Dick Hyman Plays Duke Ellington
In his extraordinary career,Duke Ellingtonexplored many musical forms, from the hot jazz tunes and exoticism of his early years to the grandeur of his later orchestral suites. Few Ellington tributes are able to bring a sense of that long and varied career as this one does, with both famous and little-known tunes included. Hyman reaches back to the '20s for the animated swing of "Jubilee Stomp" and "Doin' the Voom Voom," then forges ahead to the daring harmonies of "The Clothed Woman" and the serene majesty of "Come Sunday." He is able to bring a rare range of piano techniques to this project, from classic stride to the subtle voicings and impressionist shimmer that are heard in "On a Turquoise Cloud." --Stuart Broomer