Duke Ellington – Mary Poppins (1964)

This disc is a surprising success. Duke Ellington was somehow persuaded into revising and recording a dozen songs from the score of Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins, and the results are actually quite memorable.

With such soloists as altoist Johnny Hodges, baritonist Harry Carney, trumpeter Cootie Williams, tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton, and trombonist Lawrence Brown getting their spots, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra turn such songs as “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cheree” (a much happier version than John Coltrane’s), “The Life I Lead,” and even “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” into swinging jazz. (by Scott Yanow)

It’s a marvellous version of the music of the film, and it contains a few really fine numbers. Maybe you’ll think it’s only a recording for children, but it isn’t. It’s full of colours from the Ellington palette. And is recorded in one of the best periods of Ellington, you’ll find some of the Ellington Dream Team.
The super-fast supercalifragi… as you can imagine, is featuring the powerful Paul Gonsalves.
Two big ballad numbers “Feed the birds” and “Perfect Nanny” for the clarinets, Procope and Hamilton.
A really nice Chim Chimeney with the trio. (by Dani Alonso)

Recorded at Universal Studios, Chicago on September 6, 8 & 9, 1964.

Alternate front +back covers

Personnel:
Cat Anderson (trumpet)
Lawrence Brown (trombone)
Harry Carney (saxophone)
Chuck Connors (bass trombone)
Buster Cooper (trombone)
Duke Ellington (piano)
Paul Gonsalves (saxophone)
Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet, saxophone)
Johnny Hodges (saxophone)
Eddie Johnson (saxophone)
Herb Jones (trumpet)
John Lamb (bass)
Russell Procope (saxophone, clarinet)
Cootie Williams (trumpet)
Nat Woodard (trumpet)
Sam Woodyard (drums)

Tracklist:
01. A Spoonful Of Sugar 3.13
02. Chim Chim Cher-ee 2.52
03. Feed The Birds 3.42
04. Let’s Go Fly A Kite 2.31
05. Stay Awake 2.28
06. I Love To Laugh 2.29
07. Jolly Holiday 3.04
08. Sister Suffragette 3-05
09. The Perfect Nanny 4.09
10. Step In Time 2.46
11. The Life I Lead 3.43
12. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious 2.27

All compositions by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

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