The second part of the concert was given by a group of Ellington alumni with impeccable credentials to get music to swing – Harold Ashby, Butch Ballard, Wild Bill Davis, John Lamb – with Kenny Burrell added to the band.
Photos by Olle Lindholm
It provided an almost 2 hour long concert which, at the end, had the audience standing on their feet.
It starts with C Jam Blues followed by I’m Beginning To See The Light – particular feature for John Lamb.
The group then continues with Just Squeeze Me with Harold Ashby in Ray Nance’s old role and I Got It Bad also in a rendition by Harold Ashby.
What Am I Here is the next number and it is followed by the fairly seldom heard B.P. Blues. One version of this song was performed by the Ellington band as B.P. Blue.
Changing the mood, the band then plays Mood Indigo in a rather particular renditon folllowed by the two Strayhorn compositions – Satin Doll and Johnny Come Lately.
The next two numbers are solo features for Kenny Burrell – Azure in a very lyrical version and In A Sentimental Mood.
Caravan, which ends the first portion of the concert, is also a solo feature but this time it is Butch Ballard in the limelight.
First portion
After a short break, the “Ellingtonians” are back on stage for another set. The band kicks off with Things Ain’t What They Used To Be. Then it slows down a little bit with Sophisticated Lady and some solo piano by Wild Bill Davis playing Lotus Blossoom.
The end of the concert was a real swinging affair with the group joining hands in It Don’t Mean A Thing and another version of Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.
Second portion
Due to age, Sjef Hoefsmit’s video with the concert is in fairly bad shape and this is why we have decided to publish only a part of it is here.