Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session

Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session
Studio album by
Released1976
RecordedFebruary 22, 1963
Barclay Studios, Paris
GenreJazz
LabelAtlantic
Duke Ellington chronology
The Symphonic Ellington
(1963)
Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session
(1976)
Serenade to Sweden
(1963)

Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1963 but not released on the Atlantic label until 1976. The album features members of Ellington's orchestra performing with Stephane Grappelli and Svend Asmussen. Trumpeter Ray Nance, who was also featured in the Ellington Orchestra as a singer and a violinist, plays violin throughout the session alongside Grappelli. Asmussen, whose primary instrument was violin, plays viola throughout the session. Each of the string players is given a solo feature: Grappelli plays "In a Sentimental Mood," Asmussen plays "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and Nance plays "Day Dream." For the remainder of the session, all three string players are featured soloing in turn.