Product Description:
Personnel: Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn (arranger, piano); Yvonne Lanuaze (vocals); Willie Smith (soprano & alto saxophones); Russell Procope (alto saxophone, clarinet); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (baritone saxophone); Cat Anderson, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Nelson Williams, Andres Merenghito, Ray Nance, Clark Terry (trumpet); Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Tyree Glenn, Jaun Tizol (trombone); Wendell Marshall (bass); Sonny Greer, Louis Bellson (drums).
Recorded at Columbia's 30th St. Studio, New York, New York on December 19, 1950 & December 11 & August 7, 1951. Originally released on Columbia (4418).
Recorded in 1950 at the dawn of the long-playing record era, three of these tracks--the vintage early-1930s compositions "Mood Indigo," "Sophisticated Lady," and "Solitude"--had only been previously been heard in their entirety in concert: before this release, record technology simply couldn't accommodate the full 10-minute-plus arrangements. The first four pieces, which made up the original album, were recorded just before an extensive lineup reshuffle in 1951, reflected in the personnel changes on the last three bonus tracks.
