Featuring: Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Quentin Jackson, Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Jimmy Woode, Sam Woodyard, Candido Camero, Joya Sherrill, Ozzie Bailey.
An indispensable and long unavailable Ellington suite, “A Drum is a Woman”. Includes the complete original album plus the rare tune, "Pomegranate", from the suite but omitted from the LP.
Written for an early television special, it is a musical fantasy or allegory telling the story of jazz as an adventure by characters Madam Zajj and Carribee Joe, from the Caribbean to the moon via Congo Square and Fifty-Second Street. It was in four parts with a dozen selections, two reprises, and a finale.
Extra percussion, a harp, and the voices of Margaret Tynes, Joya Sherrill, and Ozzie Bailey were added (plus dancer Carmen de Lavallade) with all music, lyrics and arrangements by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. (freshsoundrecords. com)
Tracklist:
Part I
1. A Drum Is A Woman
2. Rhythm Pum Te Dum
3. What Else Can You Do With A Drum - Calypso
Part II
4. New Orleans
5. Hey, Buddy Bolden
6. Carribee Joe
7. Congo Square
Part III
8. Zajj: A Drum Is A Woman - Part 2
9. You Better Know It
10. Carribee Joe
11. Madam Zajj
12. Ballet Of The Flying Saucers
Part IV
13. Zajj's Dream
14. Rhumbop
15. Carribee Joe - Part 2
16. Finale
Recorded during September, October and December 1956.
Released 2007.