Ellington Uptown (album)

Ellington Uptown (also released as Hi-Fi Ellington Uptown) is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1951 & 1952. The album was re-released on CD in 2004 with additional tracks recorded in 1947 and originally released as the Liberian Suite.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Although some historians have characterized the early '50s as Duke Ellington's "off period" (due to the defection of alto star Johnny Hodges), in reality, his 1951-1952 orchestra could hold its own against his best. This set has many classic moments... One of the great Duke Ellington sets". Three factors stand out in the interpretation of Ellington's music on this album: Betty Roche's vocal on a multi movement version of "Take The 'A' Train," the addition of Louis Bellson on drums (Skin Deep), and the updating of old Ellington material that is made new and fresh.

Track listing

 * 1) "Skin Deep" (Louis Bellson) - 6:49
 * 2) "The Mooche" (Ellington, Irving Mills) - 6:36
 * 3) "Take the "A" Train" (Billy Strayhorn) - 8:02
 * 4) "A Tone Parallel to Harlem (Harlem Suite)" - 13:48
 * 5) "Perdido" (Juan Tizol) - 8:25
 * 6) "Controversial Suite Part 1: Before My Time" - 6:09
 * 7) "Controversial Suite Part 2: Later" - 4:14
 * 8) "The Liberian Suite: I Like the Sunrise" - 4:28 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 9) "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 1" - 4:50 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 10) "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 2" - 3:26 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 11) "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 3" - 3:45 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 12) "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 4" - 3:04 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * 13) "The Liberian Suite: Dance No. 5" - 5:08 Bonus track on CD reissue
 * Recorded in New York on December 24, 1947 (tracks 8-13), December 7, 1951 (track 4), December 11, 1951 (tracks 6 & 7), June 30, 1952 (track 3), July 1, 1952 (tracks 2 & 5) and in Fresno, California on February 29, 1952 (track 1)

Personnel

 * Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn – piano
 * Cat Anderson (tracks 1-3 & 5), Shorty Baker, Willie Cook (tracks 1-7), Shelton Hemphill (tracks 8-13), Al Killian (tracks 8-13), Clark Terry (tracks 1-7), Francis Williams (tracks 4 & 6-13) - trumpet
 * Ray Nance - trumpet, violin
 * Lawrence Brown (tacks 8-13), Quentin Jackson (tracks 1-7), Britt Woodman (tracks 1-7) - trombone
 * Tyree Glenn (track 8-13) - trombone, vibraphone
 * Claude Jones (tracks 8-13), Juan Tizol (tracks 1-7) - valve trombone
 * Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
 * Willie Smith (tracks 1, 4, 6 & 7), Johnny Hodges (track 3 & 8-7), Hilton Jefferson (tracks 1-3 & 5) - alto saxophone
 * Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
 * Paul Gonsalves (tracks 1-7), Al Sears (tracks 8-13) - tenor saxophone
 * Harry Carney - baritone saxophone
 * Fred Guy - guitar (tracks 8-13)
 * Wendell Marshall (tracks 1-7), Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin (tracks 8-13) - bass
 * Louis Bellson (tracks 1-7), Sonny Greer (tracks 8-13) - drums
 * Betty Roche - vocal (track 3)