A Drum Is a Woman
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
Top
A Drum Is a Woman
- Artist: Duke Ellington
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1956
- Genre: Jazz
Review
Duke Ellington's fanciful tale of Carribee Joe and his drum, which evolved into a woman known as Madam Zajj (and a very abstract telling of the evolution of jazz) became a television special in the late '50s but does not translate all that well to record. Dominated by vocals and narration, the music often plays a backseat to the story, which is worth hearing twice at the most. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi| A Drum In Hand (Album by Noam Katz) | |
| A Drummer Boy's Christmas (1992 Album by Eric Darken) |
Related Videos:
Top
A Drum Is a Woman
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
A Drum Is a Woman
| A Drum Is a Woman | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Studio album by Duke Ellington | ||||
| Released | 1956 | |||
| Recorded | September 17, 24, 25 & 28, October 23 and December 6, 1956 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Duke Ellington chronology | ||||
|
||||
A Drum Is a Woman is a musical allegory by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington, with many songs also written by Billy Strayhorn. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who has his roots firmly in the Jungle with his drums. Zajj travels out into the world seeking fame and sophistication and melds with the influences of cultures she weaves through; the story of which gives a brief history of the rise of Jazz and Bebop.
It was originally recorded for the Columbia label in 1959 to accompany a television special.[1] The album was rereleased on CD in 2004 with a bonus track. Another stage performance was produced in 1988, with pianist and arranger Chris Cherney leading the orchestra and Duke's son Mercer narrating.[2]
|
Contents
|
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 2 stars and stated
| “ | Dominated by vocals and narration, the music often plays a backseat to the story, which is worth hearing twice at the most.[3] | ” |
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
The New York Times reviewer John Wilson called the 1988 performance
| “ | Unlike other extended Ellington works, which are primarily if not entirely instrumental, 'A Drum Is a Woman' is developed through songs and a narration with only occasional full orchestral passages. It was powerful, rhythmic and kaleidoscopic, with a strong vocal anchor at Friday's performance in Claudia Hamilton, a commanding presence as Madam Zajj. Luke Dogen's Carabea [sic] Joe was a genial, good-time companion with a strong inner core that emerged in a positively stated love song, 'You Better Know It.'[citation needed] | ” |
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Drum Is A Woman" | 3:36 |
| 2. | "Rhythm Pum Te Dum" | 2:53 |
| 3. | "What Else Can You Do with a Drum" | 1:50 |
| 4. | "New Orleans" | 2:29 |
| 5. | "Hey, Buddy Bolden" | 4:51 |
| 6. | "Carribee Joe" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Congo Square" | 4:55 |
| 8. | "A Drum Is a Woman, Part 2" | 2:47 |
| 9. | "You Better Know It" | 2:45 |
| 10. | "Madam Zajj" | 2:47 |
| 11. | "Ballet of the Flying Saucers" | 5:33 |
| 12. | "Zajj's Dream" | 3:02 |
| 13. | "Rhumbop" | 2:16 |
| 14. | "Carribee Joe, Part 2" | 3:05 |
| 16. | "Pomegranate" (Bonus track on CD reissue) | 2:46 |
-
- Recorded at Columbia Records 30th Street Studio, New York on September 17 (tracks 1, 6, 7 & 13), September 24 (tracks 2 & 3), September 25 (tracks 5, 8, 10 & 14), September 28 (tracks 4 & 12), October 23 (track 11) & December 6 (tracks 9 & 15), 1956.
Personnel
- Duke Ellington – piano, narration
- Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpet
- Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombone
- John Sanders – valve trombone
- Jimmy Hamilton – clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Rick Henderson – alto saxophone
- Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
- Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
- Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
- Jimmy Woode – bass
- Sam Woodyard – - drums
- Candido Camero – percussion
- Joya Sherrill, Margaret Tynes, Ozzie Bailey – vocals
References
- ^ "A Duke Ellington Panorama". http://www.depanorama.net/index.htm. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- ^ Wilson, John S. (June 28, 1988). "A Drum Is a Woman review at NY Times". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/28/arts/review-music-ellington-s-drum-is-a-woman.html. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- ^ a b Yanow, S.. "A Drum Is a Woman". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r153891. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
A Tribute to Duke Ellington
(1999 Album by Claude Bolling)
A Drum Is a Woman
(2005 Album by Claude Bolling)
A Drum Is a Woman
(1956 Album by Duke Ellington)
Abu'l-Qasim
(art)
» More