Duke Ellington & Orchestra - Such Sweet Thunder / Pure Pleasure

The title "Such Sweet Thunder" is based on a quote from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Inspired by a visit to the Canadian Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Ellington studied the English playwright at length,

drawing musical pictures of Lady Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and other significant characters."Such Sweet Thunder" is among the best recordings of longer suites in the pianist's repertoire; the ballad "Star-Crossed Lovers" about

Romeo and Juliet even developed into a jazz standard. Also warmly recommended is Johnny Hodge's saxophone solo in "Half the Fun," which is one of the most sensual performances of his career. Recorded in five recording sessions from

August 7, 1956 to May 3, 1957. Mono LP on 180-gram vinyl at 33 1/3 rpm.Duke Ellington (p) / Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope (sax) / John Sanders, Britt Woodman (tb) / Ray Nance, Clark Terry (tp) / Jimmy Wood (b) / Sam Woodyard (dr), u.a.

Title

1. Such Sweet Thunder

2. Sonnet For Caesar

3. Sonnet to Hank Cinq

4. Lady Mac

5. Sonnet in Search of a Moor

6. The Telecasters

7. Up and Down, Up and Down (I Will Lead Them Up And Down)

8. Sonnet for Sister Kate

9. The Star-Crossed Lovers

10. Madness In Great Ones

11. Half the Fun

12. Circle of Fourths