With All Due Respect for the Spirit of Ellington

The second annual “Tribute to Duke Ellington” Sunday at the ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel featured one great band presenting wonderful memories of another.

In bringing to life the music of Ellington’s orchestra, arguably the greatest jazz ensemble of all time, cornetist Bill Berry’s 16-piece L.A. Big Band showed that it too is a jazz orchestra worthy of special recognition.

Berry, who has led a big band in L.A. since moving here from New York in the early 1970s, is fitting for this kind of tribute, having toured with Ellington between 1961 and 1964. The knowledge and respect Berry showed for the master’s material during the evening’s first set seemed intimately tied to that association.

Like Ellington, Berry has impeccable taste in musicians, and his band was liberally salted with standouts. From 78-year-old trumpeter Snooky Young (a musician with long ties to another great jazz band, that of Count Basie) to boyish-looking trombonist Andy Martin, the musicians delivered both close-knit ensemble play and fine solos.

Berry opened the evening with a selection of better-known Ellington and Billy Strayhorn pieces. After a rollicking “Take the ‘A’ Train,” the band moved into a cool rendition of “Satin Doll,” which featured trumpeter Young’s sweet solo, followed by a smooth yet detailed effort from trombonist Martin. Baritone saxophonist Jack Nimitz gave the piece some bounce during his solo, followed by a conservative, considered effort by pianist Ross Tompkins in which every note held importance.

Then it was on to “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be,” featuring trombonist Thurman Green and a beautifully muted effort from Young, and “In My Solitude,” with a moving harmonic blend of muted horns from Berry and trombonist Slyde Hyde.

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Not every tune presented was well-known. Tompkins brought a note of seriousness to Ellington’s “It’s Bad to Be Forgotten,” a number that featured pinpoint accents from drummer Frank Capp. Strayhorn’s “Daydream” was given melancholy touches by alto saxophonist Jackie Kelso. The up-tempo swing of Strayhorn’s “Johnny Come Lately” filled the dance floors on either side of the bandstand.

Berry delivered a crystal-clear, open cornet solo filled with youthful enthusiasm on “In a Mellotone,” as the horns rolled up and down behind him. The 66-year-old Berry, despite heart surgery in 1995, played with his familiar wit and strength throughout the hourlong set.

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Vocalist Ernie Andrews joined the band for a handful of tunes, not all associated with Ellington. Andrews, whose control and range seem to have improved, brought his characteristic brassy tones to “From This Moment On,” “If I Had You,” “You Are Everything to Me” and “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” singing with warmth, smart inflection and a certain abandon that made his presentation especially attractive.

An up-tempo blues based on “Going to Chicago” had him singing at a spitfire pace, followed by equally spirited solos from saxophonist Herman Riley, trumpeter Steve Huffsteter and Martin on alto saxophone.