This is a little out of left field. When I learned that Laurent Mignard's new project for his Duke orchestra was entitled Duke Ladies, I assumed that, well, it may well be some sort of take on Sophisticated Ladies, the Broadway show which ran in the years following Ellington's death: the greatest hits rounded up, perhaps, with an accent on vocalists.
I did not expect a take on Blues for New Orleans, the 'ladies' aspect being a smouldering obligatto on harmonica by Rachelle Plas.
Indeed, the accent is on women as instrumentalists in Laurent Mignard's new presentation as a post on Rachelle's Twitter feed makes clear...
Inviting the virtuoso to perform on harmonica on this particular number is inspired. The original version of Blues for New Orleans, recorded 27 April, 1970, featured Wild Bill Davis on the organ. Letting the harmonica here carry the solo responsibility conjures just as effectively the atmosphere of drifting woodsmoke or the plaintive metal-tipped chord of a distant guitar in the same way.
Check out the video above. With luck, an album on the Juste une Trace label will not be far behind...
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