Rare Jazz Live in Europe: Duke Ellington octet in Italy 1964

For ten years, between 1956 and 1965, the most important jazz event in Italy was the "Festival del Jazz di Sanremo"

Sanremo is a little town very famous in Europe for her flowers production, for her casino and for another festival, that of Italian Song, this year at his 60th edition.

The italian jazz festival was important also in Europe, because was the first european event of this kind, organized in continuous form, with the presence of many important artists from Duke Ellington to Oscar Peterson, from Ella Fitzgerald to Sidney Bechet, Max Roach, Cannnonball Adderley, Bud Powell and so on.

photo (c) by Riccardo Schwamenthal / Ctsimages.com - PhocusAgency

In 1964 Duke Ellington was in Paris with his orchestra but the budget of festival didn't allow to engage all the band, so the arrangement was an octet with the best soloists. A rare combination that you can find here.

Personnel:
Ralph Ericson (tr)
Lawrence Brown (tbn)

Johnny Hodges (as)
Paul Gonsalves (ts)
Harry Carney (bar)
Duke Ellington (p)
Gilbert Rovère (bs)
Sam Woodyard (dr)



part I (new link)

1. Take the "A" Train
2. C Jam Blues
3. On the Sunny Side of the Street
4. Caravan
5. I Got It bad and Ain't Good

part II (new link)

6. Sophisticated Lady
7. Medley: I Let a Song Go out of Me; Don't Get Around Much Anymore
8. Solitude
9. Rockin' in Rhythm