Portraits of Duke Ellington in Bloomington, MN

Recorded just a month after
Duke Ellington
's death, this tribute album (reissued on CD) features guitarist
Joe Pass
(just beginning to become famous), bassist
Ray Brown
, and drummer
Bobby Durham
jamming on eight
Ellington
tunes and
"Caravan"
(which was penned by one of
Duke
's key sidemen,
Juan Tizol
). The interplay between the three musicians is quite impressive, and
Pass
' mastery of the guitar is obvious (he didn't really need the other sidemen). Highlights include
"In a Mellow Tone,"
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore,"
and
"I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)."
Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow