Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session

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.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3½ stars and stated "The soloist and group interplay are gentle, swinging, and utterly and completely graceful and elegant. There is a lighthearted tenderness in this set that borders on sentimentality without ever going there. And the feeling is loose, relaxed, and full of warmth throughout".

Personnel

 * Duke Ellington – piano
 * Stephane Grappelli, Ray Nance - violin
 * Svend Asmussen - viola
 * Buster Cooper - trombone
 * Russell Procope - alto saxophone
 * Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone
 * Billy Strayhorn - piano
 * Ernie Shepard - bass
 * Sam Woodyard - drums