Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session is an album by American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington, recorded in 1963 but not released until 1976, on the Atlantic label.A Duke Ellington Panorama accessed May 10, 2010 The album features members of Ellington's orchestra performing with Stéphane Grappelli and Svend Asmussen. Trumpeter Ray Nance, who was also featured in the Ellington Orchestra as a singer and a violinist, plays violin throughout the session alongside Grappelli. Asmussen, whose primary instrument was violin, plays viola throughout the session. Each of the string players is given a solo feature: Grappelli plays "In a Sentimental Mood", Asmussen plays "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", and Nance plays "Day Dream". For the remainder of the session, all three string players are featured soloing in turn.
Reception The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek stated: "The soloist and group interplay are gentle, swinging, and utterly and completely graceful and elegant. There is a lighthearted tenderness in this set that borders on sentimentality without ever going there. And the feeling is loose, relaxed, and full of warmth throughout".Jurek, T. [ AllMusic Review] accessed May 10, 2010
Track listing
Personnel Duke Ellington – piano Stéphane Grappelli, Ray Nance – violin Svend Asmussen – viola Buster Cooper – trombone Russell Procope – alto saxophone Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone Billy Strayhorn – piano Ernie Shepard – bass Sam Woodyard – drums
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