This “Tribute to Ellington” album came as a real shock–not so much because Daniel Barenboim turns out to be a keen jazz pianist, but because nowhere is it mentioned on the cover that this is basically a big band album using a number of players from the Chicago Symphony! Yet, these classical specialists’ “swing” and sense of timing are such that they easily could pass for the current Ellington band. To be fair, they’re getting some good outside help from reed player Don Byron and jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves–and there are a couple of well placed “ringers” sitting in as well. Nonetheless, the results will positively knock you out, as this disc is loaded with exciting and idiomatic arrangements of 15 of Duke’s very greatest hits, complemented by first rate sonics. This “Tribute” is highly recommended to anyone wanting to explore the best of Duke Ellington, and yes, fans of the Chicago Symphony too.
