Playlist, Week of 2021-04-11

The sequencing of side 1 of Rubber Soul never ceases to astound me... especially from "Nowhere Man" to the one-two punch of "Think for Yourself" and "The Word," followed by the sublime "Michelle"... sheer bliss... On the Duke Ellington front, "The Newport Jazz Festival Suite" has been overshadowed by the (deservedly praised) Paul Gonsalves showcase "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue," but it deserves some love... especially the live version on the "Compete" CD, which for some reason didn't even appear on the original album (they re-recorded it in the studio and added audience applause)... the Octet show from the Rainbow Grill in 1967 is also fantastic, with a super-concentrated sax trio: Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Johnny Hodges... superb playing all around... "I'm Beginning to See the Light" has never been one of my favorites of Ellington's pop tunes (especially when he insists on having the crowd sing along), but the instrumental version here redeems it.. Cat Anderson is the only trumpet present, and he is pleasantly restrained... 

Playlist 2021-04-12:

*Louis Armstrong: From the Original Okehs, Vol. 3: 1928/29
*Louis Armstrong: The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946) (disc 1)
*Beatles: Rubber Soul (2009 stereo remaster) (side 1)
*John Coltrane: Fearless Leader (disc 3)
*Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Armed Forces (side 1)
*Deerhoof: Love-Lore
*Duke Ellington: Ellington at Newport 1956 (Complete) (selections)
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Piano in the Background
*Duke Ellington: Piano in the Foreground
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra featuring Mahalia Jackson: Black, Brown, and Beige
*Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Live at the Blue Note (discs 1, 2)
*Duke Ellington: The Pianist
*Duke Ellington Octet: Live at the Rainbow Grill
*Duke Ellington Small Bands: Intimacy of the Blues
*Duke Ellington: Standards: Live at the Salle Pleyel
*Duke Ellington: In Concert: Piano Solo and Orchestra
*Duke Ellington: The Intimate Ellington
*Duke Ellington/Ray Brown: This One's for Blanton
*Duke Ellington: Duke's Big 4
*Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra: Gillespiana
*Alexander Hawkins feat. Evan Parker + Riot Ensemble: Togetherness Music (For Sixteen Musicians)
*Jimi Hendrix: People, Hell, and Angels
*Andrew Hill: A Beautiful Day
*Jefferson Pilot: The Hopeless News
*Love Supreme Electric: A Love Supreme and Meditations (discs 1, 2)
*David Murray Octet: Picasso
*Sonny Rollins: Rollins in Holland (disc 2)
*Slobber Pup: Black Aces "Accuser"
*Soft Machine: Live at Henie Onstad Art Centre 1971 (disc 1)
*Billy Strayhorn's Septet: Cue for Saxophone