September 7, 2006

Duke Ellington's House of Lords

Posted by dogpossum on September 7, 2006 1:55 PM in the category digging and djing and lindy hop and other dances and music

Ok, so a little while ago I crapped on about Bluesology.

Today I'd like to crap on about House of Lords, which I have on acomplete centennial something or other collection (well worth the (massive) cost - it truly is a 'complete' collection... well, for that one label. whatever that may be). It's live, recorded in 1966 and it's five minutes and thirtyfive seconds long. It's also 136bpm and I classify it as 'groovy swinging', which means that it has the tsi-tsi-tsii high hat sound and rhythm section, but trucks along - not that sort of formlessly swingingly groove that irritates old scratchy fans. Because it's Ellington, it really cooks. And it really feels like it's trucking along - grooving, but rocking. Chunky but still palatable for the smoothy types.

So, anyways, the thing I like about it is a) it's live, and b) you can hear Duke laughing - no, chortling - away in the solos. The band are really enjoying this stuff, and it's really rolling along - you feel like it's going somewhere. Kind of makes me feel like this is the type of stuff Oscar Peterson would do if he had more guts. Guts as in, if his music was a little more visceral.

I'd certainly like to dance de lindy hop to this song. Which sounds as if it's really just drums/percussion, piano and bass. And groaning adn chortling.
Matter of fact, I wonder if there aren't two pianos in there - could it actually be Peterson? Or maybe it's Basie? I'd hazzard the former, though I don't think they really worked together (actually, what would I know).
Dang! I just NEED to rush home and look at the liner notes!

At this point I really wish I could insert a sound clip so that you could all listen along with me, but of course, there are copyright problems there. Maybe I need to get into that streaming radio action?

Posted by dogpossum on September 7, 2006 1:55 PM in the category digging and djing and lindy hop and other dances and music