Duke Ellington

Perdido

Perdido was one of Duke Ellington's early big hits. Many arrangements have been made of this chart over the years - lots of them at a flat out tempo. The Duke's version is a very laid-back swinger that chugs along in a steady groove. The chart opens with a cameo Piano solo, the Bari Sax picks up the tune and improvises on the repeat, with the brass plunger figures pulsing away behind it. The middle 8 is taken as a Trumpet solo (written out) and on it goes! This chart is a solo feature for Tenor 2 and Trumpet, as both have improvised solos, and there is a lovely example in the last chorus of the sort of instrumental voicings for which the Ellington band was later so famous. Tenor 1 doubles Clarinet and there are no other sax doubles. Another excellent arrangement by Klauss Lessmann.