The audiophile equipment includes SME30 turntable, Graham tonearm, a Dynavector cartridge and a custom buit tube phono stage.
Quote:
When we think of blues, we automatically picture the old acoustic battered guitars the Delta blues giants had to make do with, then electric guitars and a punchy sound that arose when the exodus from sharecropper era Mississippi left the Delta and made the relocation behind Muddy Waters and others to Chicago, Detroit and other blue collar cities that were offering good jobs in the exploding American auto and related industry.
In the hands of Duke Ellington, the blues get the elegance treatment, and how. This genius, one of the greatest composers in American musical history bar none, not only ruled and dictated the terms of jazz for the world, he understood just how closely jazz and blues were - both allowed much space for improvisation, featured solo spots for numerous instruments, and between the two genres defined American music that many still don't understand or appreciate.
"Blues In Orbit" was recorded in two one night sessions in NYC about a year apart, after Ellington and his orchestra or band had played their club date or larger concerts, and got into the studio around midnight and played until sun up, giving us blues like most people who are not Ellington fans have never heard.
This is not really a matter of individual tunes. It's a mindblowing session with more tonal experimentation, Ellington's patented advanced chordal work that created atmosphere that had to be heard to be believed, and the soul of blues the world over, all done in two nights. Given the simplicity of normal blues, it would indeed take true genius to add the level of sophistication and color Ellington does here - the blues and jazz world melt into one, making a beautiful statement that will surprise both blues and jazz lovers. But beware: blues fans who are more casually interested in the dime-a-dozen Hendrix/Vaughan clones out there will not understand the depth Ellington reached. But for those with the appetite and understanding, "Blues in Orbit" is possibly as elegant, far reaching and adventurous the idiom has to offer. (Amazon review)
