Jazz Live in Europe: Michel Petrucciani at Jazzgipfel Stuttgart 1993

During his european 1993 tornée, july 2nd Petrucciani had an excellent concert in Stuttgart. In the followings video two ellingtonians tracks sublimely performed that, probably, Duke would have liked.

Jazz Live in Italy: Duke Ellington orchestra & Ella Fitzgerald trio in Milan (1966)

Forty-five years ago, in January 1966, Duke Ellington, in tournée in Europe, had some concerts in Italy with his orchestra, including some of the most famous "ellingtonians", as you can see in the line-up below.

These very rare recordings were taken during the afternoon concert at Teatro Lirico in Milan January 30, 1966.

The performance of the orchestra was followed by a set of Ella Fitzgerald and her trio and was closed by a meeting of Ella and the orchestra in Cotton Tail with a very exciting duet between the "scat" of Ella and the sax of Paul Gonsalves.

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Mercer Ellington (tp)

Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper (tbn)

Paul Gonsalves, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope (saxes)

Duke Ellington (pn)

John Lamb (bs)

Skeets Marsh, Elvin Jones (drm)

01. Theme: Take the "A" Train (B. Strayhorn) 0'43

02. Medley:

a) Black and Tan Fantasy (Ellington - Miley) 2'15

b) Creole Love Call (Ellington - Miley - Jackson) 2'02

c) The Mouche (Ellington - Mills) 5'36

03. Soul Call (L. Bellson) 2'27

04. Chelsea Bridge (B. Strayhorn) 3'44

05. El Viti (D. Ellington) 3'42

06. The Opener (C. Williams) 2'35

07. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington - Parish - Mills) 3'39

08. Take the "A" Train (B. Strayhorn) 6'04

09. Passion Flower (B. Strayhorn) 4'27

10. Things Ain't What They Used to Be (M. Ellington)

11. Wings and things (J. Hodges) 2'31

12. Jam with Sam (D. Ellington) 3'20

Ella Fitzgerald and her trio

Jimmy Jones (pn), John Confort (bs), Gus Johnson (drm)

13. Norman Granz's Introduction 0'46

14. How High the Moon (Lewis - Hamilton) 6'36

15. Lover Man (Davis - Ramirez - Sherman) 4'48

16. Mack the Knife (Weill - Blizstein) 2'55

Ella Fitzgerald and orchestra

17. Cotton Tail (D. Ellington) 4'47

new link 

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