Isfahan (Far East Suite) - Duke Ellington

[1990robw]

What an incredible feeling those breaks give at the end of the form... that's how a big band should sound.

[wahunter]

this is beautiful--but if you want hear where duke & strayhorn & rabbit got their inspiration for this performance/melody listen to some ney players lke Hassan Kassayi and Jashmid Andalbi--iranian cats

[fiddlercrab3]

@wahunter Thank you so much for sharing these names!!!!

[Largo64]

I don't think there was ever a sweeter sound on an alto sax than that of Johnny Hodges. The only other alto that came close was probably Paul Desmond.

[aal5124]

Ahh Strayhorn, you are sooo emo and you don't even know it!

[awesomewelles90]

emo? cause he was gay? stop being so homophobic!

[acedenach]

such control!

[TheLunarCHawk08]

I played the lead alto solo on this for the region jazz band that got together once a year...and playing this solo was the best!

[dadautube]

don't know to be flattered as Iranian or enjoy one of my most beloved forms of music performed by one of the best? i guess i'll do both! great music, stunning performance! just love it!

[JazzMaestra]

Absolutely one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed by Billy Strayhorn and Ellington!

[lpsling]

Masters Strayhorn and Hodges....beautiful!

[jazzroom]

This is an absolute masterpeace of a tune by the great Billy Straihorn and the most sophisticated velvet Alto sax solo by the One and only - Johnny Hodges!!! Immortal perfomance!