EKE BBB

14 November 1963. Khuld Hall, Baghdad, Iraq. One of the latest concerts of Duke Ellington's First State Department Tour through the Near East and South Asia (Sep.-Nov. 1963)

Last night, I watched

Nothing earthshaking, but nice date: good selection of tunes; the sparkling piano of Hank Jones (and Charles Bateman on some tracks) is an asset; and the tuba adds a peculiar flavour in several tracks. According to Tom Lord discography, Bell led a few additional recording sessions, which materialized in the following discs: - one LP in trio format, for Herald label: - one EP: - and three discs leading an orchestra, for TV shows:

To my knowledge, only those with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra (1947).