Such Sweet Thunder - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra > Reviews > Top big band tunes

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money

Advantages:	Superb playing and well - written music, cliche free
Disadvantages:	Nothing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I've been reluctant to write about this CD, since I generally can't string together two words about it. However, it is hands down my favourite Duke Ellington CD, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you all! 'Such Sweet Thunder' is dedicated to the Stratford, Ontario Shakespearean Festival, and all the pieces are based on Shakepeare characters or sonnets. This has absolutely no reflection in the music though, so it's best just to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Track Listing (HUGE, bear with me)
1. Such Sweet Thunder, 2. Sonnet for Caesar, 3. Sonnet to Hank Cinq, 4. Lady Mac, 5. Sonnet in Search of a Moor, 6. The Telecasters, 7. Up And Down, 8. Sonnet for Sister Kate, 9. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 10. Madness in Great Ones, 11. Half the Fun, 12. Circle of Fourths, BONUS TRACKS: 13. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 14. Circle of Fourths, 15. Suburban Beauty, 16. A Flat Minor, 17. Cafe Au Lait, 18. Half The Fun, 19. Suburban Beauty, 20. A Flat Minor, 21. Cafe Au Lait, 22. Pretty Girl.

The Music
- 'Such Sweet Thunder' opens the album with a raunchy riff on low brass, screaming trumpets and triplets on the piano, Broadway-style. It has Ray Nance on trumpet playing a simple solo.
- 'Sonnet for Casear' has a long clarinet solo, which is melodic but uninspiring.
- 'Sonnet for Hank Cinq' is a trombone showpiece - Britt Woodman plays a stunning solo, technically demanding. One of the top tracks on the album.
- 'Lady Mac' is a great Ellington jazz waltz, which is fun and swinging. Not bad.
- 'The Telecasters' is fabulous! Three trombones play the witches from Macbeth, and together with the baritone sax, they play sleazy riffs which are gloriously broken up by completely silent bars. Excellent stuff.
- Clark Terry plays a neat solo on tumpet on 'Up And Down', which is a fun tribute to Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- 'Sonnet For Sister Kate' has a delicious trombone wah-wah mute solo, which is a joy to hear. Slow, ballad tempo, but full of interest.
- 'Madness in Great Ones' is a wild tribute to Hamlet. The star is Cat Anderson, who plays a ridiculously high tumpet solo which is hilarious and awesome.
- 'Half The Fun' is an exotic-sounding slow track which still has the raunchy bite of the fast tunes.

In general, this is vintage big band music, but not in the traditional sense. There are no cliches here - and that's what makes things so interesting. The short tracks are all bursting with interest, and there are many places where I feel like laughing out loud. The playing is amazing, really doing justice to the music.

The Production
Top notch again, making the band sound full and rich, which great balance in the solo sections.

The Packaging
Great booklet, packed with three sets of liner notes. Excellent again!

The Verdict
Amazing stuff - raucous and fun at times, poignant and sweet at others, this is a glorious big-band album. Every jazz fan should have this, and it's a great intro to the Duke. The numerous bonus tracks make this disc clock in at about 75 minutes, so you're getting your money's worth - I picked it up for an obscenely low £5. Superb in every way, this is an album you'll want to play again and again. No weak tracks whatsoever.