Duke Ellington and jazz violin – a mode that's maybe not such a surprise, once you realize how important Ray Nance was to his group! Nance played trumpet, but also turned in plenty of violin solos for
Ellington over the years – and here, he's joined by European greats Stephan Grappelli on violin, and Svend Asmussen on viola – both players who had a huge reputation overseas, and who work here with a core lineup of
Ellington musicians that includes Russell Procope on alto, Paul Gonsalves on tenor, and Buster Cooper on trombone! The setting is a bit more relaxed and small combo than larger
Ellington dates – and although the session was recorded by Reprise Records in 1963, it wasn't issued until over a decade later – making it a nice surprise to fans of the recently-departed
Duke. Titles include "Cotton Tail", "Blues In C", "String Along With Strings", "Limbo Jazz", "The Feeling Of Jazz", and "Tricky's Licks".
(Mid 70s Rockefeller label pressing with Warner rim logo.)