Jazz Party

For the 1958 WNTA-TV series, see Jazz Party (TV series).

Jazz Party is a 1959 album by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra which contains a "formidable gallery of jazz stars" guesting, including Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Rushing (formerly the vocalist for Count Basie).^[1] It featured also a 9-strong percussion section on two tracks.

Jazz Party
Studio album by Duke Ellington
Released	1959
Recorded	February 19 & 25, 1959
Studio	Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York, NY
Genre	Jazz, big band, swing
Length	44:47 (LP) 49:57 (CD)
Label	Columbia
Producer	Irving Townsend
Duke Ellington chronology
Duke Ellington at the Alhambra (1958) Jazz Party (1959) Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues (1959)

The recording was first digitally remixed by Larry Keyes and remastered by Vlado Meller in 1987 and released on CD in the "CBS Jazz Masterpieces" series. A new remastering by Bernie Grundman in the early 2000s was first issued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

Described as "an example of the ever-surprising repertoire...characteristic of late Ellington",^[4] Jazz Party has been praised particularly for its unique percussion pieces.^[5][6] Village Voice reviewer Gary Giddins stated that the percussion song "Malletoba Spank" "will rattle in your brain until you die".^[7] The multi-part "Toot Suite" has been described as intriguing,^[4] though underrated, featuring strong statements from Ellington regulars and guests.^[5] Dizzy Gillespie's guest solo on "U.M.M.G." attracts much attention as well, and has been labeled both "enterprising" and "inspired".^[4][5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Malletoba Spank"	Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn	3:39
2.	"Red Garter (Toot Suite, Pt. I)"	Ellington Strayhorn	3:42
3.	"Red Shoes (Toot Suite, Pt. II)"	Ellington Strayhorn	3:50
4.	"Red Carpet (Toot Suite, Pt. III, IV & V)"	Ellington Strayhorn	7:42
5.	"Ready, Go! (Toot Suite, Pt. VI)"	Ellington Strayhorn	6:35
6.	"Satin Doll"	Ellington Strayhorn	2:44
7.	"U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)"	Strayhorn	4:32
8.	"All of Me"	Gerald Marks Seymour Simons	2:32
9.	"Tymperturbably Blue"	Ellington Strayhorn	4:23
10.	"Fillie Trillie"	Ellington	2:44
11.	"Hello Little Girl"	Ellington	7:51
Total length:			49:57

"Satin Doll" and "Fillie Trillie" are included on the Columbia reissues, not on the original LP, nor on the Mobile Fidelity CD release.

Personnel

Performance

Cat Anderson – Trumpet Shorty Baker – Trumpet Ray Nance – Trumpet Clark Terry – Trumpet Andres Ford – Trumpet Quentin Jackson – Trombone Britt Woodman – Trombone John Sanders – Valve trombone Jimmy Hamilton – Clarinet, tenor saxophone Johnny Hodges – Alto saxophone Russell Procope – Clarinet, alto saxophone Paul Gonsalves – Tenor saxophone Harry Carney – Baritone saxophone Duke Ellington – Piano Jimmy Woode – Bass Sam Woodyard – Drums

Guests Dizzy Gillespie – Trumpet on "U.M.M.G." and "Hello Little Girl" Jimmy Jones – Piano on "Hello Little Girl" Jimmy Rushing – Vocals on "Hello Little Girl" Percussion section on "Malletoba Spank" and "Tymperturbably Blue" Elden C. Bailey – percussion Harry Breuer – Percussion George Gaber – Percussion Morris Goldenberg – Percussion Chauncey Morehouse – Percussion Walter Rosenberg – Percussion Bobby Rosengarden – Percussion Milton Schlesinger – Percussion Brad Spinney – Percussion

Production

• Irving Townsend – producer, liner notes
• Larry Keyes – digital remix (1987)
• Vlado Meller - remastering (1987)
• Bernie Grundman - remastering (early 2000s)
• Amy Herot – production coordination