The Intimacy of the Blues

The Intimacy of the Blues is a studio album by the American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington, recorded in 1967 and 1970, and released on the Fantasy label in 1986.

Reception
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "Duke Ellington did a remarkable number of private recordings with small groups taken from his orchestra and the selections included on this CD reissue are some of the best... Excellent music".

Track listing

 * All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated


 * 1) "The Intimacy of the Blues" (Billy Strayhorn) - 4:01
 * 2) "Out South" - 2:37
 * 3) "Tell Me 'Bout My Baby" - 3:19
 * 4) "Kentucky Avenue" - 4:01
 * 5) "Near North" - 2:36
 * 6) "Soul Country" - 2:10
 * 7) "Noon Mooning" - 6:04
 * 8) "Rockochet" - 4:22
 * 9) "Tippy-Toeing Through the Jungle Garden" - 5:55
 * 10) "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin''" (Ellington, Strayhorn, Lee Gaines) - 3:00
 * 11) "All Too Soon" (Ellington, Carl Sigman) - 3:51
 * Recorded at RCA Studio B in New York, NY on March 15, 1967 (tracks 1-6), in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 7, 1970 (tracks 7-9)and at National Recording Studio, New York, NY on July 15, 1970 (tracks 10 & 11).

Personnel

 * Duke Ellington – piano
 * Wild Bill Davis - organ (tracks 7, 9, & 10)
 * Cat Anderson (tracks 1-6 & 11), Willie Cook (tracks 7-9) - trumpet
 * Lawrence Brown - trombone (tracks 1-9)
 * Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone (tracks 1-6)
 * Harold Ashby (track 11), Paul Gonsalves (tracks 1-10) - tenor saxophone
 * Harry Carney - baritone saxophone (tracks 1-6)
 * Norris Turney - flute (track 10)
 * Joe Benjamin (tracks 10 & 11), Victor Gaskin (tracks 7-9), John Lamb (tracks 1-6), Paul Kondziela (tracks 7-9) - bass
 * Rufus Jones - drums