Review (CD Universe)
As Stanley Dance's detailed and informative liner notes clarify, there were actually four Paris concerts from which this material was drawn. There's an abundance of material on this two-CD set, 30 cuts in all, and it's a luxurious trip through the Duke's extensive repertoire. Ellington was a pro at balancing his audience's desire to hear his classics with his own need to continue composing and presenting new material. So while we get recent (for 1963) creations like "Suite Thursday" and "Theme From The Asphalt Jungle'" we also get to hear the band travel back 30 years or more to reprise some of the original "jungle sound" compositions like "Black And Tan Fantasy," "Creole Love Call" and "The Mooche." This particular incarnation of Ellingtonians is alive and kicking. Duke can be heard hollering encouragement to his men from behind the piano, flirting with the audience (he's not going to tell them the title of the next piece, he explains, because "you're so hip"), and announcing such featured performers as Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams and Paul Gonsalves. All this, and great sound quality to boot.

Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Ray Nance (violin, cornet); Harry Carney (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Cootie Williams, Roy Burrowes, Cat Anderson (trumpet); Lawrence Brown , Chuck Connors, Buster Cooper (trombone); Ernie Shepard (double bass); Sam Woodyard (drums).

Recorded At The Olympia Theatre, Paris, February 1963.

DISC 1:

01. Kinda Dukish
02. Rockin' In Rhythm
03. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
04. Star-Crossed Lovers, The
05. All Of Me
06. Theme From "The Asphalt Jungle"
07. Concerto For Cootie
08. Tutti For Cootie
09. Suite Thursday - Misfit Blues (I)
10. Suite Thursday - Schwiphti (II)
11. Suite Thursday - Zweet Zurzday (III)
12. Suite Thursday - Lay-By (IV)
13. Perdido
14. The Eighth Veil
15. Rose Of The Rio Grande
16. Cop Out
17. Bula

DISC 2:

01. Jam With Sam
02. Happy-Go-Lucky Local
03. A Tone Parallel To Harlem
04. Don't get Around Much Anymore
05. Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me
06. Black And Tan Fantasy
07. Creole Love Call
08. The Mooche
09. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
10. Pyramid
11. The Blues (From Black Brown & Beige)
12. Echoes Of Harlem
13. Satin Doll