Released
1988
Recorded
November 6, 1968 – June 15, 1970
Jazz, swing
Length
27:24
SAJA
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington chronology
Orchestral Works
(1970)
The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970
(1988)
The Intimacy of the Blues
(1968–70)
The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970 is volume five of The Private Collection, a series of compilation albums by Duke Ellington from his archive of unreleased music. The album includes "The Degas Suite", an unreleased soundtrack for an unfinished film consisting of paintings of horse races.[1]
Also included is "The River", which was composed to accompany a ballet by Alvin Ailey that premiered on June 25, 1970, at New York State TheaterinLincoln Center.[2]
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "Ellington is mostly the lead voice but his star sidemen are heard from on these formerly very rare and somewhat unusual performances. Clearly his genius was strong enough to fill three lifetimes full of new music and this CD contains some melodies that might have been more significant if he had lived long enough to find a place for them."[3]
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source
Rating
All tracks are written by Duke Ellington
No.
Title
Length
1.
"The Degas Suite: Introduction-Opening Titles/Race/Racing/Piano Pastel/Improvisation - Marcia Regina/Piano Pastel/Daily Double/Drawings/Promenade/Sonnet/Race"
27:24
2.
"The River: The Spring/The Run/The Meander/The Giggling Rapids/The Lake/The Falls/The Whirlpool/The River/The Neo-Hip-Hot Kiddies Communities/The Village of the Virgins/Her Majesty the Sea/The Spring"
47:40
Studio albums
Live albums
Collaborations
Compositions
by Juan Tizol
Orchestra
members
Related