Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington surprised the jazz world in 1962 with his historic trio session featuring Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Not in a mood to simply rework older compositions, the bulk of the LP focused on music he wrote specifically for the session. "Money Jungle" is a thunderous opener, a blues that might be classified somewhere between post-bop and avant-garde. The gem of the date is the fragile, somewhat haunting ballad "Fleurette Africaine," where Mingus' floating bassline and Roach's understated drumming add to the mystique of an Ellington work that has slowly been gathering steam among jazz musicians as a piece worth exploring more often. "Very Special" is a jaunty upbeat blues, while the angular, descending line of "Wig Wise" also proves to be quite catchy. Ellington also revisits "Warm Valley" (a lovely ballad indelibly associated with Johnny Hodges) and an almost meditative "Solitude." Thunderous percussion and wild basslines complement a wilder-than-usual approach to "Caravan." Every jazz fan should own a copy of this sensational recording session.

Duke Ellington

Money Jungle

Blue Note
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
LP

£14.99

Gatefold Deluxe 180gm.

Black
Released 05/05/2017Catalogue Number

DOL840HG

Learn more
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
CD

£6.99

Released 05/05/2017Catalogue Number

5382272

Learn more
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
LP

£27.99

Groove Replica version - includes CD with full album and bonus tracks

Black
Released 16/07/2021Catalogue Number

77032

Learn more
Duke Ellington

Money Jungle

Blue Note
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
LP

£14.99

Gatefold Deluxe 180gm.

Black
Released 05/05/2017Catalogue Number

DOL840HG

Learn more
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
CD

£6.99

Released 05/05/2017Catalogue Number

5382272

Learn more
Album artwork for Money Jungle by Duke Ellington
LP

£27.99

Groove Replica version - includes CD with full album and bonus tracks

Black
Released 16/07/2021Catalogue Number

77032

Learn more

Duke Ellington surprised the jazz world in 1962 with his historic trio session featuring Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Not in a mood to simply rework older compositions, the bulk of the LP focused on music he wrote specifically for the session. "Money Jungle" is a thunderous opener, a blues that might be classified somewhere between post-bop and avant-garde. The gem of the date is the fragile, somewhat haunting ballad "Fleurette Africaine," where Mingus' floating bassline and Roach's understated drumming add to the mystique of an Ellington work that has slowly been gathering steam among jazz musicians as a piece worth exploring more often. "Very Special" is a jaunty upbeat blues, while the angular, descending line of "Wig Wise" also proves to be quite catchy. Ellington also revisits "Warm Valley" (a lovely ballad indelibly associated with Johnny Hodges) and an almost meditative "Solitude." Thunderous percussion and wild basslines complement a wilder-than-usual approach to "Caravan." Every jazz fan should own a copy of this sensational recording session.