C Jam Blues
Duke Ellington and Archie Shepp
It only happened once, Shepp sitting in with Duke
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In 1969 during a concert in Paris, the avant-garde tenor-saxophonist Archie Shepp had an opportunity to play with Duke Ellington’s orchestra.
The version of “C Jam Blues” starts conventionally with a couple of rambunctious choruses from veteran trumpeter Cootie Williams and some New Orleans-style clarinet from Russell Procope.
To Procope’s apparent surprise, Archie Shepp joins in, taking a few choruses with the orchestra.
Then to Shepp’s surprise, trumpeter Cat Anderson steps up to the microphone and hits a variety of incredible high notes to bring the unique performance to a conclusion.
-Scott Yanow
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