Billy Strayhorn • Piano Passion

 

Review from All About Jazz:
"During their nearly three decades of working together, Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington created a legacy of music for the ages. This set offers a rare opportunity to hear Strayhorn the composer playing many of his own songs, as well as some he wrote with Ellington and others. Their partnership began in 1939 and ended only with the death of "Swee' Pea," as Strayhorn came to be fondly called by Ellington, at a mere 52 from cancer in 1967.

The first ten cuts in this collection, recorded in Paris during two midnight sessions in 1961, were originally released on an LP rather inexplicably called The Peaceful Side of Billy Strayhorn. To that set another eleven sides have been added here. Recorded at various dates in New York from 1946 and 1950, both Ellington and Strayhorn play the piano.

The 1961 sides are marked by simplicity and a vibrant emotional connection. Strayhorn's playing is not showy. It's an honest performance in which each note of his "Passion Flower or his and Ellington's "Strange Feeling are invested with soul. On three numbers, the Paris Blue Notes lend a dash of vocalese. If on "Lush Life their "aaaaaahs verge on the kitschy, on "Day Dream they deepen the reverie. "Lush Life also remains notable as a highly personal and courageous reference to gay life by Strayhorn.
The mood shifts dramatically with the first of the Strayhorn and Ellington duets, "Cottontail, a hop-hopping race across the keyboards to the accompaniment of Wendell Marshall's bass. The high spirits of their exchanges on "C-Jam Blues are complemented by the tenderness of their playing on "Flamingo, the set's only cover. Filled with brilliant, playful, intimate and thoughtful touches, this private party of giants is one we're fortunate indeed to be able to share."  

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Reseña de All About Jazz:
"Durante sus casi tres décadas de trabajo conjunto, Billy Strayhorn y Duke Ellington crearon un legado de música para las edades. Este set ofrece una rara oportunidad de escuchar a Strayhorn el compositor tocando muchas de sus propias canciones, así como algunas que escribió con Ellington y otros. Su colaboración comenzó en 1939 y sólo terminó con la muerte de "Swee' Pea", como Strayhorn llegó a ser llamado cariñosamente por Ellington, a los 52 años a causa de un cáncer en 1967.

Los diez primeros cortes de esta colección, grabados en París durante dos sesiones de medianoche en 1961, se publicaron originalmente en un LP inexplicablemente llamado The Peaceful Side of Billy Strayhorn. A ese conjunto se han añadido aquí otras once caras. Grabadas en varias fechas en Nueva York entre 1946 y 1950, tanto Ellington como Strayhorn tocan el piano.

Las caras de 1961 están marcadas por la sencillez y una vibrante conexión emocional. La interpretación de Strayhorn no es vistosa. Es una interpretación honesta en la que cada nota de su "Passion Flower" o de su "Strange Feeling" y la de Ellington están revestidas de alma. En tres números, los Blue Notes de París aportan una pizca de voz. Si en "Lush Life" sus "aaaaaahs" rozan la cursilería, en "Day Dream" profundizan el ensueño. "Lush Life" también sigue siendo notable como una referencia muy personal y valiente a la vida gay de Strayhorn.
El estado de ánimo cambia radicalmente con el primero de los dúos de Strayhorn y Ellington, "Cottontail", una carrera de saltos a través de los teclados con el acompañamiento del bajo de Wendell Marshall. El buen humor de sus intercambios en "C-Jam Blues" se complementa con la ternura de su interpretación en "Flamingo", la única versión del disco. Lleno de toques brillantes, juguetones, íntimos y reflexivos, esta fiesta privada de gigantes es una de las que tenemos la suerte de poder compartir".  

Tracks:
1 - Lush Life 3:26
2 - Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 2:50
3 - Passion Flower 3:40
4 - Take The A Train 3:14
5 - Strange Feeling 3:38
6 - Day Dream 4:01
7 - Chelsea Bridge 3:15
8 - Multi Colored Blue 3:19
9 - Something To Live For 3:00
10 - A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing 4:42
11 - Cottontail 2:54
12 - C Jam Blues 3:00
13 - Flamingo 3:01
14 - Bang-Up Blues 3:07
15 - Tonk 2:58
16 - Johnny Come Lately 2:59
17 - In A Blue Summer Garden 4:07
18 - Great Times 2:56
19 - Tonk (Pianistically Allied) 3:25
20 - Drawing Room Blues 3:36
21 - Tonk 2:47


Crediuts:
    Bass – Joe Shulman (tracks: 15 to 18), Michel Gaudry (tracks: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10), Wendell Marshall (tracks: 11 to 14)
    Design – ChrisnaMorten
    Liner Notes – Brian Priestley
    Piano – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington (tracks: 11 to 21)
    Producer [CD] – Anders Stefansen
    Strings – Paris String Quartet (tracks: 4, 10)
    Vocals – Paris Blue Notes (tracks: 1, 6, 8)

Notes:
Tracks 1-10 recorded in Paris, May 1961.
Tracks 11-14 recorded in New York, October 3, 1950.
Tracks 15-18 recorded in New York, November 1950.
Track 19 recorded in Marshfield, Massachusetts, August 25, 1945.
Tracks 20-21 recorded in New York, January 10, 1946.

Label:    Storyville – 101 8404
Released:    2005
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Swing, Cool Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/7322554-Billy-Strayhorn-Piano-Passion

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