Duke Ellington - Blues In Orbit

Remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes

Gatefold old-school "tip-on" on jacket by Stoughton Printing

Plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings!

It's tempting for Blues in Orbit to be overlooked when Duke Ellington's best albums are discussed, but truly it's an undisputed gem. There are 11 tracks, none of them is longer than 4:50 and it is all good stuff. There are some familiar favorites such as "In a Mellotone" and "C Jam Blues" as well as less often heard gems like "Blues in Blueprint and "Sweet and Pungent." It is also in stereo, and the arrangements are superb.

The featured performers include Ellington stalwarts Johnnie Hodges, Ray Nance, Harry Carney and Jimmy Hamilton, as well as the less familiar Booty Wood and Matthew Gee. Johnnie, in particular is well showcased here, taking the lead not only in slow pieces like "Brown Penny" and "Sentimental Lady", but also in the rousing, "Smada."

The full Analogue Productions reissue treatment is at work on this smashing LP — famed mastering engineer Bernie Grundman handled the remastering from the original analog tapes. The lacquers were plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, maker of the world's finest-sounding LPs. Lastly we've stashed each super-silent 180-gram disc in a premium Stoughton Printing gatefold jacket.

All of the takes were recorded during after midnight sessions recorded over two nights starting on December 2, 1959 in New York at Columbia Records' studio on East 30th Street. Each night Duke's late dinner arrived at 2 a.m. — a sizzling steak, a pot of coffee with lemons in it, portions of American cheese, and grapefruits. After dinner, and a breather for the band, the sessions finished around dawn in a swinging fashion.

If you're just getting into jazz, this album is highly recommended as a great way to initiate your collection. The sound is incredible, with packaging to match. Another audiophile home run.

Side 1

Three J’s Blues

Smada

Pie Eye’s Blues

Sweet and Pungent

C Jam Blues

Side 2

In A Mellow Tone

Blues In Blueprint

The Swinger’s Get The Blues Too

The Swinger’s Jump

Blues In Orbit

Villes Ville Is The Place, Man

Customer Reviews (4.92 Stars) 12 person(s) rated this product.

what a record! posted on 07/01/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Tim great easy to listen to music , pressed impeccably by QRP ,,, in a very very nice sleeve .. it does not get any better

Great album posted on 05/09/2023 4 Stars Reviewer: Ken This is a great album with some good tracks. Sound is also very good with good presence and huge soundstage. Recommended.

Awe inspiring posted on 04/12/2023 5 Stars This pressing took me completely by surprise. I WAS expecting a great sounding album but what I got was pure musical magic. The talent of the players are obviously genius but add that to the beautifully mastered dead quiet pressing and you’re rewarded with a jaw dropping 3D immersive awe inspiring album. It’s brilliant, simply brilliant…

THE DUKE ORBITS THE BLUES posted on 04/08/2021 5 Stars Reviewer: S. Madon A marvelous record. The sheer lineup of now revered musicians and composers that came out of the Duke's orchestra is mind boggling. There's Strayhorn, Nance, Hodges, Hamilton, Gonzalves, and the list goes on. Each in turn influencing future generations of musicians. Talk about royal lineage - it runs deep and all goes all the way back to that Gentleman of Jazz. This essentially is a great blues album that strips away the fluff and takes you the very foundation of jazz. The music is upbeat and puts you in one heck of a good mood. The liner notes on the back provide a humorous glimpse into how this recording was done - I was craving steak (sans the black coffee with slices of lemon) after reading those. Fantastic record!

Wonderful! posted on 10/13/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: Allen In addition to the vinyl being as clean and quiet as any I've purchased recently the music is fantastic with instruments well defined, separated, punchy and sharp as can be. Wonderful! This is for the 33 rpm single LP.

Perfection posted on 04/22/2018 5 Stars Put this one on the top of your list. Perfect in every way.

One of my best sounding albums posted on 03/26/2017 5 Stars Reviewer: Gov This is simply incredible...a top 5 record for me. Incredible!

Best sounding LP in my collection posted on 08/10/2016 5 Stars Reviewer: Isaac I have many outstanding LPs in my collection, but this record is, by far, the best sounding of the lot. The resolution is impressive, but the sense of space and 3D imaging is really jaw-dropping. Never mind the music and performance are fantastic, the sonics are just out of this world! My hat if off for Chad and his team for yet another superb reissue!

Fantastic posted on 07/26/2016 5 Stars Reviewer: Len Cronin If you are a fan of Duke Ellington get this album. Great music with great sound, I can't imagine this album sounding better. A real no brainer. I wish all reissues sounded this good.

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