Inside Carnegie Hall
Al Hibbler sings It Don’t Mean A Thing
This is the fourth and last part from DESS with music from the Carnegie Hall concert in NYC on December 26, 1947. The last we heard in our previous posting was the Theme Medley which was played right after the Liberian Suite . This was followed by a speech by a representative of the Liberian government, which we have chosen to omit. Hence we start with Stomp, Look And Listen, a number quite frequently played between the years 1943 and 1956, thereafter to disappear from the repertoire.
Bakiff follows with fine violin playing by Ray Nance (as always) and then Rockin’ In Rhythm. Johnny Hodges and Lawrence Brown then share the solo responsibilities in All Of Me before we hear a set with Al Hibbler who sings four different numbers. For this concert four different singers were available to Duke (Ray Nance included) and 13 numbers performed, but only Kay Davis in On A Turquoise Cloud and Al Hibbler in I Like The Sunrise were issued on the Prestige LP. It could therefore be interesting to hear Hibbler’s contribution, which consists of It’s Monday Everyday, Lover Come Back To Me, Don’t Take Your Love From Me and It Don’t Mean A Thing.
A customary Medley ends the concert.
These four concert parts let you hear the complete music programme played by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. We hope you enjoy it!