Braggin' in Brass

Ebony, Dec, 1989 by Charles L. Sanders

Braggin' In Brass

Jazz aficionados should run to their nearest record store and search for a copy of Braggin' In Brass, by Duke Ellington (Portrait R2J 44395). The album, a double one with 32 glorious tunes, is a selection of works by the Ellington orchestra during "the immortal 1938 year," as the album cover describes. As was the Duke's practice, various sidemen are spotlighted with their instruments, and especially delightful are solos by Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Lawrence Brown and other superb jazz men associated with Duke over the years. A little extra treat is some work by the incomparable Ivie Anderson, including "Rose of the Rio Grande."