JAZZ REVIEW : The Spirit of Duke Ellington

While the name might have been a bit misleading (fewer than a third of the 15-man Duke Ellington Alumni Orchestra were actually alums), the spirit of Duke, who died shortly after his 75th birthday in 1974, was enthusiastically brought to life under the direction of Herb Jeffries at the Palladium.

Although few serious jazz listeners need any reminders of Ellington’s importance as a leader or a composer, Jeffries, who sang with the orchestra between 1940 and 1942 and had a hit with “Flamingo,” was sincere in his quest to restate the obvious.

Perhaps it needs restating, however, as the 750 or so attendees were more interested in dancing Friday night than they were in listening to a quality effort diminished only slightly by the booming sound system of the 50-year-old Palladium.

Of course, when Ellington first introduced those tunes, many of which became immediate standards, he was leading a dance band. It was only later that Ellington was afforded the concert halls and studious attention given his European classical counterparts.

“I wanted to give something back to the earth,” Jeffries said following the first set. “Without Duke, well, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Be that as it may, 50 years after “Flamingo,” Jeffries’ burnished baritone and sensitive phrasing are in good shape, his vibrato in firm control on up tunes like “Jump for Joy” and on the more demanding ballads like “Sophisticated Lady,” to which he lent an attractive, seductive quality.

In between came mighty instrumental efforts by an all-star band that included inspired solos by cornetist Bill Berry and trumpeter Snooky Young, saxophonists Marshall Royal, Teddy Edwards, Bob Cooper and Bill Green, trombonist Buster Cooper and pianist Art Hillary. The rhythm section of bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Frank Capp, the latter filling in for an ailing Louie Bellson, provided an aptly swinging impetus for the band.

Featured briefly were the Cunninghams, a husband-and-wife vocal team whose three-tune set of Ellington tunes showed a heartfelt affinity for the music.