Duke Ellington - the Duke plays Ellington / SHM-CD

Originally released on Capitol Records in 1953.

At the time of its release this was a true rarity, a full album of Duke Ellington featured with a trio sans his orchestra. Although his talents at the piano sometimes have been overshadowed by his many accomplishments as a composer, arranger, and bandleader, Ellington was actually one of the very few stride pianists (along with Mary Lou Williams) to effectively make the transition into more modern styles of jazz without losing his own musical personality; in fact Duke was an early influence on both Thelonious Monk and Cecil Taylor. Throughout this album, Ellington sounds modern (especially rhythmically and in his chord voicings) and shows that he could have made a viable career out of just being a pianist. Scott Yanow ~ AllMusicGuide

1    In A Sentimental Mood 2:29
2    Things Ain't What They Used To Be 2:54
3    Reflections In D 3:32
4    Who Knows? 2:35
5    Melancholia 3:18
6    All Too Soon 3:05
7    Prelude To A Kiss 3:01
8    B Sharp Blues 2:45
9    Passion Flower 3:04
10    Janet 2:13
11    Retrospection 3:55
12    Dancers In Love 2:58