Reviews (page 8 of 12)
Get me into a dark room filled with cigar smoke NOW
This is jazz alright
I was already dreading the 2 hours as soon as I saw it. I procrastinated on this, but all the talking is getting on my nerves. I just want to hear and judge the music. I used it as background noise and that’s how I made it through, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this album again. I respect the heck out of Duke though because he had so much influence on some of my favorite musicians.
This is really long. Just going to listen to "Disc 1" Jimi did the Star Spangled Banner better... I like Jazz fine. I don't really know how to tell if its great or not. I enjoyed this. I liked the realism with the announcer talking between some songs. Festival Junction rips that's for sure. 3.1/5
it's fine
I skipped the talking parts. Those are some impressively high trumpet notes in Part I. I enjoyed the Skin Deep drum solos. Riot Prevention is a clever name.
Long but good.
For fans of Big Band Jazz. Includes his version of "Tea for Two" and his signature tune "Take the 'A' Train".
Some great jazz on here that I was actually starting to enjoy. That being said I still like some more vocals
Quand j’écoute cet album j’ai l’impression de temps en temps d’être dans un bar bondé des fins fonds de New York où personne ne s’entend parler et les musiciens de battent pour savoir qui joue le plus fort, ou bien dans un vieux dessin animé Tom&Jerry des années 50. C’est toute une époque, toute une culture ! Malheureusement ni mon époque, ni ma culture. J’ai du mal à apprécier ce genre de jazz, je trouve que c’est trop fouillis, les changements de rythmes sont vraiment trop fréquents pour ma tendre oreille et j’ai du mal à suivre leur mélodie (peut-être que c’est recherché de faire quelque chose de spontané, rapide et qui paraît désorganisé mais c’est vraiment pas ma tasse de whisky-coca pour rester dans le thème).
Qui aurait cru que le jazz pouvait me plaire ? On y rentre a reculons dans cet album, rebuté par ces morceaux de 10 min et ces variations qui semblent incompréhensibles.. et 30min plus tard on se surprend a battre la mesure et a dodeliner de la tete ! Une agréable entrée en matière
Le problème c'est que je manque absolument de référentiel pour pouvoir avoir un avis sur un album de jazz. Est ce que j'ai bien aimé ? Oui mais est est ce que l'album m'a fait ressentir quelque chose qui me ferait le réécouter ? Pas vraiment. Je crois que ce qui fait l'importance de cet album c'est aussi le contexte dans lequel il à été créé : Ellington (légende du jazz de l'époque) était en perte de vitesse et dépassé par l'arrivée de nouvelles têtes (la génération des addicts à l'héroïne) et la fin du format 'Big Band', et il a mis une claque monumentale au monde du jazz à ce concert. Maintenant, je ne suis pas sur de pouvoir apprécier l'album autant que si j'avais été un jazz aficionados en 1956 mais ça force l'admiration.
Once you cut it all the introductions the album is about half in length. Very talented musicians, classic jazz repertoire. In would give it four stars, which is a great score considering I’m not a jazz fan, but I have to deduct one because of all the talking. You can’t just put this on at a dinner party and enjoy the music due to all the interruptions.
I decided to hear the complete version of this album, as, from what I could understand, it has the original live performance, while the shortened version is a studio recording they did after the concert. So, this record is 2 hours long. Before giving it my first listening, I prepared myself to focus as much as possible and get the most out of this album in just two sittings, one for the first half and the other for the second one. After listening to it, I, indeed, not felt like returning to it. Nevertheless, I found it to be quite entertaining, very well performed and very clear in terms of sound. My favourite parts where the more energetic tracks, like 'Pt.I Festival Junction', 'Pt.III Newport Up' (both the live and studio versions of the two pervious songs) and specially 'Skin Deep' with those insane drum solos. The rest of the tracklist is alright, but they have a slower pace and I didn't really enjoy it as much as the others. Not a bad album, but the vast amount of material makes it a bit hard to listen to.
Fun time capsule. Not really the jazz I’m used to listening to but he made that trumpet make noises I’ve never heard before
Jazz. but wow festival junction is actually the best jazz song ive ever heard. the rest... ehhh... although diminuendo and cresendo in blue is alright i suppose.
Apart from the last song, the album felt like covers that missed the extra percent that the original song delivered. Ellington is a talented musician but it likely isn’t his best work.
It was very long only had time to listen to about half of it, but what i did listen to was very good! wayyy to much talking between songs, was that normal in the 50s?
Jazz!
-this was a nice listen. definitely very safe by jazz standards, pretty much impossible to dislike i think -i have a huge soft spot for older big band jazz that sounds like the kind of thing you’d hear in an old cafe. now that im more into the genre it’s not quite as mindblowing but i fw it -Favorites are Newport Up and Diminuendo In Blue
i like
A solid live album but too much talking in between tracks (which I guess kind of helps with immersion but is not as much my thing but also that's live albums generally for me)
idek what to do with my life
Am I slowly becoming a jazz fan? I like it when it doesn’t sound too chaotic. This was nice to have on in the background, I felt civilised.
Going through this exercise, this is my 69th review, I've encountered enough Jazz albums to approach this one with some trepidation. So far, Jazz hasn't been to my taste. For this reason, and to give the album a fighting chance, I reviewed the original 5 tracks released in 1956 and not the much expanded CD version. Pleasantly, the opening track has a big band feel. Second track has a mellow blues feel, ending with the full orchestra coming in. The remainder of the original album continues much in this vein. Pleasant enough and more enjoyable than the prior Jazz albums experienced whilst working through this list, but it still does not convert me into a devotee of the genre, or even someone who wants to explore the genre further. 3 stars. Would I listen to this album again? No. Would I buy this album? No. Original 1956 LP: Ellington at Newport Side A 1. "Festival Junction" - 10:08 - 3 2. "Blues to Be There" - 8:04 - 3 3. "Newport Up" - 5:33 - 3 Side B 1. "Jeep's Blues" - 5:12 - 3 2. "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" - 14:56 - 3 Total - 15 Average - 3
good but trumpet was annoying, i also dislike live albums
Classic jazz bullshit
416/1001
Seemed an odd inclusion - there are much better Duke Ellington studio albums
not my favourite jazz album but still nice. i like that it's live. want to relisten when im studying, might have a different impression
Sounded really good live but unfortunately I couldn't vibe with it. Was still ok though 3 ⭐️
This was fun. For awhile. Was everyone's like three hours long, or was I just listening to some extended version? As we went from early to late afternoon and I was still listening to big band music, I started to get a little fatigued.
Great musicians and music, but not my thing.
Cool!!!!! On a roll of live albums Happy I listened to it but not one I’ll re-listen to anytime soon..
I'm slowly but surely getting into Jazz but still not particularly into the Big Band stuff - I find it a little manic, especially the trumpets towards the end of the 1st and last tracks. The last one was enjoyable overall though.
Could have done without the review of the day’s events peppered in between songs, but this is a super clear recording for it being outside and from the late 50s. I’m not a big jazz fan, but this kept my attention.
I liked this album. The musicianship is incredible and while this is very straightforward Jazz it's very well done. This album deserves to be on the list.
Can't really fault this - it's live jazz from a long gone era. I'd rather a studio version , the crowd noise and banter is distracting. I could also do with just an hour, it did get tiring and I don't love jazz enough to do this all again.
Da ich nicht so der Jazz hörer bin, finde ich es schwer das zu bewerten. Ich habe mir auch nur Disk 1 angehört, da ich 2 stunden dann doch zu lang fande. Es war ganz solide, jedoch gäbe es für mich keine Situation in der ich die Lieder nochmal hören würde. Die meisten Stücke waren auch nicht entspannt genug um sie wärend dem lernen nebenbei zu hören. Deswegen würde ich dem ganzen 3/5 geben. Einfach nicht so meine Musik.
i mean its alright i guess but not that significant for me because im not that into jazz 3/5
I can't say I am well-versed in jazz, but I do know I like it when I hear it. Live jazz, most of which this album was, is a special treat. It was interesting to hear the folks at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival reacting to the great Duke, even almost rioting at one point. Unlike the other albums I have listened to in this journey, however, most of this faded into the background. After listening to the entire two-hour recording, I realized it was good, but there wasn't a track that stood out. I suppose I am just not understanding enough of this music form yet.
11/1089 starting off with the star spangled banner… hmmmm i’m not super against the talking/emceeing, it suits the cool and laid back vibe the trumpet(?) is a bit too squeaky for my tastes but the rest of the music underneath is soothing Pt. I - Festival Junction is a hit! i can appreciate the quality and skill in the genre (and i’m enjoying it as background music) but i’m not sure i need to revisit skin deep is another hit for me 3 stars or 51/100 even if it isn’t something i’ll listen to again i feel like it would be wrong of me to put it any lower because that mostly comes down to taste and to me 0-49 is negative, 50 neutral and 51+ positive. This doesn’t deserve a negative or neutral because i actually enjoyed having this on in the background it was undeniable quality, i just can’t give it much more simply because it’s not what i seek out
This type of big band jazz always reminds me of my grandparents. Being a jazz dummy, I don't know if it's good or bad, but I there's some nostalgia involved here, which brings me some enjoyment. My favorites were Festival Junction and Newport Up. 3.5 stars.
3.5
I liked the jazz but all the live parts really take away from this.
Good vibes. I like having it play while im cooking or doing things about the house. The speeches or announcements in between are annoying but otherwise the music is absolutely splendid. It really sets the vibe in the evenings.
I'm sometimes not quite sure how to approach jazz. This swings, no doubt, and was an enjoyable morning listen; though it's unlikely I'll return to it much.
Only made it part way through. Long album. Very impressive talent, great for easy listening. Too many intro/talking tracks.
Of course there's no denying his talent but personally I'm not a particular fan of either jazz or - except for Johnny Cash inside prisons - live albums. But it's a 3 because: a) despite all the above there are parts I like b) I sure don't like them enough for a 4 but 2 is definitely harsh and c) I'm in a generous mood because after nearer 4 years than 3 on this journey I've finally reached album 1089 aka The Destination.
38 SONGS!
Får litt fot av den swing jazzen her, men det er ikke nok å kitla cymbalene når du i neste omgang mute trompeten med katten.
It is good. Also big band not my thing.
A little on the Dull side of Duke.
It was ok, good album but not my favorite jazz musician or live recording
Intimate
Jazz classics automatically get a 3 until I figure out how jazz works.
A good record, not a great one. It's a fun live album and I would play it every now and then in the background. Not the best jazz record out there and I am little surprised to see it on this list - I feel like there were better choices for Duke Ellington. It's not one that I would play for someone to try and sway them to become a jazz appreciator. 3/5
Big band's last hurrah? As Miles and all those other cool kids started to define the shape of jazz to come, Duke beautifully captures what it was. If you're going to spend so much time in the studio editing and re-recording, then would you not cut down some of the stage chat and MCing? At least I know what Father O'Connor thinks of the weather... Music is great - crazy tight playing, loads of energy! That solo....
So, good Jazz DOES exist!! I’ve rolled a couple Jazz albums so far and really just did not care for them, so when I saw this album was over 2 hours long, I about screamed. However, it turns out that Jazz actually can be good, it just has to come in the form of Big Band. This was a super cool little time capsule as well. I liked the introductions given to everyone, and some of the live segments like “Riot Prevention” actually got a genuine chuckle out of me. My favorite song on this album was “Diminuendo In Blue - Live” as it’s fast paced and smooth all the way through, with plenty of fun mood shifts.
Live bleh
enjoyed. didnt actively listen as much as i should have. background music. a bit too long
Good stuff
It was ok. I don’t really like Jazz so this is the highest rating I’m gonna give
Enjoyable when able to listen. The recording is too distant. At points the band and Duke battle though but the overall feeling is frustration. This is very much a moment in time but not his best collection of work
This was a bit too long and too full of live LP chatter for me to really enjoy it.
I like Ellington. I have Ellington in the collection. And maybe the only 'big band' stuff I do have in the collection. It's good. Probably great. I just don't go for the big band stuff very often when I want to put on some jazz.
Me: "I'm busy visiting my family, but why not turn the 'weekend albums' setting back on? I'm sure I'll find some time." 1001 Albums Generator: "Here's a two-hour live album of hepcat jazz."
There are many great performances by Duke Ellington so it's hard to rate this album. It's a great concert with lots of information by the presenter and places for the instrumentalists to shine. However, I missed some highlights.
Fun live jazz. Great album.
I understand the importance of such an album and the artist. I very much love Duke, the arrangements and the imagination poured out. This is just not my style, it's lovely and it stands on its own as one of the greatest, but for my own ears, I neither love it, nor hate it.
Classic naturligtvis och bra, men Ellington har aldrig varit en favorit och jag är mer fan av senare jazz. En trea
First impression pre listen: I've heard his name thrown around alongside other jazz greats, but I've never checked him out. Gonna treat this like every other jazz album I've gotten on here, and jump into it with no expectations. I'll be limiting it to what was present on the original 1956 release, as the reissue seems a bit of a mess. Individual track notes: Pt. I - Festival Junction A well coordinated jazz tune with some really pleasant and positive sounding energy. Love how effortless and tight it manages to sound. The solo parts are really smooth and gives off an exquisite mood that wears off on the listener. It's an overall pretty good time, though I'm not educated enough on the era to understand what makes it special. Decent. 3.5/5 Pt. II - Blues to Be There Very moody. Sleepy and nocturnal. I like the way it switches up the style a bit towards the end with the call and response. Not too captivating, but pleasant and distinct. Fine. 3/5 Pt. III - Newport Up Fast and upbeat. Fun tempo. I really enjoy the precise and joyful improvisation. The playing and coordination is excellent, but it does get a bit lost on me. I'm impressed even if it doesn't really hit me musically. Fine. 3/5 Jeep's Blues Very colourful. Great atmosphere and overall sound. I can appreciate the restraint shown by the lead. Gives the music a lot of time to breathe and be digested. Very pleasant. Decent. 3.5/5 Diminuendo in Blue Love the counter melodies in the background at the start. Interesting occasional support from the piano. Satisfying sax part. Fun and accessible. I like that you can clearly hear the audience having a great time in the background. Just an allround good time. Good. 4/5 Final Review Personally I found the album mostly just pleasantly listenable. It keeps me interested enough, though not so much that I immediately wish to replay it. I don't really get it beyond the surface level so I can only really speak on the excellent atmosphere and the genuine care put into the performances, as that fully shines through on the recording. The performers are notably very skilled and convincing. Should they be lead or support they always seem to find ways of making memorable use of their skills, even if its just to fill some space with a well placed note or two. It's decently accessible, as a layman could easily find moments to enjoy when just following along the journeys created by the musicians. Sure someone with a more educated take could pick apart the nuances and explain what makes it special, but anyone can find moments to enjoy on here even if it's just the "vibe". I personally don't fully get it, but I would still come back to this when feeling the mood for some jazz. Perhaps with more time it will grow more on me. 3.5/5 rounded down to a 3/5.
Jazz fades into the background for me
Good, but long, but good.
Ehhh… clearly objectively good but im not gonna be relistening. I think i just dont have a reference pt for it? Hard to imagine being like WOOOOO WOWWWWWWWwe snap SNAP SNAP JAZZ! For this. Bring me bbng.
There was a time I tried to get into jazz. Listened to lots of older and then more fusion artists. I found that I enjoyed listening to jazz way more live than on recordings. This was the same. I’m sure it would’ve been great to be there, but it was a tough listen. And very long.
3.5
Unfortunately the announcement being a separate thing annoyed me more than them being a part of the songs. 3 star
Artiste connu. Je ne connaissais pas cet album : je ne suis pas très intéressé par les big band. Ce live ne m'a pas fait changer d'avis ! Même s'il contient d'excellents chorus (+2), il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5
We're going to need a bigger band! It's big band music if you like it you probably like Sir Duke I'm not sure I care enough to listen more than once it is what it is
jako dobro! obožavam kako publika popizdi na zadnjoj pjesmi. nastavim li ovako, do 1001. albuma bit ću najveći fan džeza hahaha
Duke is the best at what he does. His music is not really my thing, but it’s fun to listen to. This one’s good as a live album because his band and the audience really feed off each other. At one point it sounds like the crowd’s going to riot if Duke & co. don’t continue! Don’t do that. Bad form.
Ew, live album, but I like Duke's music regardless
Boh magari dovrei riascoltare
É um álbum interessante de um concerto de Duke Ellington e a sua banda, como era vulgar na década de 1950. Contudo, não me encheu as medidas.
I though I would like this more than I did. It got off to a bad start for me with the star spangled banner and I didn't love all the talking.
Despite the challenges of a live recording from the 1950’s you can tell the obvious talent of all involved. But jazz just isn’t my cup of tea.
definitely a good album but i’m not fond of live albums and big band classical jazz
2+ hour live jazz?? fuuuuuck i think jazz is a great music genre and there's some talented musicians featured here. i just don't think i appreciate it enough to sit and give an album this long my undivided attention. this is definitely a background listen for me, hence my rating.
Listened to this while playing Final Girl. I lost a game and won the second game! I listened to the 5 track version of this album, and enjoyed it a fair amount. I feel like I might rate it higher if I did the 1999 version, but I opted to listen to it as it was first released. Lots of squeaky endings...ha ha.
Pretty good, but way too long. The talking was annoying and I probably should've just watched a movie instead
Cozy jazz - I like it! Too many in-between talks and noise for my liking (doesn't feel like a concert) The very high-pitched sax/trumpet is a horrible trademark
I can't believe there are so many live jazz albums on this list. It's starting to get a little repetitive. The middle section of the first song piqued my interest. "Blues to Be There" was ok, a bit boring. I'm feeling better than I was yesterday. 3 stars for "Ellington at Newport".
As a Canadian in the current socio-political climate, hearing an album start with the Star Spangled Banner, despite how well played, is not a way to win my heart. THAT and my generally not being much of a jazz guy aside, this recording really transported me back to an era before my time and made me feel fully immersed in its atmosphere. Not sure it's something I'll come back to, but I'm glad I visited. 3
uh i'm out of my depth but this is a nice listen and one i was happy to revisit for this project. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes
Switched to the abridged version without the M.C. and glad I did. Jazz is not my favourite genre, but even I could appreciate elements of this.
I liked this better than other traditional jazz albums I’ve had, though that is a broad category. It felt big bandy at times which was fun. I didn’t know we were going to get Louis Armstrong, that was a nice surprise.
Duke Ellington is great, Caravan is one of my favorite tunes, especially the Thelonius Monk recording. That being said the big band genre is perhaps not my favorite. However the sheer amazing talent of the musicians is fully on display here, and I appreciate the compositional style of Ellington. This kind of live recording has a nostalgia for me, it takes me back to Tulsa as a teenager. The city has a great live festival every year that I would go to, with lots of raucous crowd participation and dancing. As an album this is overly long with too much emcee banter, but as an experience it is so cool that we have this kind of recording. I think I would listen to certain tracks again, Take the A Train, Festival Junction and Diminuendo in Blue are highlights for me, but not the whole album.
You can tell that this recording is old. There is too much talking.. I think that big band jazz is often more listenable. There is too much clarinet playing (my taste).
A big band classic. Not my particular style of music, but world class players all, and a historically significant work.
Don't often find myself listening to big band/orchestral jazz albums, but here we are. Toe-tappers for sure, and talented musicians throughout, albeit not the type of music I look for often.
3.5
A 3+ hour Ella Fitzgerald freakin' box set yesterday and a 2+ hour Duke Ellington album today. Nothing bad about them, but damn! Would it kill you to give me a 40 minute Black Sabbath album this week? 3/5 Album 62/1001
Ele sabia o que tava fazendo
Hella long. Wow. Not my style, but I recognize the talent.
Ellington and Company are simply spectacularly jazzy in this record, the performances and compositions here are excellent. Ellington is obviously great, but many others shine as well in different songs. My favourite was "Festival Junction" and "I Got It Bad" was also excellent, loved the slower vibe and the sax playing by Hodges is perfect, same with "Jeep's Blues". Gonsalves is also excellent in "Diminuendo in Blue". My least favourite moments where when the record gets more "swing-y", like in "Newport Up". It's not bad, just not my favourite. As an album, it's a bit different than most other records, it's more than 2 hours long, and being a live record, it has a lot of interludes in the form of talking, presentations and crowd interaction. The complete edition also has a fair amount of repetition in the second disc. Having this in mind, I think you have to have at least some taste for jazz and a bit of patience to enjoy the record cover to cover. I also found opening with "The Star Spangled Banner" was a bit too much. Overall, this is a historic piece of jazz, and justifiably so. But as an album, it still has a bit of room for improvement in terms of flow and removing some of the repetition.
Solid jazz/swing album. The first live album I've gotten in this project, and part of my rating considers the background noise and announcements included in the album
Favorites: Festival Junction, Newport Up, Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue It's possible I made a mistake listening to the original pressing off of a YouTube rip instead of the complete edition... This was good, but I'm not 100% a fan of the big band sound.
Album #1 Not a jazz or big band fan. Still, some of this was great. The rest was technically good, and I see why this is a highly regarded album, but I lost interest multiple times. Until the squealing trumpet brought me back. Highlights: Black and Tan Fantasy Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue
Intense listening. Skin Deep is maybe the best track. Drums drums drums.
Not for me
"Jeep's Blues" wasn't terrible. I'm not a fan of jazz but this is good. I like the saxophone and piano. "Take The A-Train" was not as good. The piano sounded off-pitch. But I did like the horns. "Sophisticated Lady" is okay. It actually sounded like in a movie a sophisticated woman is entering the room and seducing men. I don't know if I would recommend this album.
the first song is okay i like how the instruments sound i just dont like how silent it gets and i also dont like how quiet the song is in general. the next song is also okay there is not much of a difference between the two songs they are both pretty quiet. the last song is still the same. overall i dont really like this album i would not recommend it.
Big band jazz - not my favourite type but you can't help but toe tap to it. Probably more famous for the reception Ellington got that makes this a historic piece of art, listen to the whole set to get a real feel of the electricity in the crowd. Spread out a picnic blanket, have some nice food, smoke a joint and just enjoy it. Best Tracks: Blues To Be There; Jeep's Blues; Diminuendo in Blue
This wasn't bad. The band really started to cook on the last track.
This one is hurt by the recording itself. The band is great, the solo is amazing. I’m not normally a jazz guy, but I can get behind this one, but I think that’s because I do enjoy Big Band type jazz. But the recording is so subpar. The crowd noise is too high (but man is the crowd enjoying themselves!) and overall the mix is just bad. Would’ve loved to hear this with modern recording tech.
Very talented but not my jam
Good background
Good happy background music that is calming
I heard if you wanted this at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant you have to call ahead…no wait, that’s Beef Wellington… The music was great, but I could do without all the emcee banter. 3⭐️
Good, but long -- it was a double-album, and that's a lot of jazz. I can only take jazz in small doses, but it was a classic.
I have to apply my live album tax to this rating as per previous reviews, undoubtably excellent but live albums do not belong on this list
Swinging stuff!
Swingin as gideon said
This is a tough one to rate. Duke Ellington is an electric musician and is a once in a millennium talent. He makes the instruments sing and come alive and I wish I could have been there at this performance taking it all in. Listening to this album reminded me of why I don’t like live albums. I don’t like the audience cheering or interruptions and the banter from the emcee made an already long album a bit of a slog. Also there were times at the end of the songs that he’d make the trumpet squeal in a really unpleasant and loud and repetitive way that almost made me want to turn this off. I wouldn’t listen to this again but I’d listen to the studio versions of any of these songs.
So familiar. i know and can hear Ellington's brilliance but I have a hard time connecting with the music
Plenty of respect for this musician and this album, but I don't think I'm going to be listening to this a lot in the future. It's just not my jam
Absolutely fine. The band and audience are having a great time. It's too old-fashioned for my taste though.
Duke is the king of big band, but even the best swingy jams couldn't save this 2+ hour monster from feeling like a chore
If you like jazz, you'll love this album.
Very good jazz music to study to, just not that big of a fan of jazz
Great, fun background music
Long album! Black and tan fantasy - great opener Super high pitched trumpet parts are so goofy 3.5
Classic Jazz, also gave me big band vibes. Easier to listen to than more complex jazz
Yall I found a shortcut just listen to the 40 minute version 😜
Great historical document if you will. Probably my attention span doesn't hold up for this 2 hour experience
So I didn't realize the original version was only FIVE tracks and listened to almost the entire complete version. I don't regret hearing the entire Newport set, and so that's where I ended my listen and that's the version I will be rating. The MC sections are not necessary and ruined my enjoyment. I get it's meant to make you feel like you're there, but it's not for me.
Not my fav jazz style. Big band with lots of tongue in cheek playing and a showy feel. Has a great version of take the a train. A great introduction to the sounds of big bands in the mid 50s Ellington is a master of his sound sadly I Don't think this recording showcases the best of his writing style. I much prefer the tape with coltrane. Was a long concert back then! Didn't really appreciate the intros between tracks but still gives it an authenticity.
Although I’m not a massive fan of this genre, I felt rather swooned and intrigued by this one. I found myself listening to each note, seeing its meaning and all things like such.
If you want to havea albums on this list, they need to be a step above board tapes. This sounds like it was recorded from a TV broadcast. I'm not buying the time period as an excuse. That being said....its some ok jazz. Thats about it.
Interesting concert, listened to the original version.
Big band style jazz is not my cup of tea and this live format didn't do anything to change that. Furthermore it was way too long. It must have been a double or triple on vinyl.
A fun album that. To my mega naive ear in this genre that seemed to owe as much to big band style as to jazz. Quite a pleasant mix really. My favourite parts are the nifty funky bass lines which I’d love to hear more prominently, but for obvs reasons that isn’t possible in a live album. Would happily listen again.
Typical post-war jazz. Like the stuff you would hear at one of those expensive restaurants that are trying too hard to sell you an experience over actual ambiance and good food. I don't know enough about jazz to really comment on it, but the production value and quality of the players is definitely really good. I think if I was more into jazz this would be at the top of my list. I can also appreciate that Ellington was super influential in the jazz arena.
Well I fucked up on this one. The album refered to is relatively short and good jazz. I unknowingly listened to the complete version, which clocked in over 2 hours and had multiple introductions and "that's it folks." The spoken parts were rather annoying to have constantly throughout a live album (pick one introduction, limit endings). I don't feel like going back and listing to the shorter, original album, but I don't think being more condensed will up my rating anyway. Jazz doesn't blow me away or beg me to listen to that particular album again right away (my criteria for higher vote)
Great jazz
Don’t really like jazz
I think it may be that I’d rather hear a small combo than a whole jazz band, but two hours of this album was a bit long. That said, you can’t deny the musicianship and importance of the thumbprint left on jazz music by Duke. As the album goes on (and on, and on), you do really start to get a sense of the evolution of the form.
The announcements are annoying, interrupting the flow of the album. Buy maybe necessary to paint the picture of the excitement of the crowd and the atmosphere. Then I read where a lot of it was recreated in the studio. Still a cool album though. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 54/102
58’ classical jazz
Coole Zeitreise und schöne Musik. Hätte ich lieber als Video und als Album dann doch ein bisschen lang 😅
Pretty jamming, do not know much about jazz but can say this is definitely talented. Sampled the tracks.
Deduction points for the length and the extra banter.
A vibe but a way too long vibe.
Not for me, was really way too long. I respect it, but won't relisten. DNF
Не очень
Raw as fuck
The playing is rock solid but I wish this was done in a studio instead of a live setting. The introductions and crowd noise hurt this. The music is fine which gives it a passing grade.
Vert good
Not bad. Jazz isn’t always in my listening rotation, but I do enjoy it when it comes around. Love me some big bands, but not all the time. 3.5 ⭐️
Is it blasphemy to say a Duke Ellington release is middle of the road? Nothing special to me....but at least it's melodic and has a little pep. 2.5, rounding up.
swinggggg spang a lang there were some beautiful moments that i wish stretched out for longer some excessive soloing for me “pt 1 - festival junction” easy favourite
sophisticated
Чарівно, вартий уваги альбом
Probably the longest and hardest album to get through since Houmous & Chutneys experimental ‘Chinese Water Torture’ album back in ‘61. 2.5
Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - Diminuendo in Blue.
There's a lot of jazz on this, and a *lot* of introducing the performers. You could probably skip anything without a song title and save yourself some time, if sacrificing the atmosphere a bit. Nothing much stuck, even the highlight "Diminuendo in Blue" which is pretty great if you're paying attention. Unfortunately, the story of the album is more exciting to me than the actual recording.
Solid example of the genre. I don’t think it gains anything from being a live performance, other than capturing that moment in time, and it limits the appeal of a relisten.
I like it
These 2-hour albums make it hard to keep up. I'm not the biggest jazz fan, but this was good music to have on the background while I worked.
Extremely fun listen.
swinging and composition
Not really a fan of live albums. The trumpets were annoying too. But I liked most of it. Would listen to non trumpet songs again as background music.
It's Jazz. Good jazz but just jazz. Not my flavor
Not sure
Cool, Daddyo. Virtuoso musicianship. Spoiled a bit by all the chatter. I don't need to hear the long intros, and I'm definitely not interested in some priest talking about the rain, and where every member of the band lives. I can understand that this is a historical record of the complete concert that day, and that's great if you were actually there - but for the casual listener there's too much padding and not enough music. I didn't really like the sung songs either. So, in summary:- Instruments outstanding. Voices no thanks.
Big band jazz. Pretty good.
3.5
Well sir. This album is hard to find the original version of. The version that this thing takes you to is 2 hours long and includes all the stage banter and the bloody Star Spangled Banner. To be fair, listening to American patriotism might be even harder than listening to U2. I’ve found the “OG” version on YouTube. Oh fortune doth smile upon your humble narrator. Of course, due to my unwillingness to add yet another 10-15 loons to my monthly expenditure for yet another, I will be an absentee reviewer. I cannot close the app to provide my blow by blow (as in, my review will blow). Anyway, take it way Duke. Well that was cool. The opening with the clarinet gives way to excellent jazz featuring a multitude of deftly played instruments and an excellent atmosphere. I expected far more big band and swing due to the fact that those were the only genres listed online. And when an album on RYM says the genre is Hypnotica and CheeseCore, I expect to be hearing some fucking Hypnotica and CheeseCore before the day is out. The only real “big band” experience was the last song which, despite the revelry and clear enjoyment from the live crowd, sort of bored me. This was a cool album and one I could see myself enjoying once again. Not perfect but a sweet ride through the tracks of my mind propelled by the horns of the Ellington squad. Newport up. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Festival Junction, Jeep’s Blues
This is a first Duke Ellington listen for me- It's crazy how many feature musicians were on this album! It must have been a really fun evening for everyone involved. The music itself was nice- I enjoyed how they switched up who was being featured in the songs, and the instruments as a result. It did start to feel long though in the second half. I also feel like I didnt get enough Duke Ellington himself. Overall- good album. Jazz isnt really my thing but I can see how Jazz people would enjoy this. 3.5/5
jazz idk
Lots of jazz. I am sure it's probably good. Very long but I did listen to both albumns.
Enjoyable - great skill on display and has an energy and vibe but not my cup of tea .
I found this to be a reasonably enjoyable jazz album, and eminently more enjoyable than the other big band albums we've had hitherto, such as Count Basie. I also like that the audience gets more vocal as it goes along, responding to the band's sporadic ejaculations. It's a very good live performance. I don't know what, if any, boundaries are being pushed, except for that clarinet player's temporal veins at the end of Diminuendo when it sounds like he's gonna pop a lobe. It suffers from the fact I've discovered Kind of Blue which, I think I'm beginning to understand, is a very different jazz to this - but nevertheless that is so good, that this pales a bit in comparison. In saying that, Duke was a massive inspiration to Miles Davis, and there are nuances in this performance which provide a hell of a lot more than vanilla big band swing. So overall I think it is in the three range and maybe pushing a high three.
норм
Buen disco, pero tan antiguo que es casi música clásica.
Pretty nice. Feels like a 3.5.
This is the second jazz album I've gotten in 5 rolls and I have a feeling my thoughts on all of them are going to be the same -- it's good jazz, sounds like good jazz, musicians are talented, and I would probably appreciate it more if I were more familiar with the ouvre of the jazz canon. I will say the length of this one is egregious and I'm choosing to only listen to Disc 1. I get that this is a famous performance but in general, I'm not fond of live albums because they never sound or feel as essential as being there in the moment, watching what's going on.
It's good, it's interesting, but I feel like I'm forcing myself to listen to it, and the format makes it inherently hard to review. I'm not sure if it's me, but I feel like listening to jazz is harder than expected, even though I've thought I kinda like the genre - or maybe it's just this format.
Overall enjoyable. Some of the horns got quite shrill on one song and I can't say I understand it.
Some I liked, some I didn't like. Overall I've decided to learn jazz. :D
Some serious finger waggin', toe tappin' stuff. I loved his cameo in Big Mouth.
Live jazz at its finest. I can picture it’s 1956 and a bunch of rich folk in suits/fancy dresses dancing around a dimly lit ballroom or amphitheater. I’d be doing the same if I was there. Smooth on the ears, like butter.
Dear lord this was long. The tracks are great, it's awesome jazz, but there's so much of it. This is proof that you really need to be in the right mood for some of these because it's GOOD music, but I got sick of it very quickly.
Never listened to Duke before this album is long. It’s also live and I like all the little noises Duke uses to cheer on his band. Especially during the ripping sax solo in Dimineuendo And Crescendo In Blue, 27 bars apparently; it’s a long solo but fitting. It’s considered a huge album in jazz history. I enjoyed it more than I expected. Big band swing isn’t my go to but the significance of this recording wasn’t lost on me. 3/5
Good album but outrageously long and tough to get through... highs were HIGH and the live aspect actually added to the experience, but 2 hours? No chance lol
It was good, more like background Jazz, didn't dislike it but didn't really sound special or light a spark
great, kind of long though, i could handle about 40 minutes not 2 hours
Very fun to do chores to, makes everything feel fun and cheeky - not a genre I resonate with however, so it can never be higher than a 3
Don’t know anything about jazz but it makes me feel like Christmas and New York City and old films so for that I like it, but definitely not my genre of choice.
Solid fun Jazz. I should figure out if this is Bop? Post bop? Hard bop? Bebop? Whatever it's jazz I can wrap my head around melodically, and I like it.
This was a pleasant working soundtrack for the afternoon. It drifted, which is never a bad thing whilst I'm tapping away. I could have done without all the talking in-between tracks
Ok
Sans être fan de jazz, ça trompette bien tout ça
classic
Fine
Newport is a lovely, old money town sitting on the Atlantic Ocean in Rhode Island with huge gilded age mansions, so the subdued politeness heard from the 1956 audience in the beginning feels authentic, then a damn riot breaks out later in the show because that’s just the power of Duke. The recording is so clean and crisp, and full of life. It’s a generous historic document on the vitality of live jazz. Again, live albums are A LOT. I love jazz though, so I approached this one as if I was a spectator sitting on the lawn of the well manicured park on a warm summer afternoon under a big oak tree with a picnic basket, some booze, and a few cultured friends. It was a lovely day, then shit got wild and we partied. It was a day I won’t soon forget!
I like the vibe, but it’s a LOT of jazz. Hard to get super into it because there’s a lot of jamming and not a lot of catchy beats. Totally appreciate the talent though. If I was a big jazz fan, I’m sure this would be really great.
Duke Ellington. Jazz. Excellence. Some reservation on my part for the style of jazz.
Can‘t judge it.
Diminuendo in Blue was pretty swinging throughout for 1956. The rest was just OK.
I don’t know anything about jazz. I really like the oboe and muted trumpet.
This is not my kinda jazz, but I appreciate the musicians clearly having fun
It feels kinda wrong to be rating this album a 3, but I'm doing these ratings based on personal taste and I've never gotten into instrumental jazz. It is a beautiful sound though! Favorite song: "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)"
When you need to hear it how it all started....
If I must. I think that if I liked this kind of thing I would have been up in it by now. Wharp-whoooaaaaaaarp! Tssss tssss. Doodly doodly DOOOOOOO! Might put this on at Christmas to keep my father-in-law entertained after lunch. Generous three stars.
I hate to sound like I'm uncultured, or I don't have ears, but I found this a bit hard to get really into. I am generally unfamiliar with jazz. In fact, like a lot of people, it's probably one of my biggest musical blind spots. If I close my eyes and focus, I can sort of vibe with it, but it gets rather exhausting for me after a while. Maybe it takes a while longer to really "get" it. Maybe repeated listenings will uncover more. But for now, based on my enjoyment, I can't give it more than a 3. Fav tracks: Diminuendo in Blue
Loved the last song. I generally prefer some New Orleans style jazz over the more bluesy stuff but this wasn’t bad. Hard for me to catch the real rhythm or groove of some of the songs but that’s very typical for me with this genre. Long enough for them to get into it, short enough that I’m not going crazy waiting for a song to end. Diminnuendo in Blue is definitely my favorite here. High 2 low 3.
I really don’t know how to rate this. It was enjoyable, but it doesn’t have the depth or structure of a normal album. Low 3, but I don’t really think of it like other albums on the list.
Fun energy.
This was cool!! I'm trying to listen to the original length of all these older records because I don't think I would like it as much if I would've listen to the whole bloated complete version that is on Spotify right now. I just listened to the original five songs that were on the LP. Because I don't care about a jazz rendition of the Star Spangled Banner or four minute long banter introducing the band. But yeah this was really nice, good house cleaning music.
Never heard this album before. Kind of an odd album, especially with the announcements being included throughout. The mention of a "young Quincy Jones" was pretty funny to hear. Overall the sound of this live album is pretty clean. I didn't find this to be mind-blowing. But it's a very famous album. and increased the popularity of jazz festivals. The story of how the original album and CD release were "faked" but that they were fixed in a later release is also interesting. Overall I get why it's on the list, but can't rate it higher than 3 stars.
Wouldn't normally listen to this, but very pleasant.
I'd give this 5 stars if it was just Diminuendo in Blue.
This was definitely an upgrade from that Justin Timberlake album the generator gave me yesterday! I don’t know much about Duke Ellington, but this live album was fun and enjoyable, especially for big band jazz and swing fans. The original 1956 LP only had five songs, but this version includes the full show with 40 tracks. Personally, I think they could’ve shortened it a bit since half the tracks are just talking or announcements. Even so, the music was great and gave me a new appreciation for Ellington.
Not really into solos. Rhythm section is good. Clarinet solo on black and tan fantasy is nice. Can't stand the trumpeter. Tea for Two is a nice song. Maybe I judge big band jazz too harshly. Hard to dislike Take the "A" Train. A classic and really well done.
Jazz, not really my thing but good.
Tooooooooooooo long! Buuuuuut this is my favourite era of jazz and I would happily put this on in the background while I’m preparing fondu.
Finger waggin music! Fun to listen to, and I can understand the cultural significance of this performance and moment in history, but it’s not something I see myself listening to again. I’m not super well versed in jazz, but Swing/Big Band is not really my thing.
this helped me place first at tft good songs and it was performed live the American national anthem as the opener caught me off guard so hard lol
Not my thing but respect those for whom it’s their thing
3/5
Great live album. I've never really sat down and listened to a Duke Ellington album, but this was a smooth play. Lots of shouts out on the mic. I give it a 3.
Enjoyed this very much, and the quality of the recording was fantastic. However, live albums aren’t a favourite of mine, and the various interlude felt like it slowed things up a little. Great listen though!
An interesting listen, not convinced by the fake crowd noises, but pretty good overall.
idk
Sorry Seb, but I listened to this passively, as elevator music that was free to catch my attention here and there whenever it felt like it. And it did, here and there. Three stars is probably generous, but whatever. I hate live albums and those aspects here don't exactly entice, but I've also loved what little Duke Ellington that I've heard (mainly his soundtrack for Anatomy of a Murder) and the livelier aspects of this set reminded me of that.
Not typically a fan of live albums, but this was a treat. I wasn't a fan of the talking in between songs being included, but I really liked the high energy of the songs and the instruments were played so smoothly as well. Highlights: Tea for Two III Newport Up Sophisticated Lady
Big band isn't my favorite flavor of jazz but this had some tasty moments on it and the musicians were impeccable. Paul Gonsalves was an obvious standout for his lengthy solo on the final song. It's too bad that the recording quality was so rough, it took me out of the performances. I guess for a live outdoor recording 68 years ago it's understandable. 3.5/5
Ok there are two versions of this album available, one has 5 tracks and one has 38. I guess I'll start with the former. Kicking off with the clarinet.. oh yeah. Didn't know the first few tracks but they were fun. Noticeably much fuller sound on track 4, Jeep's Blues, which I know well. Awesome to hear the crowd going absolutely nuts after each track. Halfway through the last track and this sounds like the craziest party of 1956, crowd is goin nuts. 1956?? god damn. This probably changed these people's lives. Super exciting ending. Awesome snapshot in time, great musicians. 3/5
I listened to the first 20 tracks (there were two CDs I think, so I did not listen to the second one). Overall, great jazz album, especially since it was live but I don't like all jazz, and I did not like this one too much.
I don't care to listen to jazz, even when it's good.
urge un'enciclopedia del jazz per capire veramente perchè ciascuno di questi album è finito su questa lista. sempre molto piacevole, ma anche molto lungo.
We have been on an absolute jazz roll here for the past couple of weeks. This one was more of a \"standard\" type jazz and the horns are incredibly powerful. I would say this is not my favorite type but still good. This is in the high 3 range.
Love a good live album, but this is one where the crowd noise kinda takes me out of the music. Sucks because the music is great.
Didn't seem like this was much different than the other jazz albums we've had. Great performers, but just not my jam.
I hated this album. Is it incredible jazz? Yes. Are the horns screachy af? Also yes. This one was anxiety inducing. I’m rating it middle of the road because I respect other people’s appreciation, but cannot go higher than a 3.
Not my thing. Not a great mix but that’s also bc of how old it is. Maybe good party music in the background.
Welcome to jazz club…
I love the sound, but the announcements in between take me out.
Some pretty solid jazz numbers, but not much else to point about this album. 3.5 bumped down to 3.
Really actually pretty pleasant.
delightful
Of course this is masterful. Of course it is at the highest level. Nevertheless, there was something in THIS performance that I felt was too mechanical or maybe like "professional" and less personal and impassioned. I don't know why exactly, it may be to do wth chemistry, as iif you put together the worlds greatest sports team by hiring all the best players and sure, they win everything but where is the heart? Not going this far with this album (!) but it does feel like a performance. Perhaps because they ARE masters at their craft they need to put something more into their performances to personalize it more? Interesting...
Had muddy waters at Newport yesterday, so good to get a direct Comparison to another live album, This is good, but has the pitfalls of what I don’t like about love albums. The CD version is also far too long. But more than worthy of this list
Pretty good. Good to work along to. Not as good as other jazz albums I’ve heard I think this was a bit too much at times but some of the tunes were a good vibe.
Good instrumental
Very long, leading to a segmented listen.
Really really long like way too long and there's loads of chatter that we don't care about. But the music itself is cool
Its weird to parse through the complete version for the three songs included originally in the re-recording, and I think one day I want to sit down with the entire 2 Cd album but at least for the "Newport Suite", "Jeep's Blues" and "Diminuendo ans Crescendo in Blue" its all just the kind of energetic and fun jazz that just so clicks with me the most (mainly with Bebop), especially the Newport Suite which packs so many sonic emotional moments that transmit this sense of joy from all the players in the band, its always weird to describe that but those moments always make a jazz recording to me and even more with how the audience responds in turn. Wonderful stuff and totally get how this gave Duke's career a second wind
I liked it, but I’m unlikely to revisit it.
Jazz is pretty cool.
Good
listened to the original LP. this album truly went in one ear and out the other. i was surprised at the extent this *doesn't* feel like a live album (i am told the remaster differs on this); it's all technical showmanship and feels very tight and regular
All for live albums but not a fan of how much song time the announcer gets here lol broke the flow way too often. Nice jazz besides that though. 6.5 / 10
Although I'm usually a sucker for Jazz, visiting a chunk of the jazz clubs in Manhattan almost every third weekend during my time there, this album did not resonate with me as much as I would've hoped. The jazz sounds so basic which has never been the case with most other jazz albums I've heard, this truly felt more like a band you'd find playing on a Saturday night at a reasonably fancy restaurant to appease your mood after seeing that abysmally small portion size. A 3 is justifiable for this album in particular.
Took some time for me to get in a groove with it but ends with a bang. Really cool
I usually enjoy the Duke a lot, but if I was at that show, I'm pretty sure I would've slept through it.
A very good, dynamic and fun big band album, but it still sounds very standard to me.
Acknowledging that duke is an icon for a reason but I’m just not a jazzy girl.
Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue
the small little intros/conversations aside, this is some fun big band jazz. it doesnt really stand out to me (except the horns here and there) but it was definitely enjoyable.
That’s definitely a jazz album!
Very talented musicians. Artists. Not my cup of tea.
Bisher längstes Album. Aber nett mal für einen Nachmittag.
Too many interludes, and why the star spangled banner lol
3☆/5 09.25.2024
This was an unexpected treat. Not a huge fan of live albums, but this one works.
OK, good jazz.
Strange. There are so many Ellington live albums out there. Why this one? Regardless, clearly talented, but after a few numbers, it’s background. Gotta be a middle school band kid to not be bored by this.
This whole album sounds like it was made by a really talented elephant.
normally i am not a fan of instrumentals. but i do love live albums and this is very listenable.
TL;DR: 3/5 My first thought, 1956 is a long time ago... Why is there a whole song dedicated to introducing the band? I know it's a "Live" album, but come on! This album is one that requires attention. There are little details that are really neat, for example, listening to this album with headphones is a very different experience than listening to it with speakers. The balance and the way everything is space is mesmerizing (in an audio sense). Every instrument has its place in the mix, and every instrument can be heard with absolute clarity. A huge breath of fresh air when comparing to todays mixes and music where everything is punched in your face at maximum volume. From wikipedia about Duke Ellington: Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s and gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem. A master at writing miniatures for the three-minute 78 rpm recording format, Ellington wrote or collaborated on more than one thousand compositions; his extensive body of work is the largest recorded personal jazz legacy, and many of his pieces have become standards. That's really interesting, 1000 compositions! This explains how influential he was and why he's featured in the top 1001 albums. Overall, an enjoyable listen, but not something that I would come back to, which to me, deserves a 3/5
Geluisterd naar de korte oorspronkelijke versie (door zelf een playlist te maken). Het is fijn werken met deze muziek op de achtergrond. Er heel wat muziek in. Maar hoe houdt het tegenover andere jazz namen uit die tijd? Daar helpt het algoritme. Na het album volgen andere jaren 50 jazz nummers. En dat merk ik pas na een aantal nummers als ik ineens een extra fijn nummer hoor. Dan moet ik concluderen dat ik het genre fijn vind, maar dit album niet meer waardeer dan gemiddeld.
Soothing, fell asleep listening to it and revisited it the other day
Very relaxing album that’s perfect to have on while working
I like jazz as passive listening, so this historical album was cool to hear and learn about. The emcee talking and applause give the feel of what it would be like to be there, but does take away from the background listing qualities. By far the oldest album we've gotten so far (5th oldest of the whole list. Good timing to hear what inspired Stevie Wonder to write "Sir Duke" as we just had that album two weeks ago. Also funny to put an actual voice to Jordan Peele's "Ghost of Duke Ellington" character in Big Mouth.
This is a fairly enjoyable jazz album. I'm not sure it's ESSENTIAL, but I enjoyed it for what it's worth. Best Songs: Newport Up, Diminuendo in Blue Worst Songs: Festival Junction
I’m beginning to understand that I don’t hate ALL jazz. This was perfectly pleasant.
джазец приятный, но слушать его целенаправленно вообще не мое, поэтому троечка и расход епт
Pleasent and overly long Jazz album with lots of talking in between.
Good jazz, great jazz, it all sounds much of a muchness to me - I tend to prefer the live performances, but this one didn't really have much of the crowd element, you definitely couldn't feed off their energy. Thank you very much Tim for posting the original version, at 40 minutes it was just the right length, 2 hours would have driven me a bit mad. 3/5.
https://i.imgur.com/APflqnw.png
Really good, loved the mood
jokes aside, this is a piece of history! this is a fucking ARTIFACT! it's amazing to hear a biblically accurate Duke Ellington with the context to go with it. it's not my favorite album but i genuinely appreciate it just for the technical skill and the importance of it. insane w
Yeah... it's cool and all... I'm just to sleepy for this vibe at the moment
Rating is for the original 1956 LP (40 min) not the 1999 remastered “Complete” (2 hr) release.
Jazz and talking
Not a big fan of this package. There is skill and history on display here but a lot of chaff. I'd like to listen to more Duke Ellington and bits of this have inspired me to do so but I'll likely try and check out other recordings.
3.5/5 stars