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Hi Scott,
You're quite right about the excellent quality of the Ellington Smithsonian records. I have the 1940 and 1941 sets (each one is a two disc set). The 1941 features amazing liner notes written by Gary Giddins, who is perhaps the best jazz writer of the past 25 years. Before the flood of Ellington reissues brought about the CD reissue craze of the past 20 years, the Smithsonian sets where the only way could get to hear most of these wonderful recordings.
I also have two LPs on the Alamac label: Duke Ellington - 1941 Classics (QSR 2404) and Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (QSR 2439) which contain recordings made in Hollywood during 1941. i have no idea if these recordings have ever reissued on CD. According to the rather sketchy liner notes, the recordings from September 17th, 1941 were the last ones to feature the great bassist Jimmy Blanton. However there is no indication of just tracks where recorded on a given date. But hey, at least the records were cheap back when I picked them up: $2.99 apiece.
Hey jf -
I have never heard of the Almanacs, or the material on them, but being from 1941 obviously they're right at the heart of things.
Please, do tell me more.
tks,
s.