---
product_id: 63412858
title: "Duke at Fargo 1940"
brand: "duke ellington"
price: "KD 10.53"
currency: KWD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/63412858-duke-at-fargo-1940
store_origin: KW
region: Kuwait
---

# Duke at Fargo 1940

**Brand:** duke ellington
**Price:** KD 10.53
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Duke at Fargo 1940 by duke ellington
- **How much does it cost?** KD 10.53 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.kw](https://www.desertcart.com.kw/products/63412858-duke-at-fargo-1940)

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- duke ellington enthusiasts

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## Description

Duke at Fargo 1940

## Images

![Duke at Fargo 1940 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41-I2EPKVrL.jpg)
![Duke at Fargo 1940 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41SRDLBaA1L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    IRREPLACEABLE AND EXCITING
  

*by D***R on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 12, 2014*

ELLINGTON, Duke. The Duke at Fargo 1940 Special 60th Anniversary Edition. Storyville. 2008.  2 discs.  DE, p, comp, arr; Rex Stewart, Ray Nance, Wallace Jones, tpt; Lawrence Brown, Tricky Sam Nanton, Juan Tizol, tbn; Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwicke, alto sx; Ben Webster, ten sx; Harry Carney, bari sx; Barney Bigard, clari; Fred Guy, guit; Jimmy Blanton, b; Sonny Greer, dr; Ivie Anderson, voc.Two discs, two hours and 34 minutes of recorded music of the best Ellington band ever. Which means, the best jazz band ever, with the possible exception of the Basie band of the same date. I've always meant to buy this album. Reading Terry Teachout's fine, sympathetic biography of Ellington, Duke (2013) finally spurred me on to do it.This live recording -part was broadcast over the radio--allows you to hear alternative versions of some of Ellington's greatest compositions -"Jack the Bear," "Ko Ko," "Bojangles," "Harlem Air Shaft," "Warm Valley," Never No Lament" (later renamed  "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me"), "Cotton Tail," "Caravan," "Stompy Jones." They're like their recorded contemporary versions but not identical, most often in the soloists' take on them, but there also some small differences in the orchestral coloring. This was after all a dance band so you also get to hear the Ellington orchestra cover pop tunes of the day, "Chloe," "Star Dust," etc., and for the finale, "God Bless America." For me, these are the least interesting cuts but all are handled well, and every band of the day did the same thing: their listeners expected to hear them.A few observations on the band. Ivie Anderson, the best singer Ellington ever had, is heard on the absolutely dreadful "Ferryboat Serenade." Only she could make tolerable terrible lyrics as bad as these: `I like to ride the ferry / "Where the music is so Merry ... / Life is like a Mardi Gras / Tra la la la la la..." Secondly, it is apparent what a difference the addition of bassist Jimmy Blanton made to the band. In solo and ensemble, he is a rock. Never before or since did Ellington have such a distinguished stable of soloists -Rex Stewart, Brown and Nance, Bigard, Carney, big Ben Webster, the wondrous sound of Johnny Hodges's sax. As for Ellington' piano intros and breaks, at this stage in his career, he still sounds stuck between entertainer piano (rich, pretty sounding chords) and a more overtly jazz-oriented piano style. He doesn't sound bad but later, much later when he would record with Coltrane and in small group with Hodges and trio with Mingus and Roach, he sounded like a different, much more adventuresome animal on his chosen ax. Lastly, thank heavens for Blanton because the rest of the rhythm section -Fred Guy on rhythm guitar and Sonny Greer on drums--was weak. It plods and at times, Greer, a notoriously erratic drummer, muffs the tempo. The obvious comparison is with the well oiled rhythm machine of the Basie Band, but Jimmy Lunceford's rhythm section never had troubles oiling the gears either. The only drummer with Ellington who ever struck me as doing his job right all the time was Louis Bellson.But minor reservations don't dim the musical quality of this extended offering from the greatest jazz band ever in its most exciting incarnation. It's exciting music to listen to.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A Legendary & Unparalleled Jazz Concert
  

*by R***S on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2011*

This is a 2 CD, April 2001 Storyville records release containing 45 live tracks totaling 153 minutes. The Special Edition package has five additional tracks from the original 40 track release. The material covers the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra's 1940 concert conducted in Fargo, North Dakota. The venue was the Crystal Ballroom located on the second floor of the Fargo City Auditorium. The history behind this recording, originally a non commercial venture led by two young college students (Jack Towers & Richard Burris), is fascinating. Anyone interested, is encouraged to access Wikipedia under the title" Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live ".An earlier version of this recording won the 1980 Grammy for best jazz instrumental performance. It is without doubt one of the top three live recordings of the Ellington Orchestra. The major attributes that influence the legend of this live recording is the exceptional audio quality (given the equipment limitations at the time), the stellar play list with associated arrangements and the individual and collective artist performances.All the great artists, e.g., Carney, Bigard, Hodges, Webster, Hardwick, Nance, Stewart, Nanton, Tizol, Blanton, Green, Anderson and Jeffries are present and in fine form.Some of the concert highlights include swinging versions of `The Sheik of Araby" and "Pussy Willow ". A marvelous  ballad," There Shall Be No Night "which includes an exceptional vocal by Herb Jeffries. " Harlem Air Shaft "  features Jimmy Blanton thumping bass lines, accompanied by Sonny Greer's outstanding drum work. The same selection includes solos from Bigard, Stewart and Nance. This horn ensemble simply blows the roof off this number. There are two outstanding renditions of the Duke Ellington composition" Warm Valley" that feature the soulful contribution of Ben Webster on tenor sax. "Boy Meets Horn "is an up tempo classic tune that features the impeccable cornet styling of Rex Stewart.Other standout numbers include " Caravan " and "Conga Brava" which spotlights Juan Tizol's  slide trombone. Ray Nance's swing violin is featured  in the band's interpretation of " Honeysuckle Rose" and the artist also has an opportunity to show off his exceptional scat vocals on " Wham ".Barney Bigard's creative clarinet offerings are flawlessly presented on the composition entitled "Clarinet Lament." Finally, "Stompy Jones ", "Bojangles', "On The Air "and " Rumpus in Richmond " are some of the  best recorded examples of the Ellington orchestra swinging in high gear.Unfortunately some of Ivy Anderson's and to a lesser degree, Herb Jeffries vocals suffer from the recording limitations. Some, not all, of the vocals are not balanced properly with the orchestra and sound "in the background" rather then as featured performances. Also a limited number of the 45 song selections end somewhat abruptly due to the requirement to change the individual recording discs once the 15 minute limitation was reached.Another disappointment, is the complete absence of liner notes with the sole exception of the play list. A recording of this magnitude deserves better.Overall, these shortcomings prove to be minor distractions when compared to the listening enjoyment experienced from some of the greatest live jazz ever captured on record.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Required....
  

*by M***. on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 9, 2022*

The verve and fire of the entire Ellington Outfit is here front and center. Yes a live recording from 1940 but this still sounds way better than most of the live releases of Charlie Parker. The sound quality for the times is very good. All who love jazz need this release.

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*Product available on Desertcart Kuwait*
*Store origin: KW*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*