A Sense Of A City

It gave me a bit of a jolt to read on the sleeve notes of this disk that when it was released in 1970, it placed second in the jazz albums of the year Downbeat poll sandwiched between Weather Report and electric Miles Davis. New Orleans Suite by Duke Ellington, the disk in question here, seems to belong to an altogether different era but arguably listening to it now, it has a timeless feel that perhaps the seventies fusion bands lack. This is wonderful late Ellington, made under difficult circumstances since Johnny Hodges died during the period of recording. There are four tracks called "Portraits" ( of Louis Armstrong, Wellman Braud, Sydney Bechet and Mahalia Jackson ) these are the ones recorded after Hodges's demise and those with perhaps the most obvious New Orleans feel. Many of the other tracks evoke more the atmosphere and mysterious feel of the city rather than reflecting any kind of strict dixie jazz form. Throughout the playing of the band is relaxed and flowing with a natural swinging blues feel. There is no sense whatsoever of any fading powers. It is the only Ellington album I have ( although I do have a tribute cd by other artists ) and I am happy with the choice which I would recommend.