DUKE ELLINGTON - AFRO-BOSSA (180g LP)

In 1962, Duke Ellington's greatest creative achievements lay outside the realm of his orchestra in stunning small-group collaborations with Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. But 1963 would prove a different story from the first week of the year when he completed work on Afro-Bossa, which according to the late pianist and Ellington scholar Mark Tucker "ranks among the best albums he ever made." The title is a bit of a misnomer as there is not a bossa nova or samba rhythm anywhere on the album. Instead it is a head-on fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and pure blue-hued Duke.

Despite the inclusion of three older pieces ("Absinthe," "Pyramid" and "Eighth Veil"), the album is a cohesive and startling vivid original 12-part suite. Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Ray Nance, Cootie Williams and Lawrence Brown are the principal soloists and each are in superb form here. The title tune, "Caline (Silk Lace)" and "Pyramid" found their way into the band's regular performance book and perhaps the greatest composition in the suite, "Purple Gazelle" became a favorite among other musicians. This is Ellington at his best when the compositions, the orchestra and the soloists fuse into a single element that brings rich, colorful music to life.

Duke Ellington Afro-Bossa Track Listing

1. Afro-Bossa
2. Purple Gazelle
3. Absinthe
4. Moonbow
5. Sempre Amore
6. Caline (Silk Lace)
7. Tigress
8. Angu
9. Volupte
10. Bonga
11. Pyramid
12. Eight Veil