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New Orleans Suite

New Orleans Suite
New Orleans Suite.jpg
Studio album by Duke Ellington
Released 1970
Recorded April 27 & May 13, 1970
Studio National Recording Studio in New York, NY
Genre Jazz
Label Atlantic
Duke Ellington chronology
The Pianist
(1966-70)
New Orleans Suite
(1970)
Orchestral Works
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars
Penguin Guide to Jazz 4/4 stars
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide 4/5 stars

New Orleans Suite is the eighth studio album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded and released on the Atlantic label in 1970. The album features the final recordings of longtime Ellington saxophonist Johnny Hodges, who died between the album's two recording sessions. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band in 1971.

The suite was commissioned by George Wein for the 1970 New Orleans Jazz Festival.

In his review for Sounds, Jack Hutton remarked that "a Creole influence permeates the work, a lazy Delta feel laden with nostalgic sadness which is a probably a[sic] truer reflection of the historic city than the good-time trad which has helped to popularise it." He praised the solos of Norris Turney, criticized those of Cootie Williams, and concluded that "This suite, while it doesn't rank with Ellington's greatest works, proves that the piano player is still vitally creative well into his seventies."

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars and states "Interesting if not essential music with a few memorable themes being the main reason to acquire this release".The Penguin Guide to Jazz includes the album as part of its suggested "Core Collection," and awards it a four-star rating.

All compositions by Duke Ellington.


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