Mercer Ellington: Stepping Into Swing Society on CD

Mercer Ellington (1919-1996)

Stepping Into Swing Society

CD (Compact Disc)

Conventional CD, playable with all CD players and computer drives, but also with most SACD or multiplayers.

Delivery time is at least 4 weeks
(if available from our supplier)

Current price: EUR 13.99

Shipping (United States of America): EUR 19.90

Label:: Fresh Sound
Year of recording ca.:: 1958-59
Item number:: 1824738
UPC/EAN:: 8427328605311
Release date:: 19.11.2008

+ Quentin Jackson, Harold Ashby u.a.

Album digital in HD (advertisement)

Featuring: Cat Anderson, Shorty Baker (tp), Clark Terry (flh), Quentin Jackson (tb), Johnny Hodges (as), Jimmy Hamilton (cl), Ben Webster, Harold Ashby (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Billy Strayhorn (p), Skeeter Best (g), Wendell Marchall (b), Gus Johnson (d)

Until Stepping into Swing Society, by Mercer Ellington’s orchestra, was released in 1959, many jazz fans were scarcely aware that Duke had a talented son with a career of his own. Billy Strayhorn, Wendell Marshall, and John Sanders worked for Mercer before their jobs with Duke. His next album, Colors in Rhythm, along with its predecessor, were Mercer’s definitive introduction as a band-leader. The arrangements here are by such Ellington disciples as Mercer, Luther Henderson, Dick Vance, Andy Gibson Jimmy Hamilton, Billy Strayhorn, and Jimmy Jones. The playing is by nearly all of Duke’s then-current stalwart sidemen, including Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, and Harry Carney, and also a few of his legendary ex band members, such as Ben Webster, one of the most compelling of all tenor saxophonists. It was he who once looked up from his music, adjusted his reed, and declared: “Mercer Ellington: you got the key!” His verdict is confirmed here in the rich orchestral colours and superb use of soloists found in the best of Ellington; the band is swinging, full-bodied and, where the past is revisited, puts it in a fresh perspective. (freshsoundrecords. com)