I can offer a FAR more positive review of Duke Box 2, which I discovered and ordered a few days before your post about it. I found a new copy on ebay for $58, with shipping. I just finished listening to all of it, and found it very satisfying. CD1 consists of live 1952 NBC broadcasts from Birdland. CD2 is a 1958 concert in Munich, CD3 a concert in Stockholm. CD4 is 13 tracks of delightful solo piano recorded on three continents, and three tracks of a quartet with Wild Bill Davis, Joe Benjamin, and Rufus Jones. CD5 is a set of very interesting studio sessions from 1966-67, released by Storyville as "The Jaywalker," CD6 comprises more studio sessions from the early '70s, released by Storyville as "New York, New York." CD7 begins with the studio version of the Togo Brava Suite, the live version of which, performed in the UK, won Duke a Grammy, along with more new compositions. Sound is generally very good throughout, beginning with CD4, they're stereo.
I'm enjoying about Duke Box 2 on several levels. First, and most satisfying, is hearing Duke's most modern writing on the last three discs, of which "La Plus Belle Africaine" on the live version of the "Togo Brava Suite" album is a great example. It's my favorite track from that live CD, but it's not on the studio CD. "La Plus Belle Africaine" is the music that announced that the Duke was writing as modern as anyone! Throughout CD5, 6, and 7, Duke is moving in that direction. It's exciting to hear.
Another level is hearing the evolution of the Ellington band from the '50s to the '70s, as long time members are gradually replaced, and he maintained the character of the band. Duke always wrote for the individual musicians in his band, so that's another interesting element.
The solo piano CD is a real treat. Most of the tracks are little known compositions, and these may be the only recordings of many of them. I've always loved Duke's very individualist piano style, so having almost another hour of it is a real treat.
While Duke had to play a lot of his hits in concert settings, beginning with CD4, nearly everything is new music. While some or all of this material may have been previously issued by Storyville, they were getting the rights to stuff that his label didn't think would sell, so they didn't release it. Yes, they had previously released it as individual CDs -- but I bought the 7 CD set for less than $60 --a little more than $8 per CD.
There's also a bonus DVD of a TV show from the 1962 band, for which you would pay $30 if you could find it. It's very good stereo sound (except that the only time we hear drummer San Woodyard is during his solo), video quality is pretty good for 1962, and camera work is very good. We get solos, with close-ups, from all of the band's soloists, and for the most part, their solos are interesting. We see Duke, the showman.
Bottom line -- great musically, and a real bargain. It's a great follow-on to the Duke Box, which is from a decade earlier, and equally wonderful.
Thanks so much for this extended annotation, Jim, which is full of insights and excellent commentary.
I can offer a FAR more positive review of Duke Box 2, which I discovered and ordered a few days before your post about it. I found a new copy on ebay for $58, with shipping. I just finished listening to all of it, and found it very satisfying. CD1 consists of live 1952 NBC broadcasts from Birdland. CD2 is a 1958 concert in Munich, CD3 a concert in Stockholm. CD4 is 13 tracks of delightful solo piano recorded on three continents, and three tracks of a quartet with Wild Bill Davis, Joe Benjamin, and Rufus Jones. CD5 is a set of very interesting studio sessions from 1966-67, released by Storyville as "The Jaywalker," CD6 comprises more studio sessions from the early '70s, released by Storyville as "New York, New York." CD7 begins with the studio version of the Togo Brava Suite, the live version of which, performed in the UK, won Duke a Grammy, along with more new compositions. Sound is generally very good throughout, beginning with CD4, they're stereo.
I'm enjoying about Duke Box 2 on several levels. First, and most satisfying, is hearing Duke's most modern writing on the last three discs, of which "La Plus Belle Africaine" on the live version of the "Togo Brava Suite" album is a great example. It's my favorite track from that live CD, but it's not on the studio CD. "La Plus Belle Africaine" is the music that announced that the Duke was writing as modern as anyone! Throughout CD5, 6, and 7, Duke is moving in that direction. It's exciting to hear.
Another level is hearing the evolution of the Ellington band from the '50s to the '70s, as long time members are gradually replaced, and he maintained the character of the band. Duke always wrote for the individual musicians in his band, so that's another interesting element.
The solo piano CD is a real treat. Most of the tracks are little known compositions, and these may be the only recordings of many of them. I've always loved Duke's very individualist piano style, so having almost another hour of it is a real treat.
While Duke had to play a lot of his hits in concert settings, beginning with CD4, nearly everything is new music. While some or all of this material may have been previously issued by Storyville, they were getting the rights to stuff that his label didn't think would sell, so they didn't release it. Yes, they had previously released it as individual CDs -- but I bought the 7 CD set for less than $60 --a little more than $8 per CD.
There's also a bonus DVD of a TV show from the 1962 band, for which you would pay $30 if you could find it. It's very good stereo sound (except that the only time we hear drummer San Woodyard is during his solo), video quality is pretty good for 1962, and camera work is very good. We get solos, with close-ups, from all of the band's soloists, and for the most part, their solos are interesting. We see Duke, the showman.
Bottom line -- great musically, and a real bargain. It's a great follow-on to the Duke Box, which is from a decade earlier, and equally wonderful.