js Recorded in 1960 after Dizzy Gillespie had successfully experimented with African and Latin music, as well as other new developments in jazz, “A Portrait of Duke Ellington” is a look back at some of Gillespie’s favorite classic compositions by the Duke. Although the music on here does look back, it is done with a very tasteful modern sensibility that brings new life to some of these often overplayed chestnuts. Much credit should not only go to Gillespie’s tendency to forge ahead towards new developments in jazz, but also to arranger Clare Fischer who infuses beautiful modern dissonances in just the right amounts to Ellington’s already masterful orchestrations. Influenced by composers such as Stravinsky and Shostakovitch, Fischer’s voicings may remind some of Gil Evans with his careful placement of soft dissonant tones that add so much interest to harmonic changes. This cross influence between 20th century composers who picked up on the jazz language, and the jazz musicians who then picked up on the modified jazz tonalities of the composers produced some of the finest music of the mid-20th century. Shostakovitch, Poulenc, Gershwin and Ravel learned from the early jazz musicians and then were subsequently influential on later jazzers such as Ellington, Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock.

Although there are tasteful modern touches, this is still Ellington’s music and it swings hard with a nice undertone of the blues. Gillespie’s playing is solid throughout as he effortlessly hits the high dramatic notes called for in the arrangements and includes his own sophisticated blues influence to some numbers. Another big plus with this big piece of vinyl is the recording quality. When I gave this a test listen on the headphones at the local used vinyl shop I was instantly amazed at the clarity of the different orchestral instruments and how smoothly Dizzy’s volume perfectly rides just on top of the band. Considering how top notch the orchestrations are on here, its nice the recording engineers really captured everything, especially the softer tones in the woodwind section. This is an excellent big band record, modern and traditional at the same time, turn it up loud!