In the 1980s, the release of
Duke Ellington
's complete transcriptions for
World Broadcasting
was a major addition to his already sizable catalog. The songs on this compilation include everything recorded on November 8, 1943, with two takes from the next day's session. The fidelity is outstanding, as
Circle
was able to utilize the original glass masters, resulting in sound that exceeds many of
Ellington
's commercial recordings of the era. That said, the presence of numerous incomplete takes and false starts makes it difficult to listen to the complete CD all the way through. Highlights of this first volume include
"Rockin' in Rhythm"
(spotlighting trombonist
Tricky Sam Nanton
);
Rex Stewart
's cornet in his special feature,
"Boy Meets Horn"
;
Johnny Hodges
' lush alto sax in
"Sentimental Lady"
(also known later as
"I Didn't Know About You"
); and
"Blue Skies"
(also known under the title
"Trumpet No End"
),
Mary Lou Williams
' arrangement of
Irving Berlin
's landmark piece.
Dizzy Gillespie
is a special guest, taking the place of
Ray Nance
and
Shorty Baker
on the initial session. This is an essential purchase for
fans. ~ Ken Dryden