But the disc also includes some of Ellington's more serious, groundbreaking work in Symphony in Black, chronicling the hardships of African Americans through songs like "The Laborers" and "A Hymn of Sorrow." Billie Holiday appears in this section, giving a heartbreaking performance.
One brief section has Ellington paying tribute to Lena Horne and "Stormy Weather."
The disc wraps up with three stunning Mae West numbers from Belle of the Nineties, including West's bluesy, ballsy renditions of "When a Saint Louis Woman Goes Down to New Orleans," "My Old Flame" and "Memphis Blues."
DVD Details: Unlike MVD's recent Louis Jordan disc, the sound quality on the Duke Ellington disc is very good and the picture quality is as good as can be expected, given the age and rarity of the source material. Only Belle of the Nineties could perhaps be improved upon.
