Jazz Party is a 1959 album by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra which contains a "formidable gallery of jazz stars" guesting, including Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Rushing (formerly the vocalist for Count Basie).[1] It featured also a 9-strong percussion section on two tracks.
The recording was first digitally remixed by Larry Keyes and remastered by Vlado Meller in 1987 and released on CD in the "CBS Jazz Masterpieces" series. A new remastering by Bernie Grundman in the early 2000s was first issued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [3] |
Described as "an example of the ever-surprising repertoire...characteristic of late Ellington",[4] Jazz Party has been praised particularly for its unique percussion pieces.[5][6] Village Voice reviewer Gary Giddins indicated that the percussion song "Malletoba Spank" "will rattle in your brain until you die".[7] The multi-part "Toot Suite" has been described as intriguing,[4] though underrated, featuring strong statements from Ellington regulars and guests.[5] Dizzy Gillespie's guest solo on "U.M.M.G." attracts much attention as well, and has been labeled both "enterprising" and "inspired".[4][5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Malletoba Spank" |
| 3:39 |
| 2. | "Red Garter (Toot Suite, Pt. I)" |
| 3:42 |
| 3. | "Red Shoes (Toot Suite, Pt. II)" |
| 3:50 |
| 4. | "Red Carpet (Toot Suite, Pt. III, IV & V)" |
| 7:42 |
| 5. | "Ready, Go! (Toot Suite, Pt. VI)" |
| 6:35 |
| 6. | "Satin Doll" |
| 2:44 |
| 7. | "U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)" |
| 4:32 |
| 8. | "All of Me" | 2:32 | |
| 9. | "Tymperturbably Blue" |
| 4:23 |
| 10. | "Fillie Trillie" |
| 2:44 |
| 11. | "Hello Little Girl" |
| 7:51 |
| Total length: | 49:57 | ||
"Satin Doll" and "Fillie Trillie" are included on the Columbia reissues, not on the original LP, nor on the Mobile Fidelity CD release.
Personnel
Performance
Production
- Irving Townsend – producer, liner notes
- Larry Keyes – digital remix (1987)
- Vlado Meller - remastering (1987)
- Bernie Grundman - remastering (early 2000s)
- Amy Herot – production coordination
References
- ^ Puccio, John. (November 1998). "Duke Ellington: Jazz Party in Stereo." Sensible Sound.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 69. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ a b c Crouch, Stanley. (January 12, 2005). The late show. Slate. Accessed September 8, 2007.
- ^ a b c Dance, Stanley. (November 1998). Duke Ellington: Jazz Party. Jazz Times. Accessed September 8, 2007.
- ^ See also All Music review, sidebar.
- ^ Giddins, Gary. (1999) The long-playing duke Village Voice. Accessed September 8, 2007.