This is the second side of the tape and I hope that the visitors to the website will enjoy as much as I do.
It is only 25 minutes but what 25 minutes. It has the end of the first half of the concert and, as often in Ellington concerts, the end is a drum solo but what a solo… Ellington plays the introduction on the piano, the choir comes in with increasing speed which leads into Rufus Jones drum solo. After a minute or two, Ellington steps in for a minute after which it is Jones full out.
It is followed by New World A-Comin’ with a spoken introduction with a sacred touch by Ellington before he sits down at the piano to play it.
The last three songs on the tape – Will You Be There, Won’t Do and Ain’t But The One – was sung by Jimmy McPhaill and the Humana Choir. Ending the concert were The Lord’s Prayer, David Danced Before the Lord (Come Sunday), The Preacher’s Song and in The Beginning God. Benny Bridges played drums and danced ‘David Danced Before The Lord’
Author and tape editor: Ulf Lundin