Duke Ellington - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: 70th Birthday Concert

"Based upon the diversity of music, quality of product and their extraordinary rate of progress, Pure Pleasure Records is our re-issue record company of the year." - hi-fi+

Recorded at Manchester, England's Free Trade Hall on November 26, 1969 (actually almost seven months after Duke Ellington's 70^th birthday), this legendary concert captures one of the final lineups of Ellington's touring band performing a retrospective program that touches on all eras and styles of the composer's long and prolific career. Included here is everything from timeless early Cotton Club classics like "Rockin' in Rhythm" to later, more complex compositions like "Black Swan."