Black And Tan Fantasy – 2025

Emmet Cohen and Joshua Redman

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Duke Ellington first recorded his “Black And Tan Fantasy” in 1927.

It was one of the first songs that had a title that favorably portrayed the legacy of African-Americans, featuring the plunger mute mastery of trumpeter Bubber Miley.

98 years later, pianist Emmet Cohen, Joshua Redman (normally a tenor-saxophonist but heard here on soprano), bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Kyle Poole, at first show how timeless the song remains.

After stating the melody, they take the tune into some surprising areas with blazing soprano, piano and drum solos.

The theme gradually re-emerges before Redman takes a closing cadenza.

-Scott Yanow

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