In the familiar surroundings of their hometown venue, Tommy Smith and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra showed why they have become one of the most respected ensembles of their kind in Europe.
‘In the Spirit of the Duke’ is the name of both the Orchestra’s show and their most recent record, recorded live at an earlier date. Both showcase the music and far-reaching influence of America’s great composer Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington over the course of his prolific, incredible sixty year career. Pieces written, arranged, and performed by the Duke are on display, as well as some written by his contemporaries.
Although the show is comprised mostly of music written or arranged by Ellington, there are some exceptions which help to provide diversity. A couple of pieces by Edvard Grieg are performed (although both were arrangements by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn), along with a condensed (though still twenty minute) version of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’.
Even with this small amount of variation, the show’s title could not be more fitting, as each piece is played with an air of Ellington. Plunger and derby mutes are used brilliantly by soloists and orchestra members alike to evoke a warmth and emotion. Familiarity with their material gives the ensemble the freedom to focus on creating the same sense of joviality and liveliness that the Duke’s music lends itself to so naturally. Particularly impressive is Tom MacNiven’s trumpet in ‘Concerto for Cootie’, a piece originally written to highlight the abilities of the Duke’s trumpet player at the time.
These pieces are well known and almost instinctive to both audience and orchestra, so the real thrill of the show comes when the SNJO’s members are able to improvise. Pieces are flushed out brilliantly by the soloists, each showing their ability not just to play their instruments well, but to invest themselves to it emotionally. Nowhere was this better represented than in the show’s raucous conclusion, which ran well over the show’s allotted time, in the form of an improvised version of the Duke’s ‘C Jam Blues’.
What makes this show truly ‘In the Spirit of the Duke’ is its ability not only to represent Ellington’s work musically, but its sense of personality and universal appeal. The work of Ellington seems to go so far beyond generic classification and this is well represented in the work of Smith and his players.
