DUKE ELLINGTON - LATIN AMERICA SUITE

DUKE ELLINGTON
Os USA nos anos 40 e 50 quase sucumbiram diante do que se chamou "latin craze", a invasão de ritmos afro-cubanos e latinos em geral (mambo, congas, rumbas, tangos, boleros e sambas). O estrondoso sucesso das orquestras latinas (Machito, Perez Prado, Chico O´Farril, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez) acabaram induzindo a que as grandes big-bands americanas entrassem na onda. E assim foi que Stan Kenton e Duke Ellington, dentre outros, trataram de adaptar seus arranjos e repertórios aos novos ritmos. Por falta de jogo de cintura e de "groove", os ritmos são indefinidos e soam bastante canhestros - não se consegue diferenciar um samba de uma rumba. Mas o fato é que grandes compositores, como Kenton, Ellington, Lallo Schifrin e outros, trataram logo de produzir suas "suites latinas". Neste album vamos conferir o resultado do trabalho de Ellington, depois de uma longa excursão pelos países latino-americanos.
(CB)
-----------------
ALBUM COMMENTS
Written after his orchestra's successful debut in South America, Duke Ellington's
seven-part suite celebrates the atmosphere and rhythms of the many south-of-the-border countries that he visited. The usual horn stars have their moments but the pianist himself is the main voice throughout this enjoyable set of fresh music. ~ (Scott Yanow, All Music Guide)
--------------
ALBUM REVIEW
In September 1968, Ellington took the orchestra to South America, the first time he'd ever been south of the Equator, he said. They toured Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico, and throughout the tour Duke wrote music incorporating various impressions he'd made along the way. When they got back to the States, this album was recorded. Simplicity is Duke's chief characteristic in this suite, as in many of his longer pieces. A couple of the tunes are blues employing the simplest of themes across the 12-bar form. Ensemble playing is emphasized here over solos, though Paul Gonsalves has a couple of good solo spots (on OCLUPACA and BRASILLIANCE), and Duke has finally given himself some solo space. Some of the pieces still have the feeling of being works-in-progress (TINA, for example) and just seem to go on until they fade out, as if Duke wasn't quite sure how to end it
yet. The rhythm in LATIN AMERICAN SUNSHINE is right out of Ravel's BOLERO. A few other tunes have hardly a Latin feeling to them at all. The suite as a whole is rather on the underwhelming side, with BRASILLIANCE the only piece with any drive to it. It's hard to consider this one of Ellington's major compositional efforts, though, of course, the band plays wonderfully.
(By Bomojaz - South Central PA, USA)
-----------
ALBUM: DUKE ELLINGTON - LATIN AMERICA SUITE
Label - OJC/Fantasy
Years - 1968,1970(track 4)

PERSONNEL:
Duke Ellington
Buster Cooper
Johnny Hodges
Paul Gonsalves
Harry Carney
Lawrence Brown

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1.Oculpaca
2.Chico Cuadradino
3.Eque
4.Tina
5.The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches over Her
6.Latin American Sunshine
7.Brasilliance


DOWNLOAD: AQUI