The Private Collection (Volumes 1 To 5)
Duke Ellington's artistry was captured across decades, but these five volumes of private collection recordings offer something special—studio sessions from 1956 onward that showcase the Duke's restless creativity and his orchestra's fluid mastery. Rather than polished concert performances, these sessions capture the band working through material with improvisational freedom, the arrangements more exploratory and the playing more direct. Featuring the full big band at various lineups, from uptempo blues shuffles to introspective ballads like In A Sentimental Mood, the collection spans the range of Ellington's imagination. The sound is warmly recorded and immediate. These recordings reveal how Ellington used the studio as a creative laboratory, trying out voicings and approaches that might not make the concert stage. For Ellington devotees, this is indispensable.
Item Details+
| Genre | Jazz |
| Style | Big Band |
| Notes | Mint (NM or M-) Mint (NM or M-) |
| Media | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Sleeve | Near Mint (NM or M-) |
| Label | Unidisc |
| Year | 1995 |
| Country | Canada |
| Format | 5xCD |
Tracklist+
. The Private Collection Volume One: Studio Sessions, Chicago 1956
1-1. March 19th Blues 5:24
1-2. Feet Bone 2:40
1-3. In A Sentimental Mood 3:02
1-4. Discontented 2:58
1-5. Jump For Joy 1:49
1-6. Just Scratchin' The Surface 3:01
1-7. Prelude To A Kiss 3:25
1-8. Miss Lucy 3:12
1-9. Uncontrived 5:11
1-10. Satin Doll 2:30
1-11. Do Not Disturb 2:42
1-12. Love You Madly 3:19
1-13. Short Sheet Cluster 2:33
1-14. Moon Mist 3:24
1-15. Long Time Blues 8:34
. The Private Collection Volume Two: Dance Concerts, California 1958
2-1. Main Stem 3:26
2-2. Dancing In The Dark 4:22
2-3. Stompy Jones 3:36
2-4. Time On My Hands 4:36
2-5. Stomping At The Savoy 5:28
2-6. Sophisticated Lady 3:41
2-7. Take The "A" Train (Instrumental) 4:28
2-8. All Heart 3:45
2-9. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' 4:15
2-10. Take The "A" Train (Vocal) 3:43
2-11. Where Or When 4:29
2-12. The Mooche 5:42
2-13. One O'Clock Jump 6:13
2-14. Autumn Leaves 6:44
2-15. Oh! Lady Be Good 4:20
2-16. Things Ain't What They Used To Be 1:33
. The Private Collection Volume Three: Studio Sessions, New York 1962
3-1. ESP 4:41
3-2. Blue, Too / The Shepherd 4:02
3-3. Tune Up 3:20
3-4. Take It Slow 2:54
3-5. Telstar 2:29
3-6. To Know You Is To Love You 2:28
3-7. Like Late 3:37
3-8. Major 4:02
3-9. Minor 1:54
3-10. "G" For Groove 4:12
3-11. The Lonely Ones 2:50
3-12. Monk's Dream 2:23
3-13. Frère Monk 2:20
3-14. Cordon Bleu 4:16
3-15. New Concerto For Cootie 2:28
3-16. September 12th Blues 5:03
. The Private Collection Volume Four: Studio Sessions, New York 1963
4-1. Bad Woman 4:28
4-2. Jeep's Blues 4:05
4-3. Stoona 4:32
4-4. Serenade To Sweden 2:34
4-5. Harmony In Harlem 4:16
4-6. Action In Alexandria 2:26
4-7. Tajm 3:18
4-8. Isfahan 3:16
4-9. Killian's Lick 4:28
4-10. Blousons Noir 3:44
4-11. Élysée 2:22
4-12. Butter And Oleo 4:34
4-13. Got Nobody Now 2:34
4-14. M.G. 2:49
4-15. Blue Rose 2:44
4-16. July 18th Blues 5:30
. The Private Collection Volume Five: The Suites, New York 1968 and 1970
. 5-1: The Degas Suite 27:24
. 5-2: The River 43:45
Data provided by Discogs.