Jazz Party

For the 1958 WNTA-TV series, see Jazz Party (TV series).

Jazz Party
Studio album by Duke Ellington
Released	1959
Recorded	February 19, 1959, February 25, 1959
Genre	Jazz, big band, swing
Length	44:47
Label	Columbia
Producer	Irving Townsend
Duke Ellington chronology
Duke Ellington at the Alhambra (1958)Duke Ellington at the Alhambra1958 Jazz Party (1959) Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues (1959)Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues1959

Jazz Party ia a 1959 album by Duke Ellington which contains a "formidable gallery of jazz stars" guesting, including Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Rushing (formerly the vocalist for Count Basie). It was reissued in CD in 1997 on the Mobile Fidelity label.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

Described as "an example of the ever-surprising repertoire...characteristic of late Ellington", Jazz Party has been praised particularly for its unique percussion pieces. Village Voice reviewer Gary Giddins indicated that the percussion song "Malletoba Spank" "will rattle in your brain until you die". The multi-part "Toot Suite" has been described as intriguing, though underrated, featuring strong statements from Ellington regulars and guests. Dizzy Gillespie's guest solo on "U.M.M.G." (the first studio recording of that piece) attracts much attention as well, and has been labeled both "enterprising" and "inspired".

Track listing

1. "Malletoba Spank (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn) – 3:39
2. "Red Garter (Toot Suite, Pt. I)" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 3:42
3. "Red Shoes (Toot Suite, Pt. II)" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 3:50
4. "Red Carpet (Toot Suite, Pt. III)" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 7:42
5. "Ready, Go! (Toot Suite, Pt. IV)" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 6:35
6. "U.M.M.G. (Upper Manhattan Medical Group)" (Strayhorn) – 4:32
7. "All of Me" (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons) – 2:32
8. "Tymperturbably Blue" (Ellington, Strayhorn) – 4:23
9. "Hello Little Girl" (Ellington) – 7:51

Personnel

Performance

• Cat Anderson – Trumpet
• Elden C. Bailey – percussion
• Shorty Baker – Trumpet
• Harry Breuer – Percussion
• Harry Carney – Baritone saxophone
• Duke Ellington – Piano
• Andrew "Fats" Ford – Trumpet
• Andres Forda – Trumpet
• George Gaber – Percussion
• Dizzy Gillespie – Trumpet
• Morris Goldenberg – Percussion
• Paul Gonsalves – Tenor saxophone
• Jimmy Hamilton – Clarinet, Tenor saxophone
• Johnny Hodges – Alto saxophone
• Quentin Jackson – Trombone

• Jimmy Jones – Piano
• Chauncey Morehouse – Percussion
• Ray Nance – Trumpet
• Russell Procope – Clarinet, Alto saxophone
• Walter Rosenberg – Percussion
• Bobby Rosengarden – Percussion
• Jimmy Rushing – Vocals
• John Sanders – Trombone
• Milton Schlesinger – Percussion
• Brad Spinney – Percussion
• Clark Terry – Trumpet
• Jimmy Woode – Bass
• Britt Woodman – Trombone
• Sam Woodyard – Drums

Production

• Amy Herot – production coordination
• Larry Keyes – remixing
• Irving Townsend – producer, liner notes