Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
| Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band | ||||
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| Compilation album by Duke Ellington | ||||
| Released | 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 1940–1942 | |||
| Genre | jazz | |||
| Label | Bluebird Records (RCA) | |||
| Producer | Orrin Keepnews Steve Lasker |
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| Duke Ellington chronology | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  |
Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band is a 2003 three-disc compilation combining the master takes of all the recordings by Duke Ellington's Orchestra during the years of 1940 to 1942 with an additional nine tracks, including five alternative takes and four new masters. While essentially an expanded re-release of 1990s The Blanton–Webster Band, the packaging, sound and updated notes make this, according to Allmusic, "truly worth either an initial investment or reinvestment".All About Jazz: New York noted that these performances, from what is often considered "the band in its prime", "not only set the standard for big bands and jazz orchestras, but created an ideal near insurmountable to improve upon".The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this compilation as part of its suggested "Core Collection."
Bassist Jimmy Blanton was only with the Ellington orchestra for two years, retiring in 1941 due to tuberculosis, and dying the following year at the age of 23. Despite this compilation's "Blanton-Webster Band" subtitle, Blanton does not appear on the final 17 tracks of the collection, having been replaced on bass by Alvin "Junior" Raglin.
Unless otherwise noted, all tracks by Duke Ellington.
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