation