Wow, thanks to George Smith (and the uploader) for this wonderful history on this magical moment, when reading this my tears started falling down my face... I had just seen the other video of this solo with the picture of Gonsalves giving it 100%, eyes shut blowing like a madman... reading the whole explanation was wonderful, really puts some light on the event. I came to see this cause I bought the vynil from this gig, and was curious about this story with the blonde in transe, had to search it
Muzos! Sorry to hear that about Gonsalves but not too surprised. Duke and Johnny were coming to take Hodges jr. to rehab. He hadn't been out of his room for days. Doing the wrong thing with the needle. Remarkably, I don't recall a whole lot of hard drugs being done during my years at Berklee. Kids were too intent on getting better. Pretty good discipline for living in Boston during that time. That's what I found so endearing about "Chops". The kids were all about the music.
@mrneige Unbeknownst to me, my mom passed a note to Duke telling him it was my b'day. Halfway thru the 3rd set Duke announced this and asked me to pick a soloist to play a tune in my honor. Being a serious altoist, I picked Hodges, who came to the front and played an a cappella version of Strayhorn's Lotus Blossom. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. It sent chills down my spine. Hearing that band close-up, instead of from a distance in an auditorium, was remarkable.
Wow. Lucky man! What a privilege. When I was at a six week summer session at Berklee College of Music in Boston, way back in 1964, Johnny Hodge's son was two doors down the hallway in the dorm we were living in. One morning @ 6:00 I opened my door to go across the hall to the bathroom and who should walk by: the Duke & Johnny Hodges, on their way to Hodge's son's room. Never forget the image. I graduated Berklee 1969. Cheers.
@mrneige Gonsalves was responsible for my meeting with Duke. I was underage, so my mother took me to see the Ellington band at a nightclub for a birthday present. We sat through all three sets not more than 10 feet from the stage. Around 2 a.m., after the last set was over, Gonsalves, who was falling down drunk, put some really crude moves on my mom. Ellington saw all this, came over, and told Cat Anderson to take Gonsalves away. Duke apologized and invited us to a coffee shop to talk.
Wonderful video. I was thirteen when I first heard "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue". It was at that moment I decided to pursue a career in music. Anyone interested in Ellington should check out a great doc. from 2007 called "Chops". (Available on Netfilx). Recounts the annual "Essentially Ellington Competition" held at Lincoln Center and the eventual winner of this high school competition. Long Live Ellington!
@mrneige Due to circumstances that would take too long to explain, in 1966, while I was a junior in high school, I had a one-on-one conversation with Ellington in a Tucson coffee shop that lasted from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. I am sure you will understand when I say that I will never forget those three hours with one of the greatest figures in 20th century music.
I don't give a damn if Gonsalves is always in tune or not (neither Miles Davis nor Jimi Hendrix, to name but two examples, were always 'in tune' in the conventional sense) because the guy is burning, swinging and blowing the roof off, driven by a groove that you could build a skyscraper on. I want this to be playing when I croak. Hell, I may even rise up again...
Yeah likewise with me it brings tears to my eyes,when you read the commentary as well,you really get an appreciation of what went on that day.How can i see this amazing performance!thank you thank you thank you George Smith wherever you are!
Back in the early in 1980's as a UCLA undergraduate, I took a class called "Duke Ellington - The History of Jazz". It was taught by guitarist, and visiting Professor Kenny Burrell. Imagine sitting in college, being a non-music major, and just listening to the Duke's music day after day after day. At the time, I was Knee Deep in Parliament. But I will say, at times, something about Duke's music got into my feet. I didn't catch the import of the Gonsalves solo at that time. I do now. Wow.
I find it typical that when one who lacks the ability to argue a point on the merits resorts to ad hominem attacks. My own personal motto is "Only a fool argues with an idiot" so I decline to argue with you as I am no fool.
@AjiSabaki i didn't make any ad hominem attacks: i said you suck because you think paul gonsalves cant play in tune. therefore, the untenable argument you have to try and defend is whether or not paul gonsalves can play in tune. and, given the fact he played with duke, coltrane, dizzy and a dozen other jazz giants, the statement is patently false. therefore, you suck.
@AjiSabaki i wasn't attacking you in particular; i was attacking the archetype that you serve to exemplify: the person with no musical training who believes that if they dont enjoy a particular piece or performance, it must be because the artist is "out of tune", suggesting that the sum of all music is playing notes at the correct frequency. pick up mark levine's jazz theory, or any other serious book really, and stop parading your ignorance in public.
As all connoisseurs of all and any art forms,they are looking at technicalities.And rightly so.This makes them technical connoiseurs. Everything you say is right on.Why then is this solo important. With his "limited"ability he moved people! his timing was impeccable you'll have to admit.But he had that X factor that drives technicians crazy. Love of the form. Without that it is nothing.
Notes and technique do not make a moment in time. This might be the greatest solo ever...........................because of the moment, not because of skill, phrasing or technique. Its all in the soul of the moment.
As a connoisseur of jazz I think Gonsalves is way over rated. As with so many with little of interest to say he tries to make up for it with quantity. And when you've heard one of his overly-long solos, you have heard them all because he uses all the same riffs in every one. When someone pitch-bends every note it just means they can't play in pitch. His muddled tone is indeed unique. Also notice that there is no variation in volume. I often wonder why Duke heaped so much praise on him.
@AjiSabaki First of all: anyone who opens with the statement "As a connoisseur of jazz..." doesn't know shit about music and is douchebag. Second: there is nothing i hate more than the dumbass pseudo-intellectual musical wannabees who come on youtube and say someone is "playing out of tune" or isnt "in pitch". Are you out of your god-damned mind? do you really think this guys plays with duke ellington and cant play in pitch? duke could hear paint dry, no way his soloist wasn't playing in tune
@AjiSabaki while i certainly agree that gonsalves isn't an all time great, he obviously could play in tune, and the mere fact that you suggest that he couldn't shows that you don't know your elbow from your asshole about music. being able to play in tune is a fundamental prerequisite to playing music. there is no way he could get up on the bandstand with the company he kept and blow out of tune- you think he could run through charts like water but couldn't play in tune? in fucking tune?
@AjiSabaki this particular solo is definitely not anything phenomenally interesting in terms of musicianship or harmonic creativity but that's because its a fucking blues- three chords, I-IV-V over 12 bars. the whole point is to keep it simple. and it jumps. and it swings. and that, you pretentious know nothing, is what makes this a great solo.
@AjiSabaki in fucking tune?? you think he cant play in tune??? you think he learned how to play the dorian mode over II chords, the myxolidian over V chords, all without thinking, but couldn't play in tune? in fucking tune? of course he can play in tune. he doesn't always here because variable intonation is a fundamental characteristic of the blues. you think duke would have a saxophone soloist who couldn't play in tune? you think you got bigger ears than duke? you're a clown. a full-time clown
@AjiSabaki you really suck man. it would be one thing if you actually had a legitimate piece of criticism about gonsalves' work or this particular solo, but to come out and say he doesn't know how to play in tune is so outrageously ignorant you shouldn't be allowed to listen to anything but kenny G. ANYONE can play in tune- it's drop dead easy. high school bands play in tune. i fucking play in tune. YOUR dumbass can probably play in tune. to say that a guy with gonsalves resume cant is laughable
@AjiSabaki A history lesson on this performance. Duke as well as other Big Bands were falling in popularity (mostly due to "rock" music). Duke, barely able to afford to tour, put on this Newport show. When Paul took his first chorus, everyone began to dance and go wildly insane. This is why Duke kept it the solo going. His solo is the reason for the highest selling jazz album until Kind of Blue, and a new spark in Big Band popularity. It's history, it dances, it grooves, it's music.
Thanks for a great video. Paul was a late cousin of mine on my father's side. I was a young girl when he passed away before I could meet him but I am still very proud of him anyway!
And on this 35th anniversary of the independence of the Cape Verde islands, I am proud to share that Paul (and the rest of my family) are Cape Verde Americans.
La improvisación de Paul Gonsalves está completa en el video encabezado así: Duke Ellington - Diminuendo in Blue (vedlo aquí, columna de la derecha ).
Y allí, bajo la fotos seguidas de Ellington y Gonsalves hay una nota de 4z73c con la información de todos los músicos que tocaron en la orquesta ese día.
Fine research, but what's the point of this if you don't include the entire piece? There are two CD's from Columbia for the album Ellington at Newport.The first presents the concert in Mono as it was originally released. The intensity of the band and the audience is clear.
A second release to celebrate Duke's 100th birthday came out in Stereo, but the band sounds disjointed and the mix removes the crowd almost entirely. I own both, but only listen to the mono version.
My earlier comment - edited. The CD version (2 discs) is still great. It IS missing that crowd noise, and, boy does that ADD to this YT version.
....best Ellington I've ever heard. I was 13 when he did this. Some of my classmates were there, as part of the Farmingdale, NY HS Dance Band under Marshall Brown. No wonder they came back home so excited!!
The bandleader of my school big band mentioned this solo last practice and I had to check it out. I'm not disappointed. The comments were also very interesting
Wow. I just concluded Hasse's book and simply had to hear this solo so I came to YT. Thank you for posting greatness and history. Wish I'd been there. It was 5 years before I was born.
Fantastic video and wonderful textual commentary along the way. Well done. What I wouldn't give to be an audience member of that show...
SlothGunner 1 week ago
You have done a brilliant job annotating this great moment in jazz history. I have listened to this piece for decades I still learned something new!
I was lucky enough to see the Duke's Orchestra in the 1960s with Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hodges, Harry Carney etc. MAGIC
nbalbert 1 month ago
Thank you for the story, and the upload
empav1971 1 month ago
Wow, thanks to George Smith (and the uploader) for this wonderful history on this magical moment, when reading this my tears started falling down my face... I had just seen the other video of this solo with the picture of Gonsalves giving it 100%, eyes shut blowing like a madman... reading the whole explanation was wonderful, really puts some light on the event. I came to see this cause I bought the vynil from this gig, and was curious about this story with the blonde in transe, had to search it
riclob77 1 month ago
I'm obliged. It truly must have been an unique moment participating live in such a glorious orgasm. The audience was cumming together
IFuckExquisitelyHARD 1 month ago
What an evening you had. Such a treasured memory! Good on you!
mrneige 7 months ago
Muzos! Sorry to hear that about Gonsalves but not too surprised. Duke and Johnny were coming to take Hodges jr. to rehab. He hadn't been out of his room for days. Doing the wrong thing with the needle. Remarkably, I don't recall a whole lot of hard drugs being done during my years at Berklee. Kids were too intent on getting better. Pretty good discipline for living in Boston during that time. That's what I found so endearing about "Chops". The kids were all about the music.
mrneige 7 months ago
@mrneige Unbeknownst to me, my mom passed a note to Duke telling him it was my b'day. Halfway thru the 3rd set Duke announced this and asked me to pick a soloist to play a tune in my honor. Being a serious altoist, I picked Hodges, who came to the front and played an a cappella version of Strayhorn's Lotus Blossom. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. It sent chills down my spine. Hearing that band close-up, instead of from a distance in an auditorium, was remarkable.
smikro1 7 months ago
Wow. Lucky man! What a privilege. When I was at a six week summer session at Berklee College of Music in Boston, way back in 1964, Johnny Hodge's son was two doors down the hallway in the dorm we were living in. One morning @ 6:00 I opened my door to go across the hall to the bathroom and who should walk by: the Duke & Johnny Hodges, on their way to Hodge's son's room. Never forget the image. I graduated Berklee 1969. Cheers.
mrneige 7 months ago
@mrneige Gonsalves was responsible for my meeting with Duke. I was underage, so my mother took me to see the Ellington band at a nightclub for a birthday present. We sat through all three sets not more than 10 feet from the stage. Around 2 a.m., after the last set was over, Gonsalves, who was falling down drunk, put some really crude moves on my mom. Ellington saw all this, came over, and told Cat Anderson to take Gonsalves away. Duke apologized and invited us to a coffee shop to talk.
smikro1 7 months ago
Wonderful video. I was thirteen when I first heard "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue". It was at that moment I decided to pursue a career in music. Anyone interested in Ellington should check out a great doc. from 2007 called "Chops". (Available on Netfilx). Recounts the annual "Essentially Ellington Competition" held at Lincoln Center and the eventual winner of this high school competition. Long Live Ellington!
mrneige 7 months ago
@mrneige Due to circumstances that would take too long to explain, in 1966, while I was a junior in high school, I had a one-on-one conversation with Ellington in a Tucson coffee shop that lasted from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. I am sure you will understand when I say that I will never forget those three hours with one of the greatest figures in 20th century music.
smikro1 7 months ago
I don't give a damn if Gonsalves is always in tune or not (neither Miles Davis nor Jimi Hendrix, to name but two examples, were always 'in tune' in the conventional sense) because the guy is burning, swinging and blowing the roof off, driven by a groove that you could build a skyscraper on. I want this to be playing when I croak. Hell, I may even rise up again...
palmerstonian 7 months ago 2
holy damn, I just had the incredible urge to jump up and dance!!!
Tonyhack11 9 months ago
this music is so powerful..! jazz will never dies as long as people have ears
Elitios 9 months ago
Yeah likewise with me it brings tears to my eyes,when you read the commentary as well,you really get an appreciation of what went on that day.How can i see this amazing performance!thank you thank you thank you George Smith wherever you are!
ipanemaish 10 months ago
That solo brings tears to me eyes
rezzab40 10 months ago
Excellent video, thanks so much for doing this. A wonderful and import piece of Jazz History. Well done.
Aiden057 11 months ago
crappy presentation.
great music moments
c'mon man, the whole deal is jo jone w/ a newspaper
lowgrau 11 months ago
Back in the early in 1980's as a UCLA undergraduate, I took a class called "Duke Ellington - The History of Jazz". It was taught by guitarist, and visiting Professor Kenny Burrell. Imagine sitting in college, being a non-music major, and just listening to the Duke's music day after day after day. At the time, I was Knee Deep in Parliament. But I will say, at times, something about Duke's music got into my feet. I didn't catch the import of the Gonsalves solo at that time. I do now. Wow.
kevc21 1 year ago
I find it typical that when one who lacks the ability to argue a point on the merits resorts to ad hominem attacks. My own personal motto is "Only a fool argues with an idiot" so I decline to argue with you as I am no fool.
AjiSabaki 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki i didn't make any ad hominem attacks: i said you suck because you think paul gonsalves cant play in tune. therefore, the untenable argument you have to try and defend is whether or not paul gonsalves can play in tune. and, given the fact he played with duke, coltrane, dizzy and a dozen other jazz giants, the statement is patently false. therefore, you suck.
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki i wasn't attacking you in particular; i was attacking the archetype that you serve to exemplify: the person with no musical training who believes that if they dont enjoy a particular piece or performance, it must be because the artist is "out of tune", suggesting that the sum of all music is playing notes at the correct frequency. pick up mark levine's jazz theory, or any other serious book really, and stop parading your ignorance in public.
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki You suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RobinsonWith 1 year ago
As all connoisseurs of all and any art forms,they are looking at technicalities.And rightly so.This makes them technical connoiseurs. Everything you say is right on.Why then is this solo important. With his "limited"ability he moved people! his timing was impeccable you'll have to admit.But he had that X factor that drives technicians crazy. Love of the form. Without that it is nothing.
micalinz8 1 year ago
AJI AJi AJi..................
jmbalich 1 year ago
Im a rock and roller, but i recognize brilliance when I see it.
jmbalich 1 year ago
Notes and technique do not make a moment in time. This might be the greatest solo ever...........................because of the moment, not because of skill, phrasing or technique. Its all in the soul of the moment.
jmbalich 1 year ago
As a connoisseur of jazz I think Gonsalves is way over rated. As with so many with little of interest to say he tries to make up for it with quantity. And when you've heard one of his overly-long solos, you have heard them all because he uses all the same riffs in every one. When someone pitch-bends every note it just means they can't play in pitch. His muddled tone is indeed unique. Also notice that there is no variation in volume. I often wonder why Duke heaped so much praise on him.
AjiSabaki 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki First of all: anyone who opens with the statement "As a connoisseur of jazz..." doesn't know shit about music and is douchebag. Second: there is nothing i hate more than the dumbass pseudo-intellectual musical wannabees who come on youtube and say someone is "playing out of tune" or isnt "in pitch". Are you out of your god-damned mind? do you really think this guys plays with duke ellington and cant play in pitch? duke could hear paint dry, no way his soloist wasn't playing in tune
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki while i certainly agree that gonsalves isn't an all time great, he obviously could play in tune, and the mere fact that you suggest that he couldn't shows that you don't know your elbow from your asshole about music. being able to play in tune is a fundamental prerequisite to playing music. there is no way he could get up on the bandstand with the company he kept and blow out of tune- you think he could run through charts like water but couldn't play in tune? in fucking tune?
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki this particular solo is definitely not anything phenomenally interesting in terms of musicianship or harmonic creativity but that's because its a fucking blues- three chords, I-IV-V over 12 bars. the whole point is to keep it simple. and it jumps. and it swings. and that, you pretentious know nothing, is what makes this a great solo.
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki in fucking tune?? you think he cant play in tune??? you think he learned how to play the dorian mode over II chords, the myxolidian over V chords, all without thinking, but couldn't play in tune? in fucking tune? of course he can play in tune. he doesn't always here because variable intonation is a fundamental characteristic of the blues. you think duke would have a saxophone soloist who couldn't play in tune? you think you got bigger ears than duke? you're a clown. a full-time clown
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki you really suck man. it would be one thing if you actually had a legitimate piece of criticism about gonsalves' work or this particular solo, but to come out and say he doesn't know how to play in tune is so outrageously ignorant you shouldn't be allowed to listen to anything but kenny G. ANYONE can play in tune- it's drop dead easy. high school bands play in tune. i fucking play in tune. YOUR dumbass can probably play in tune. to say that a guy with gonsalves resume cant is laughable
letebaguere 1 year ago
@AjiSabaki A history lesson on this performance. Duke as well as other Big Bands were falling in popularity (mostly due to "rock" music). Duke, barely able to afford to tour, put on this Newport show. When Paul took his first chorus, everyone began to dance and go wildly insane. This is why Duke kept it the solo going. His solo is the reason for the highest selling jazz album until Kind of Blue, and a new spark in Big Band popularity. It's history, it dances, it grooves, it's music.
daveyj10 1 year ago
Comment removed
AjiSabaki 1 year ago
Comment removed
AjiSabaki 1 year ago
The GREAT Paul Gonsalves........... absolutely magnificent
i8mybrain 1 year ago
This took a pretty bad day and made it better. So glad music has the power to do that.
777jones 1 year ago
Superb! What a high!
gailf548 1 year ago
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
NYCBG 1 year ago
jazz!!
redhairedstepchild 1 year ago
Thanks for a great video. Paul was a late cousin of mine on my father's side. I was a young girl when he passed away before I could meet him but I am still very proud of him anyway!
And on this 35th anniversary of the independence of the Cape Verde islands, I am proud to share that Paul (and the rest of my family) are Cape Verde Americans.
God bless!
Kmlaw29 1 year ago 2
Anyone got the other recording?
theinvisiblelight 1 year ago
Aw man, I heard that first note, anmd I'm just freakin' out and hittin' subscribe and losin' my mind.
StLennyBruce 1 year ago
Thanks you for posting this! It's great to read the narrative of this famous solo while listening to it.
plonista 1 year ago
La improvisación de Paul Gonsalves está completa en el video encabezado así: Duke Ellington - Diminuendo in Blue (vedlo aquí, columna de la derecha ).
Y allí, bajo la fotos seguidas de Ellington y Gonsalves hay una nota de 4z73c con la información de todos los músicos que tocaron en la orquesta ese día.
LEONCODAJJ 1 year ago
El tema es DIMINUENDO AND CRESCENDO IN BLUE de DUKE ELLINGTON .
el solo de saxo tenor de PAUL GONSALVES comienza en el minuto 3:47
Fue un solo famoso ya que GONSALVES improvisó 27 veces (27 chorus) seguidas sobre el tema original, tocando las 27 veces de manera diferente .
LEONCODAJJ 1 year ago
Fine research, but what's the point of this if you don't include the entire piece? There are two CD's from Columbia for the album Ellington at Newport.The first presents the concert in Mono as it was originally released. The intensity of the band and the audience is clear.
A second release to celebrate Duke's 100th birthday came out in Stereo, but the band sounds disjointed and the mix removes the crowd almost entirely. I own both, but only listen to the mono version.
WestLAGuy 1 year ago
So interesting. Thanks for the research and, of course, the music. Well done!
BillMc2174 1 year ago
My earlier comment - edited. The CD version (2 discs) is still great. It IS missing that crowd noise, and, boy does that ADD to this YT version.
....best Ellington I've ever heard. I was 13 when he did this. Some of my classmates were there, as part of the Farmingdale, NY HS Dance Band under Marshall Brown. No wonder they came back home so excited!!
DianeandDick 2 years ago
Comment removed
DianeandDick 2 years ago
The bandleader of my school big band mentioned this solo last practice and I had to check it out. I'm not disappointed. The comments were also very interesting
MoronDude92 2 years ago
Wow. I just concluded Hasse's book and simply had to hear this solo so I came to YT. Thank you for posting greatness and history. Wish I'd been there. It was 5 years before I was born.
RoeserFan2 2 years ago
more of these. i love stuff like this.,
theinvisiblelight 2 years ago
Classic.
Flinklehurst 2 years ago